Dresden Plate winter swap - snowflakes and Pointsettias with leaves.
We will be using the block pattern Dresden Plate from Quilterscache.com. Here is the link.

http://quilterscache.com/D/DresdenPlateBlock.html
PLEASE NOTE: use the thread below (Flowers that bloom in the Spring Tra la) for the tutorial on making the blocks. The Quilters cache link shows ROUNDED edges, we are doing POINTED edges. PM me if you have any questions.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-116299-1.htm
Please make sure you use 100% cotton fabric that has been washed and dried. Please choose if you are making the Snowflake block - blues, silvers and white, OR Pointsettias - light colored background with reds, pinks, or pointsettia fabric with leaves. Make 12 blocks alike, you will receive one of yours back and 11 different blocks.

Please mark EACH ONE of your blocks with a little slip of paper pinned to each block, or a sticky label can be used, please put the label on the back as sometimes some of the 'sticky' adhears to the block itself. Or you may write in somewhere that it will not bleed through with a permanent thin pigma pen. Please include your real name AND Board name.

Send them to me along with an ADDRESS label and a Stamp ($4.95) for returning blocks. I have ordered padded FRE for your return swapped blocks. Sign-up will close on October 31. PM me if you wish to join.

Blocks due to me by Nov. 30. Because of problems with the deadlines in other swaps, if there is going to be a problem with having them here by Nov 30 please pm me. You also have the option of dropping out of the swap. Any blocks received after Nov 30 will not be accepted and will be returned to you. It is not fair for those who do honor the deadline to be waiting and waiting and waiting.
In accordance with general swap rules, failure to send promised BLOCKS will be reported in both the public column of the group activity matrix and as negative feedback against the profile of anyone who does not fulfill their commitment to the swap.

If you want to make multiple sets, just make sure you have 12 blocks of each SET design. You will receive back as many sets as you send. The flat rate bubble envelope will hold two sets. Any more than that, you will need another flat rate return address label and stamp.

I have received three sets already from the participants. This should give you a nice idea of how to do your blocks.

i'm in and i'll do both colorways

Great looking blocks :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I have the material for the pointsettias.

I have two colors for the winter block, but need to find a third contrast and the back.

Still looking.......

I am in for the Blue one - will send you a PM :thumbup:

Please note, that if you send in Snowflakes, you will get snowflakes blue. If you do Pointsettias, you get those back. Also, for those who are new to this swap, please note that even though Quilterscache shows rounded edges, we will be doing pointed edges. The tutorial for doing that can be found in the second link posted. PM me if you have any questions.

Link is no good deb ... it is showing some sort of an error.

RedGarnet222 pointed out that the link I first posted for the tutorial came back in error. I have fixed that link.
Thanks for the heads up on this.
One other suggestion I have for this block if I didn't mention in the thread, it is always better to cut the background block 13 inches square - then square it up to 12.5 AFTER you do your plate applique'.
One additional thought...if you have a question about the fabric you wish to use (color wise) please pm me. The color requests are very specific.

Redgarnet222is having a very hard time making her plates come out. She is so frustrated that she wants to quit. We all need to help her. I have asked her to post a pic so we can figure out what is the problem.

Redgarnet- you can't quit- Nope I am not going to let you -- No one can have anymore troubles than I did with my first time swapping these ( the fall one) You wanna talk about issues :wink: I had them :oops: First I had 20 blades instead of 16 ( don't ask me what I was thinking) took them apart resewed them - wouldn't lay flat :roll: took them apart AGAIN :shock: Third time was the charm :thumbup:

Lets talk - If I can overcome so can you :lol: :thumbup:

Oh, yes, Sharon would be the one to talk to. Yet, her blocks were just beautiful. Red - DON'T GIVE UP. WE WILL HELP YOU!!

Come on Red - you can do it! My first swap was the spring one and the first time making this block. Go for it!

Red, you have to be the "Little Train that CAN"......I think you can, I think you can, I think you can, I think you can, I think you can, I think you can, and believe me you CAN.....

I appreciate you all, but, I can't do it and I am not going to try anymore. I am so sorry I have to quilt.

Now are you going to let this get to you? Your phrase says to "take your needle, mychild, and work at your pattern...one stitch at a time, taken patiently", now you can do it. Go to you LQS and get some assist if you have to, but don't give up. We know you can. Don't make me come down to Reno and show you how girl. (Only wish I could).

