A big thank you to the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild (SLMQG) for hosting the EZ Dresden Quilting Challenge and inviting me to join in the fun. The SLMQG has teamed up with EZ Quilting/Simplicity and a host of other manufacturers to celebrate Darlene Zimmerman‘s 20th Anniversary designing quilting tools for EZ Quilting. They are hosting a challenge — Use a dresden ruler to create a project, then enter it by September 6 to win some really great prizes, including a photo of your quilt in Quilting Arts magazine, a Singer Sewing machine, fabric, thread, rulers, and more! Click here for more contest details.
I am happy to share my Dresden Squares Tutorial today. I used a dresden ruler (the EZ Dresden Ruler designed by Darlene Zimmerman, and I have one to give away, too!) to make 6.5 inch “faux improv” squares. Combining the precision of the dresden ruler with randomly cut squares is a simple way to ease into improv piecing for those who are hesitant to try improv but like the look. And of course, if you feel completely comfortable with improv sewing, this is a fun block construction method that looks much more complicated than it is.
Supplies Needed for Dresden Squares Baby Quilt
Finished quilt: 36 1/2” x 42 1/2”(smaller than quilt shown)
10-15 prints & solids; scraps, FE, and FQs all work
1 yard solid for border
1 1/4 yard for backing
1/4 yard for binding
batting
1. Select 10-15 prints and solids in a range of colors and values.
2. Layer fabric and use an 8” dresden ruler to cut wedges. This quilt uses 20 Dresden Squares.; refer to the chart below if you want to make an alternate number of blocks. I cut four dresdens at a time and individually fussy cut the Mendocino mermaids & octopi (a long out of print collection designed by Heather Ross).
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Dresden Squares
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Dresden Wedges Needed
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4 blocks
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16-18 wedges
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8 blocks
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32-34 wedges
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12 blocks
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48-52 wedges
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16 blocks
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64-68 wedges
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20 blocks
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80-84 wedges
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5.Use a square or regular ruler to cut the wedge strips into 6 1/2” squares. Rotate the ruler in different directions as you go. If you end up with an extra dresden or two after cutting your squares, sew them onto the end of a different row of dresdens.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 until you have the desired number of Dresden Squares.
7. Play around with the layout of your Dresden Square blocks. Once you find a layout you like, sew the blocks together in vertical rows. Press the blocks in each row. Tip: Press all of the blocks in row 1 towards the bottom, press blocks in row 2 towards the top, press blocks in row 3 towards the bottom, etc. If you alternate the way you press the blocks by row, when you pin the rows together, the seams will “lock” with the two seams going in alternate directions. This quilt top is a 4×5 block construction; it measures 24 1/2” x 30 1/2”.
Thanks to my friend Miranda for suggesting the 2nd layout with the ombre solid border (the binding will be the dark Art Gallery purple solid used in the quilt).
9. Adding your borders. Tip: I find that my borders are more likely to be square/less wavy if I cut border strips to size before I start sewing. For a 36 1/2” x 42 1/2” quilt with uniform borders, cut two borders that are 6 1/2” x 24 1/2” and two borders that were 6 1/2” x 36 1/2”.
Note: I wanted my version to be bigger than that, and for the Dresden Squares to be slightly off center, so I kept adding borders until I was satisfied with it. I also used a few extra blocks in the outer borders of the quilt.
June 2 - Lee: freshlypieced.blogspot.com/
June 3 - Katie www.fromthebluechair.com/
June 4 - Victoria: bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/ and Tanya: www.squaresandtriangles.com
June 5 - Val: howaboutpinkplease.blogspot.com/ and Leigh: leedledeedlequilts.blogspot.com/
June 6 - Amy: amyscreativeside.com/ and Elisa www.stitchoutsidetheditch.com/
June 7 - Katie: www.swimbikequilt.com/ and Emily: emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/
June 8 - Melissa: happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/ and Brooke: pitterputterstitch.blogspot.com/
June 9 - Nicole: mamalovequilts.blogspot.com/ and Amy sukie.mt-wudan.com/
June 10 - Elizabeth: www.dontcallmebetsy.com/ and Colleen: www.thebusybean.com/
June 11 - Faith: www.freshlemonsquilts.com/ and Deonn: quiltscapesquilting.blogspot.com/
June 12 - Angela: angelaflicker.com/ and Barbie: thequiltingmill.blogspot.com
June 13 - Amy: www.diaryofaquilter.com/
June 14 - Jessica: sewcraftyjess.blogspot.com/
June 15 - Salt Lake MQG: Wrap-up www.slmqg.com/
71 Comments
I love the playfulness of this quilt Katie
Not to mention the awesome mix of colors
Thnx or sharing–I’m loving all the creative uses or this ruler besides he obvious, Dresden plates.
Great colour palette! And the extra little rogue block in the bottom corner is perfect!
Very nice-I like how you did the borders and offset the pieced blocks.
I would love to win! I love the design of the baby quilt.
Great quilt. Love this idea.
