EZ Dresden Challenge: Strip Pieced Dresdens

Welcome to the last and final blog stop for the EZ Dresden Quilting Challenge kick off!  I'm sure by now you've caught wind of this great challenge the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild  is hosting with Simplicity, but if you haven't, check out this post with all the details about the challenge...and the prizes!!  Oh yes, there are prizes, and they are good ones!

For my project, I decided to stick with the traditional dresden layout, but spice things up a bit!  This represents one of my most favorite things about quilting in general, how something so "traditional" can be shaken up to be modern with a simple twist or a change in fabric.

I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to dig into my Flea Market Fancy stash, and cut strip pieced dresden plates.  I paired this with some Kona Azure, and a Lotta Jansdotter Echo print for the binding.  I am super happy with my "dresden with a twist" pillow, just enough fancy to brighten up our living room.

If you'd like to make your own, see below for the tutorial, and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post to check out the giveaway to win your own EZ Dresden ruler!

Strip Pieced Dresden Pillow Tutorial

This pillow cover will fit an 18" pillow form as pictured, or a 20" pillow form snugly

You'll need:

(6) assorted fabric strips 1.5" wide measuring a total of 60" in length (I used fat quarters and cut three 1.5" strips from the 22" side of each FQ)

background fabric measuring 18.5" square

5" square of fabric for center circle

5" square of lightweight fusible interfacing
(2) pieces fabric measuring 25" x 18.5" for envelope pillow back
(2) strips of fabric measuring 2.5" x WOF (44 inches) for binding
18" pillow form

All Seams sewn with 1/4" seam, unless otherwise noted.  Press all seams open.

Instructions:
1.  Sew strip sets of your 6 different fabric strips, taking care to sew each strip set in the same fabric order.

2.  Align your EZ Dresden Ruler along the bottom edge of your strip of fabrics.  The top edge should align with the 6 1/2" marking on the ruler.  Cut along both long edges of the dresden ruler with your rotary cutter.

3.  Repeat this process until you have 20 wedges (I could get 7 wedges per strip set using strips from a FQ), taking care to align the ruler along the same edge each time.  In my example, the green fabric will always be the at the narrow end of the wedge.

4.  Fold each wedge in half lengthwise, right sides together.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the "fat" short edge of your wedge.  Trim the seam along the folded half to reduce bulk for turning.

5.  Turn the "fat" edge of your wedge that you just sewed, so that the wrong sides are together and a "point" forms.  Center the point along your pressed center line.  Use a pointed object if necessary to form a nice crisp point.  Repeat with remaining 19 wedges.

6.  Once all your wedges have points, we will begin sewing our wedges into a circle.  Choose two wedges, and pin along one long edge, right sides together, taking care to align the seams.  Sew the two wedges together.

  **Tip:  I find it helpful in achieving a nice flat resulting dresden to begin sewing my wedges together starting at the narrow end of the strip, and start with a full 1/4" seam, tapering to a scant 1/4" inch seam at my point edge.

7.  I like to sew my dresden together in quarters.  Sew (4) sets of 5 wedges together.  Before sewing your dresden quarters together, align the raw edges with the 90 degree edge of a square quilting ruler.  If your edges do not 100% line up, trim your edges to a perfect 90 degree angle.  This will help your dresden lie nice and flat when assembled.

8.  Sew (2) quarter dresden pieces together to have 2 dresden halves.  Again, trim your halves, this time using a long straight edge quilting ruler.

9. Sew your two dresden halves together, and admire your work!

10.  Take your background fabric and fold in half, press a crease.  open fabric, and press in half the other direction, to mark the center.  Center your dresden on your background fabric and pin in place.  Set aside.

11.  To form the center circle, take your 5" squares of fabric and interfacing, and trace a circle, measuring approximately 4" in diameter and cut out of both materials.  Cut a slit in the center of your interfacing, this will allow us to turn the circle right side out after sewing.

12.  Layer the fabric right side up and the interfacing adhesive side down, and stitch around the edges appx 1/4".  

13.  Turn your circle right side out through the slit in the interfacing.  Align your center circle in the center of your dresden plate and press into place.

14.  From here, you can choose how to finish your dresden.  I chose to layer a backing fabric, batting and then my dresden, spray basting my layers together.  I then appliqued my dresden plate on to my background fabric by sewing appx 1/8" along the edge, and then along the edge of my center circle, so my appliqueing did double duty as the quilting as well.  

15.  To finish the pillow back, fold your two pieces of 25" x 18.5" fabric in half wrong sides together, so each piece measures 12.5" x 18.5".  Layer your dresden pillow front right side down, one of your pillow back pieces, with the raw edges aligned to the top, bottom and left, and the second pillow back piece with the raw edges aligned to the top, bottom and right.

 

16.  Carefully flip your aligned pillow front and back over, so that your pillow front is facing up.  Pin in place and baste with a 1/8" inseam to hold the front and back together.

17.  Sew binding strip in place around all four edges, insert pillow form, and enjoy!

To get you started on your own dresden project, I've got one EZ dresden ruler to giveaway!  Leave me a comment on this post, any old comment will do, to enter to win your own EZ Dresden ruler.  Mr. Random will draw a winner on Sunday, June 17th.  

Thanks so much for stopping by, in case you missed any of the previous blog stops, here is a schedule of all the stops on the blog hop, filled with all sorts of EZ Dresden inspiration, happy sewing!

June 1:  Salt Lake MQG: Kick Off www.slmqg.com/

June 2:  Lee: freshlypieced.blogspot.com/

June 3:  Katie www.fromthebluechair.com/

June 4:  Victoria: bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/ 

June 5:  Val: howaboutpinkplease.blogspot.com/

             Leigh: leedledeedlequilts.blogspot.com/

June 6:  Amy: amyscreativeside.com/ 

            Elisa www.stitchoutsidetheditch.com/

June 7:  Katie: www.swimbikequilt.com/

             Emily: emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/

June 8:  Melissa: happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/

            Brooke: pitterputterstitch.blogspot.com/

June 9:  Nicole: mamalovequilts.blogspot.com/

            Amy sukie.mt-wudan.com/

June 10:  Elizabeth: www.dontcallmebetsy.com/

              Colleen: www.thebusybean.com/

June 11:  Faith: www.freshlemonsquilts.com/

              Deonn: quiltscapesquilting.blogspot.com/

June 12:  Angela: angelaflicker.com/

June 13:  Amy: www.diaryofaquilter.com/

June 14:  Jessica: sewcraftyjess.blogspot.com/

June 15:  Salt Lake MQG: Wrap-up www.slmqg.com/