QAL - sewing the dresden circles

For anyone with some sewing experience, this part is not difficult.  The simple version of this post is - sew all 21 dresden leaves into a circle, place it face down on your ironing board and press anticlockwise.  But I have taken it step by step anyway.  DO NOT PANIC if your sewn dresden circle does not lie perfectly flat.  Not one of mine has and this corrects itself when pieced into the circle.

1.   Lay out one whole circle of 21 dresden leaves on the table to decide on your layout.  Mine has seven fabrics repeating three times although yours doesn't need to.


2.   I sort mine into three piles of seven so I can keep track of what goes where.



3.   I chain piece the leaves in pairs feeding one pair into the machine straight after the previous pair to avoid stopping and starting seams.


4.   Then I sew two of the pairs together and the remaining single pairs with the remaining single leaves and keep going until the whole circle is made.  Flip over and check everything is in the right place.


5.   Place right side down on the ironing board and press all seams anti-clockwise.


TOP TIP: DO NOT PANIC if your dresden is not perfectly flat but has a little bulge.  Each one of mine has had a little bulge and this rights itself when pieced into the circle.

6.   Now measure the diameters of the inner and outer circle.  Here the inner circle measures 7". 


And the outer circle measures 25".  The inner and outer templates are now designed with a selection of diameters on them and there are also instructions on how to make your own templates in this post:

Comments

  1. Looks simple enough!! I guess that means I have to get started now. Thanks!

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  2. Yes, it does look simpler than I thought. However, i did want to wait for instructions, as knowing me, I'd have made a total mess of it!
    Thanks Lynne

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  3. I've just purchased a dresden ruler a few weeks ago, going to have to give it a god REALLY soon. Thanks for the tips x

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  4. This is great Lynne, if only we had the patience to wait for your instructions rather than blatter on ahead! BTW really love your fabrics, the grey especially is v.soft. Jxo

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  5. lovely instructions, thank you Lynne!

    I had no bulge, but then to slap my pride back down again my diameters were way out! Win some lose some!

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  6. Thanks! I am planning to sew the rest of mine up on Saturday.

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  7. It must be time to pick out the fabric and get to sewing. I get on it today.

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  8. Can't wait to get going when I return home. I do have 3 more days of gorgeous sun to soak up, tho. Cape Canaveral with my boy tomorrow!

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  9. My fabric arrived yesterday but my son has kindly shared his bugs with me and I don't want to cough and sneeze all over it! Hoping to start soon though... :o) Great to see everyone elses are coming together well.

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  10. I can't wait to start this! Your instructions are just perfect and I'm getting more and more excited to get going! Finishing up a quilt top and this is next on to do list.

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  11. cutting and sewing today! decided on a completely different color scheme... i like it!

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  12. Kimmie, get over here and pull some fabrics for me, will ya? :)

    Thanks, Lynne, this looks great and easy and quilt-alongs are always so much more fun than doing it alone!

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  13. It's been my intention to join in with this to make one but so far I've not done anything only read the posts! But I am going to have a go at this!

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  14. the chain piecing pairs was a useful tip, thanks! And I only stitched one pair the wrong way round, lol. I now have my first plate! Not had chance to press it yet but the measurements are looking good so far :)

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  15. Thanks for the tute. I've picked out my fabrics, now to make my templates! xo

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  16. I suppose I had better start sewing then. Your instructions are nice and simple, so fingers crossed I can do it properly.

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  17. I've actually printed out the template and re-read the instructions and tonight I'm going to pull fabric and take pics and post in the group on flickr! (See now I've said it I have to do it lol)

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  18. blades sewn together and pressed at last! looking good too

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