I like this idea. thanks for sharing i.
It turned out awesome! Great job! I’d be all over making one of these…
I love the pop of blue in your color selection!
Great giveaway! I always love a ruler!
Beautiful baby quilt.I`d love a ruler!
What a great way to use the ruler! I have been inspired by all the blogs so far on this dresden plate adventure!
I love your quilt! I’ll have to try it…as soon as I have a Dresden ruler
Lovely quilt. Thanks for sharing it with us.
LOVE how you used the dresden ruler! Pinning for addition to “THE LIST”.
another fun way to use the dresden ruler…I love how you made the blocks…thanks for the giveaway…
I love this use of the ruler to make a fun modern quilt! The colors are so pretty
Very different! I sure am enjoying the versitility of the Dresden ruler!
so many ways to use this humble little shape…thanks for the tutorial!
I am loving seeing the versatility of this ruler, thank you for sharing your idea with us today.
I love this – especially the block at the bottom!!
Thank you!
It is fascinating to see all of the different ways to use this ruler!
Very cool, Katie! I love your design.
Wow, Katie, I love this! I would never have thought to use purple for the borders but it’s fabulous.
Love your quilt and the colors. Thanks for the chance to win the ruler.
Linda F.
Great looking quilt. I like the border added to the 2nd one.
Thank you for showing us.
sure like your improv block and the baby quilt tute! your color choice is fabulous! am enjoying all the dresden posts, great ideas, information! thanx for the tute and the chance to win the ruler
Love the colors you selected (and that photography tip you gave under tip # 10 – very, very wise advise!).
Love the colors you selected (and that photography tip you gave under tip # 10 – very, very wise advise!).
The dresden block is something I have wanted to try. I looks like the ruler is the key to success. Thanks for the giveaway. (Great color combo by the way)ksanderson@hotmail.ca
love your dresden xoxo and sooo jealous of your heather ross mermaid print …..
The colors you used have a real punch. Nice.
I love the different take on using the dresden ruler. This is gorgeous! Thanks for the chance.
Your technique looks great! Could be just the thing for this “improv-challenged” quilter. Thanks for the inspiration and for the chance to win!
you are right about how easy it really is…. Thank you for sharing. I am very new to this plate jazz and having a variety of quilters to look at for inspiration is a wonderful way to connect with new people.
Sincerely,
Mondy Fawn
Thanks for the great ideas on how to use the ez dresden ruler to make squares. It would be grand to win a ruler. Perhaps Dresdens are in my future. alternate email mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com
Fun take on using the dresden ruler. Great design and I love the palette you chose. Very inspiring.
I love your design! Very cool and modern!
Thanks for the tutorial! Love the design!
Something else for me to try! thanks!
Fun design. Thanks for sharing your tutorial. I’m getting so many ideas to try!
I really loved your design!
It’s amazing to see all the different designs made with this template!
Thanks for the great tutorial. I love the versatility of the Dresdens.
Great ideas! I can’t figure out to comment on this post with just an email address. I don’t have any of the accounts listed on your drop down window.
Fantastic tutorial, thanks for sharing. And thanks for the chance to win an EZ Dresden Ruler.
I can’t get over how many different things you can do with this ruler. Clever!
This is brilliant! And I adore your colour palette. And I hate purple, so that’s pretty impressive! I even want to track down some of that lighter purple, I like it that much!
Oh, this looks great! Thanks so much!
Love the colors in your quilt! And would love to win the ruler to make one like it. Thanks for the chance.
I love this quilt! The colors are so great together!
Love the purples…Looks like banners at a renaissance fair
Thank you for sharing your tutorial! Awesome!
The only thing holding me back is that I don’t have “the ruler.” Thanks for the opportunity to win one.
I like the creativity on this bloghop!
Love this modern looking quilt. And you made it with that ruler! I love it, very nice tutorial too.
Greetings from the Netherlands
Marina Fluit
M.fluit@planet.nl
Love the modern looking quilt. I’m hoping to do a dresden soon………
Love doing the blog hop for this challenge. Super fun to see all the creativity. This is an interesting block, but think I wold break it up a bit to ease the eye. Seems a bit busy for my style.. but love to take the idea and see if I could put my own spin on it.
Lisa…
You have so much imagination. They are almost to much
love the extra blocks in the border! thanks!
love your idea of using the dresden pieces to just sew rows!! Great idea, especially for making a block with no applique!! Thanks:-)
Thanks for the tute – it looks great!
Nice job on this! I LOVE the colors!
I love blocks that look harder than they really are – the faux improv blocks are awesome!
so cool- i love the purple for the negative space.
My goodness! I love this quilt!
Love the mermaid print!
Fun quilt and blog!
I totally love this quilt! Especially the escapees in the borders. Very cool idea for the dresden ruler!!
Amor a primeira olhada,linda.Obrigada.tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com
What an inspiring way to use the dresdan ruler.
i’ve wanted to try the dresden ruler! what a lovely quilt <3