QAL - the templates, a Flickr group button and a few more questions answered

If you're Quilting Along, don't forget to come over and play in the Flickr group where I start respectable threads and they go downhill fast and everyone gets all immature and silly and it's hilarious.  There are threads for sharing your blog links, threads for questions about the QAL, chats about what fabric everyone is choosing and I'm hoping to see some photos of fabrics soon.  Wanna button for the group?

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/lilysquilts/" title="Lilys Quilts Flickr Group"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5509263521_72964a9070_m.jpg" alt="Lilys Quilts Flickr Group" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

A few more questions have been asked which I will answer for the benefit of everyone quilting along.

Can I make this quilt using fat eighths?
Yes, you can.
Can I make this quilt using scraps?
Yes, you can.
Can I make this quilt using a rainbow of solids?
Yes, you can.  
Can I do this QAL if I already have far too much on my plate?
Oooh, yes you can.
Why has your font shrunk?
Not a clue.


Back to business.  Here are the templates you will need for this QAL.  When you print these out, make sure that each template measures the right size - some printers re-size to fit the paper, changing the size of the printed shape.  Uncheck "re-size to fit" if necessary.  Try selecting "A4" and "100%" in your printer settings, even if you are not printing onto A4 paper.  Also make sure you are requesting Google Docs to print the document and not your browser (left of Google Docs page, click file and then print).   Each template has at least one measurement marked on it so that you can check your printer is printing them out at the right size.

If you cannot print the templates out for any reason, this post tells you how to make your own.

QAL Template 1 - The dresden leaf - 3 fit onto a layer cake slice.  21 needed for each circle.  For my quilt top I used 6 layer cake slices and cut the remaining three from the background fabric.

TOP TIP: wait until your dresdens are sewn before cutting the inner and outer circle templates since these templates come in several sizes depending on how big the diameters of the inner and outer circles of your dresdens are when finished.

QAL Template 2 - The inner circle - I like to use freezer paper for this template, if you have some, as it makes accurate cutting easier.  Iron it onto the background fabric, cut out the circle and then peel the paper off and re-use.  One sheet of freezer paper can be used multiple times.

QAL Template 3 and
QAL Template 4 
Together the circle border.  Assemble the outer circle by cutting out section A, B and C and taping them together along the lines.  If you do this on your cutting mat, you will ensure that you make this template square.