Baby Betty Introduces Our New Dresden Rings

Published: Wed, 01/19/22

Hi ,

Our new and improved Dresden Template Set is now available and I can’t wait to teach you how to use them!

It's so fun coming up with new names for the creative ideas in my head. For years I've made Dresden Plates - beautiful petals pieced together with a circle appliqued on top.

But sometimes I was lazy and didn't get around to creating that circle applique, and sometimes I just didn't like that look of an extra piece of fabric or color being added to the top. I wanted to make my Dresden Plates lighter and easier to create.

So now we can! I've recently redesigned the Dresden Template Set and now we can create Dresden Rings - beautiful circular quilt blocks with edge finishes to the outside AND the inside!

How to Piece a Dresden Ring - a New Kind of Dresden Plate Quilt Block!

Note – in the video I mention peeling a film off the right side of the templates. You do not need to do this step. I’ve already peeled the film off all of the templates.

Click Here to find the new Dresden Template Set – This new set of templates can cut dozens of Dresden Plates and now easily cuts Dresden Rings as well. They are redesigned from the original template set I created in 2017 and are now much more functional.

Find True Grips for the back of your templates here – I place these little grips on the backs of my templates to stop them from sliding when cutting. One pack of True Grips should be enough to cover all 6 Dresden Templates.

Check out Lite Steam a Seam 2 here – This is my favorite fusible web because it’s very lightweight and has paper on both sides. When you peel off one side of the paper, the fusible is slightly sticky which makes it easier to fuse quick and then cut out your design.

Find the microtip glue bottles here – You only need a thin line of glue on the folded edges of your Dresden Ring. Too much glue will really make a mess. I put Elmer’s school glue in a bottle and can easily dispense a thin line exactly where I need it.

Is This a Dresden Plate Quilt Along?

No, This is a Block Along, so we’re going to work block-by-block. There isn’t a pattern, fabric calculation, or a picture of the finished quilt.

I’m making 1-2 Dresden Plates or Rings each month and making a fun quilt with 15 blocks. If you want to make this with me, just pick up a Dresden Template Set. It's that simple!

The purpose of this project is to use up scraps or your favorite fat quarters. Working on one block at a time makes this a lot less stressful and encourages you to shop your stash for material. I’m planning to use up my stash of 1930s reproduction fabrics, which I’ve been saving for over ten years.

Click Here to keep reading about our new Dresden Block Along. (Piece prep, fabric, etc.)

Finally Making the Quilt We've Always Wanted To Make...

This week I received an awesome email and quilt picture from Abby:

It was so nice to see Abby's beautiful quilt and learn a bit about it:

Leah, I must thank you SO much for your wonderful videos of quilt making. They were brilliant and I couldn't have finished the quilt for my daughter's wedding present without your help. You are an excellent teacher/communicator - so clear and SO helpful with all the snags novices are likely to fear or experience. As I was working with a lifetime of scraps/old dresses/curtains of various vintages - many African batiks from our having lived abroad, I made 2.5" squares in waves of colour and texture patterns that with the very different consistencies, I was worried wouldn't be square finally. It worked and I have just finished 90" x 60". I doubt I'll do another as I normally make silver jewelry in my retirement, but without your advice, an unfinished quilt would forever have been hanging over me. Thank you very much.

I can definitely relate to Abby's story and wanting to create that special quilt from fabrics saved for years. This is why I'm using up my collection of 1930s reproduction fabrics to create a fabulous Dresden Plate Quilt. I can't enjoy these fabrics in a drawer - they need to be cut up and pieced into a quilt I can use and enjoy every day.

That's it for this week! I really hope you've enjoyed seeing Betty and you'll consider joining us for this fun new Block Along project. This is only Ring #1 in the tutorial series so stay tuned for more!

Let's go quilt,

Leah Day