Hi all,

I'm hoping some of you can share your expertise in sewing my Dresden Plates to the background block fabric.

I have the "plates" completed and have them lightly glue based (using the school glue and hot iron technique I learned here for bindings). I'm considering a couple of options, and am also open to hearing other suggestions.

Option 1: Applique them on by hand. Time consuming... but I DO want this quilt to look good. How durable, for washing and drying, is hand applique?

Option 2: Use "invisible" poly thread with a very narrow zig-zag stitch and sew them on by machine. This seems like it might be a little sturdier, but I don't have any experience with hand applique, so I don't really know.

What do you all think???
Thanks for your advice!

Wendy

P.S. I am making an oversized queen with either 49 or 64 plates, so I'll be doing A LOT of whatever method I choose.
Then I'll FMQ the whole thing using the "push through" method on my Juki. I've done a couple of pretty large quilts this way, so I know it's do-able.

i did mine by hand. then machine quilted around each one

I'll be watching the responses you get on this one. My backup project is to applique some dresden plates my grandma did way back when. I've chosen to hand applique using a blanket stitch and embroidery floss. I then plan to hand quilt on the inside of each petal. I'm doing my blanket stitch quite small and close together so I believe it will hold up to use and washing though I plan to keep and won't treat it like an everyday blanket, more for show and dress because of the sentimental value.

hand applique is just as durable as machine applique...as long as you use quality thread there should not be any problems with your appliques falling apart. as for the machine applique...i do both LOTS...and i HATE the invisible threads...i would be much more worried about that thread causing problems than i would ever worry about my hand work coming un-done. i made the mistake of quilting a quilt with invisible thread once...every time the quilt is washed more of the thread breaks, it became brittle...it is poky like those annoying clothing tags that poke you non-stop and drive you crazy till you remove them...and it was expensive name brand invisible thread...it is like sewing with fishing line and when it breaks it is poky-sharp...
it is usually recommended to try to match your thread to the applique fabric or a shade darker for the most invisible final outcome. when i machine applique i use colored thread, and use either a blanket stitch or very small zigzag- definitly faster than hand applique,

just make sure your thread ends are secure and it will be fine

also if you go to www.missouriquiltco.com and look under the tutorials...under project tutorials and at the bottom you will see one for the dresden plate tutorial beginning block quilting series. watch that video its great. she has a lot of great tutorials on there

I like that table runner ~ nice! I am not crazy about the dresden plates by themselves, but I saw the cutest kids quilt done with dresden plates made into large applique flowers... adorable, just may have to do a few to use up some scraps!

I always hand applique my dresdens then machine quilt around them so far they are holding up well and one is about 25 years old and faded but still attached!

I made two dresden plate quilts. How crazy is this..the first one was 25 years ago..and my first quilt. I hand appliqued it onto the background. The second one I did a blanket stitch by machine with #12 thread. Instead of basting the edges..I did the reverse fusible applique method. Both have held up nicely.

I did mine with my machine. It is holding up great.