My DH would like to make a dresden plate quilt with just denim...recycling old jeans. His question, (and I don't know the answer), is...can he trim out under the plate so as not to make the quilt too thick? Would the blocks go wonky, or would they hold their shape?

Patti

I trim out from underneath when I use just quilting fabric so no, I don't think it will go wonky on him. Sounds interesting. Just my thought, I would use less blades on my plate if you are using denim.:)

MTS, thanks for clarifying what I was trying to say, I do trim after the plate is sewn on.

If you attach the slices, and then applique the whole plate/fan to a background fabric, you can then cut away the background fabric without worrying about the block going wonky.

That's if the WHOLE shebang is going to be from denim.

If you're making denim plates to go on regular cotton fabric background, then I'd wait until the quilt top was together before cutting the background away. That's a big weight differential between the two fabrics, and it could get a bit wonky without the full back stabilizing each block.

That said, once it's sandwiched and quilted, it will be fine.

Sounds like a great idea, and really, really warm.

eta: Good idea in the previous post. Less blades to reduce the weight of all those seams.

I wouldn't have a problem trimming away a little of the fabric. I don't think I would cut away as much as if it was all made of quilters cotton.
When you wash this, the weight of the denim will put a lot of stress on the thinner cotton. JMHO :D:D:D

No problem at all.

As usual, excellent answers. Thankyou all. He is thinking to do this denim on denim. At this point, he is still in the thinking process...and I am being ever hopeful that he will get the floors finished before he tackles this. LOL

Patti

**snort**

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I would leave the backs on and not do batting or backing. Quilt the top, it's going to be quite heavy as just the top.A friend did a 6" block denim quilt, cut from blue jeans, did some decorative stitches on seams and let that be it. It was very heavy...

I suggested he could perhaps do a raw edge applique of the petals so that it would get a lovely fringe when washed. Not sure he liked that idea. Oh well. He really is very creative, so whatever he ends up choosing to do, I know it will be super.

Patti