My FIL has asked me about making a dresden plate quilt, using his old ties. I'm assuming you get just one blade out of each tie, right? Approx how many plates would you make for a lap quilt?

TIA
Dorian

I have seen photos on here before does the search function work yet? I think I might have it saved

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-72433-1.htm

here is the link to the dresden tie quilt

There is an amazing amount of usable fabric in a mans tie. Just remember, it is all bias. When I was given a sack full of them after a family member passed, I used a light weight fuseable to stabilize them. Since I don't know what size plate you will be making, I still think you might be able to get two blades per tie and maybe three. I guess this is your trial and error period here.

Good luck on your project. Silk does have a mind of it's own.

Thank you for the tip about the fusible. I have acquired a bunch of ties for a crazy quilt, but had not thought of stabilizing this bias fabric.

There is a good book out about using ties. It is called Daddy's Ties. It has a lot of ideas in it. I am getting ready to make some pillows for a friend out of her father's ties.

Hi Dorian,

The number of blades you get from each tie depends on the size of each blade and the size of the tie. I would open the tie up from the back so that they can lie flat. I would think about using a featherweight stabilizer on the back of the tie fabric depending on the fabric and how it handles.

Good luck with your quilt project.

Pam M

fuse them saves a lot of heart ache---great effect when used

if you used a whole tie for each blade you will have a HUGE quilt! a tie is usually 40+" long---giving you an 80+" plate---
you can cut the ties to the size blades you want and get many plate segments out of each tie.

I am in the process of making dresdens with ties (first time). I posted a WIP photo here:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-111622-1.htm
You'll need a dresden ruler to cut the blades. My wedges were 6 1/2" and the plate turned out about 13" in diameter. Based on this size, you could get probably 20 wedges from each tie because you pick the tie apart first. (Need 20 wedges for each plate). PM me with questions if you want.