My Mom did enough Dresden Plate squares for a bed size quilt. They are appliqued by hand. Now that she is gone, I would like to make them up. When I got them out the other day, I found that very few of the squares are square. Should I take the "plates" off and re-applique them? or try cutting them down to size? Some of them are off-center. Maybe, I should just start over. What should I do? Thanks for you time and help. Love this site!!

Hmmmm....I dunno, since it was done by your mum's hand, who has passed on, I would leave as much of the original work intact. Can you square them effectively? I would do that first. Or, can you add a border on each of the squares to standardize the squares that way?

I think I would square them up as best I can. I feel saving as much of the original work is part of the charm of preserving the old blocks. I am currently hand quilting an old quilt where NONE of the corners match. It drives me crazy but that is part of the charm of this quilt. Just enjoy your mothers work with love.

I agree. Keep as much of your mother's work as possible. That's what the quilt is about.

How about adding a small border to edge block to square them up the end result will give you a wonky look but your mom's original work will be intact

Another one here who agrees :)

Oh yes. Keep her original stitches in the quilt. Post some pics if you would.

I agree, keep the plates as much as you can to be original. I would try to square them up and add a small border around each block. You may have to add, maybe a half inch around one and two inches around another, such as that. You will love it once it is finished. Can't wait to see it.

If the dresden plates are laying fairly flat on the backgrounds, I also suggest keeping as much of your Mom's original work as possible and compensate (even up the squares) either by adding sashing/borders or trimming to the same size.

I kind of think that when the people were doing this way back when, that they were planning to trim to a more or less even size after they had all the blocks made.

I would try to square them up, even if the blocks end up smaller but all the same size. Don't do away with the work your mom did, you'll never see her stitches/work again. My mom passed 23 years ago, I have kept cards, letters, etc. she wrote on knowing it's the last of her signature. Good luck! :)

I agree to keep as much of her work as possible. Cut the blocks smaller to square them up, or border, if necessary.

I agree with the consensus to square up the blocks as much as possible even if you have to make them a little smaller. Trying to keep as much of the original as possible is the main thing I think.

If you square them all up a bit "off center" then it will give the whole quilt a cohesive look :wink:
Another thought is to leave half squared, the other half off centered, and alternate them :D:D:D

Oh, do keep the work your dear mother done & try & square up as best you can. Find the smallest one & work from that one if possible. Once you have done that, you could even put them on point with a sashing between them.

I agree with everyone here....keep as much of her work as possible. Quilts are perfect in our own eyes and it doesn't matter what others may think. The perfection is it is your mother's work and your memories of her.

I would try to square them up by adding a border.

I have some small squares that my mom embroidered with animals. they have raveled and so I decided to add a border around each square. that way I can even them up. they are cute. I used pastel prints and there are enough to make a baby quilt.

I totally agree with the others. Keep as much of the original as possible. If the wonky look just isn't for you, then square the outside and add strips and borders to make the squares big enough to stitch together. You have a great family treasure, I know you will cherish it.

If you can't square them effectively, perhaps you could sew extra material onto them so that they are as if they were framed. Then you could put them into the quilt.

Could you just use borders and make them fit so you have the original work?

Fivepaws, check out Sharon Schamber's method for squaring up blocks - she takes a block that is 1/2" out of square on one side and makes it perfectly square - without any cutting! She's using an applique block in her demo. This would preserver your mom's handwork :)

http://sharonschambernetwork.com/Cla...h-A-Block.aspx

<no affiliation, just a fan>

Thanks so much Linda, to you and to the many who have made suggestions . Hopefully, I will now feel confident to tackle this with vigor!