This week I discovered that there is a down side to giving advice on the internet – because it is there in black and white you need to make sure you are taking your own advice. My “Quilting Bee Etiquette” has come back to haunt me this week as I struggled to get my December Bee blocks out on time. You see blocks are generally considered late if they arrive past the 15th of the following month, and I could not, should not, would not be late. So this last week has been about getting Bee blocks done.
First up was the last block for my Scrapbeelicious December run. I had done one Christmas themed block for Nicole at Modern Handcraft but needed another block. My original plan was to do a 12/2 inch Dresden plate. I cut the fabric, sewed it all together and discovered it was 20 1/2 inches big. Whoops. Some quick re-calculations, more cutting, more sewing and voila, the b%$#y block was 14 inches square. My solution was this…
–An “adjusted” Dresden Plate block that is exactly 12 1/2 inches square. Seeing this is a sampler quilt my adjustments will work well. This block, along with my Snowflake block should be winging their way to Nicole today (as per the Bee Etiquette rules my Queen knows they will be late).
I did make the deadline for my other December blocks by the skin of my teeth. The Do.good.stitches Hope Circle blocks for December were easy, I cut the fabric out and then promptly forgot to sew it all together. A polite reminder from the Queen had me sewing them up and posting them the same morning…
That same day I decided to tackle the January Do.good blocks to avoid the embarrassment of another reminder email (I like to be on time or early wherever possible)…
Wonky log cabins in blue with a grey border… easy peasy..
My final WIP for this week is not a really a Bee block, but is the start of the Portland Modern Quilt Guild’s 2014 Medallion Quilt. This year, instead of doing a BOM our guild is doing a Medallion quilt, starting with a center 16 1/2 inch center block.
Yep I have become a little Dresden obsessed. I blame my EZ Dresden ruler… it is all its fault, plus I see it as a challenge to improve my really bad math skills!
WOMBAT QUILTS 
Really like your “adjusted” Dresden Plate – it looks very contemporary!
Thanks Lynne. I am not sure if it would work as a pattern for a quilt but it works great in a sampler…and it was a quick solution to some bad math!
I’ve become Dresden obsessed too ~ got mine done for the quilt along for the guild and just love how it turned out! Really like the cut off Dresden ~ so different from anything I’ve seen! Made mine a tab bit bigger ~ it will be 24” instead of 16” ~ love how it looks and can’t wait to share it! You really inspired me at the meeting!
I am glad I inspired at the meeting. I was so nervous I was afraid I was a babbling Aussie mess. Oh and I am going to try out Quiet Plays kitchen block after seeing your stunner.
Fabulous adjusted Dresden, it looks like sunrise!
love love love love these blocks. your christmas block is the JAM! i love it! I can’t wait to break out my dresden ruler 🙂
Great set of blocks! I really like the off center dresden–must get myself one of those rulers!
I jus tried out m Dresden ruler for the first time and I am in love! They are just the prettiest things!i think your off centre one is fab, and will look great in a sampler.
E xx
Be careful. It is highly addictive and there is so many different things you can do with the ruler. I feel like I have only just begun playing.
Love a Dresden plate, even after making 14 of them for a recent quilt – by hand. Such a pretty effect, and I do love the pastel/low volume one you’ve made. I like to make them with different edges to the plate for a bit of interest, but to achieve that you need to do it epp.
Hand piecing…are you crazy. I love it. I want to try a round edge on one of them but that will involve curves and probably hand piecing.
Probably crazy…. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Easier to get a nice smooth curve when you’re wrapping round a paper template. If you want to see the results, take a look at any of my posts title Morning Tea at the Quilting Bee… September/October time, I think.
http://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/its-done-its-finished/
I made templates for the segments with different edges so the ‘plates’ were different. It was all about Morning Tea, so I wanted tea-plates. But it went quite quickly once the templates were made, and setting in the central circle was easier by hand than on a machine.
You are a rock star. Love those Dresdens.
I love your “adjustment” way to improvise and make it modern 🙂
Love your off-center Dresden – it’s so kicky and modern! Will your whole medallion be in pastels?
I think that I am committing to low volume/pastel. I may regret that decision later this year but for now we are going with it.
The off-centre dresden plate looks very cool. I love the blue log cabins, too.
As for trying round edges, I just finished making a colour wheel quilt, with 52 different coloured wedges, which I guess is a similar idea. Other than the fabric selection and cutting, it was really simple and fun to make. It’s probably less tricky because it is on a larger scale and pieced in quarters, but I had no issues with the curves. Plus, it was only my third quilt ever, so, when I say it was simple, you know I’m not exaggerating.
Your modified Dresden is the bomb.com. In fact, I think I like it better than a traditional Dresden!
You’re modified Dresden is the bomb.com. In fact, I think I like it better than a traditional Dresden block.!
I so love dresdens and partial dresdens are the best! Perfect solution. Elegant and beautiful. 🙂
Ha! Gotta love it when the very thing about which we’re so very passionate can drive us mad and crazy all at the same b%$#y time 🙂
Just love that final pastel dresden ! Linda
Love the “adjustment” to your Dresden Plate block. Being off center makes it look very modern. Brilliant!