Improv Dresden Squares // Tutorial

Mermaid-Improv-Quilt-with-spiral-quilting.jpg
Mermaid Improv Quilt with spiral quilting
[Quilt finished in 2016]

I am happy to share my Dresden Squares Tutorial today. I used a dresden ruler (the EZ Dresden Ruler designed by Darlene Zimmerman) 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 work1 yard solid for border1 1/4 yard for backing1/4 yard for bindingbatting1.  Select 10-15 prints and solids in a range of colors and values.

Dresden Squares Fabric

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).

Dresden Squares
Dresden Wedges Needed
4 blocks
16-18 wedges
8 blocks
32-34 wedges
12 blocks
48-52 wedges
16 blocks
64-68 wedges
20 blocks
80-84 wedges
EZ Dresden Challenge: Dresden Squares fabric
3. Chain piece 3/4 (or so) of the dresden wedges. Note: Chain piecing is another word for assembly line piecing. Instead of sewing two wedges together, cutting the threads and putting them in a pile, sew multiple pairs of wedges together in a row, without cutting the threads between them. This speeds up your piecing, and if your machine tends to sputter or catch threads if the needle isn't on the fabric when you start sewing, this helps that problem.
4. Press blocks well (I press towards the darker wedge). Lay wedges out in rows of 12-14, adding in individual wedges as shown below if necessary. Sew wedges together, press seams in long block.
Dresden Squares Layout

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.

Cut Dresden Squares

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 4x5 block construction; it measures 24 1/2'' x 30 1/2''. 

8. Place 2 rows right sides together, pin on either side of each seam, and sew. Press the seams, and continue with the remaining rows.
Rows

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''.Dresden Squares Quilt Top_SwimBikeQuilt

Dresden Squares Top

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. **Note: 3.5 years later, I decided I did not want extra borders, so I chopped them off. You can see they are wavy in the picture above, and the proportions weren't great.

10. Sew borders and press well. Square up quilt top.
Tip: If you plan to photograph a quilt top, don't wait until the last minute. Or else it might rain cats and dogs. And you will have a small lake in front of your house. And rambunctious kids. And disappearing light. Ask me how I know :)
Dresden Squares in the Rain
11. Prepare the quilt back, adding scraps or leftover blocks for interest.
12. Sandwich, quilt, and bind according to your favorite methods.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and leave me a comment to enter to win an EZ Dresden Ruler of your own!!!  [Giveaway closed] I'll pick a winner on Friday.  Don't forget to check out the rest of the Dresden tutorials and inspiration. Good luck!
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.
June 1 - The Sat Lake Modern Quilt Guild: www.slmqg.com/June 2 - Lee: freshlypieced.blogspot.com/June 3 - Katie www.fromthebluechair.com/June 4 - Victoria: bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/ and Tanya: www.squaresandtriangles.comJune 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.comJune 13 - Amy: www.diaryofaquilter.com/June 14 - Jessica: sewcraftyjess.blogspot.com/June 15 - Salt Lake MQG: Wrap-up www.slmqg.com/
And thank you to all the EZ Dresden Challenge sponsors!