I double dare you! LOL! I would love that too much...

Keep working on the block at your own pace. Even if you aren't able to get them done for the swap.

When I have trouble, I just keep going back - either from being stubborn, or just won't give up- then all of a sudden it clicks and the block is done. :!: :!: :!:

Then the next time, I can participate in the group.

Let us know what the issues are either by posting on the comment thread, or by PM. Some one will be able to work you through it.

Glad you still have your sense of humor :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Now if I head there, how do I get there from up here in Spokane Washington? Not sure of the drive. I wonder if I can do it with this cast? I will have to drive left footed and I have a manual pickup. Hmmmmm, if I leave now, how long to get there? Did you get them all cut out so I just have to show you how to do it? Or do we need to start from the very beginning. Did you at least print out the templates and get those ready?

Red just so you know I am not fibbing here are my blocks in various stages :oops:

And they were just right!!!!

Yes they were. I am so glad you perseveered. I like them. So where are my directions to drive down there and show you how to get r done? My husband might question the extra gas money i am going to spend, but what the heck, it is for the sake of quilting right?

Once again, I wish I lived close to everyone who needed help. I think that one swap I do should be a whole weekend long, where we are all together, and can help each other out. What fun that would be!!!!

Are you sure the neighborhood could stand all the giggles and people running around with scissors, chocolate, and loose threads hanging everywhere :?: :?:

IT WOULD BE A BLAST :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

YESYESYESYESYESYES..........BOY, IF I COULD ONLY PULL THIS OFF.

Let's work on doing a winter get away after the holidays.....maybe end of Jan early in Feb when the winter blahhh's hit. That would be alot of fun. Have sewing machine, will travel to central location, with scissors, chocolate,
fabric, chocolate, pattern, chocolate, thread, chocolate,
rotary cutter, chocolate, mat, chocolate, and did I mention some wonderful chocolate to soothe the savage beast in all of us.....lol

Oh no, I got it, she is going to get us there to help shovel the snow......tricky little devil that she is.......

LOL Yes I think that would be the goal :thumbup: Maybe a spring/summer get together :wink: Better weather

Or winter with the secret desire to be snowed in for a week to do nothing but shovel and quilt.....lol :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

LOL If I want snow I can stay home and it finds me quite nicely :roll: LOL and I think they are calling for a bad winter again this year :thumbdown: Gosh darn wooly worms :hunf: LOL

I am really excited for this swap!

I have a great day planned today.... a quilting class from 9-12 and then I get to spend time perusing all the yummy fabrics and choosing some special winter snowflake fabric for this swap. Totally fun :0)

This swap must be a good secret, not many are signed up yet. I know Dresden is a special older style block, and may not appeal to everyone, I am hoping that being diversified in colors will give the block some new life. Spring's were beautiful, and fall - I have to say were a favorite. I am looking forward to snowflakes and pointsettias!!! Oh, and yes, shovels...just for Patti.

i'm sure we'll get 12 people to jump in - we always have in the past and i'm sure we will in this one too.

Deb - what size is the actual blade once sewn from bottom to tip and also, is the center circle a 3 1/2 "?

You have to go to Quilterscache.com and download the template from the block pattern. I did cut the background fabric 13 inches square though, it make it easier to square up after I did the plate applique'.

I pm you. I would like to do it but am not sure if I have white background for the snow flake blocks. I am in on the pointsettia if you will have me. Please note my question on the blanket stitch in the pm. Thanks! Looks like fun.

Also lots of swaps going on - school just started , the weather is changing - I am sure the swap will pick up :thumbup:

Grasshopper has spoken.....lol

OK Went to Walmart and picked up the last 1 1/2 yards of white on white so now I can do the snow flake one too. That was the one I wanted to do the most so I am happy.

Well I already ran into a problem. I thought I would use my Dresden ruler but it does not work. So how does everyone cut all those wedges? Please do not tell me you cut out the template, sit and trace around all of them hundreds upon hundreds of times and then cut them all 216 times out for one swap and 432 times if you do both swaps. There has to be an alternative way. Right?

I just enlisted DH to make me a new ruler/template to make the right size wedges. Does anyone know if there is a ruler that is the correct size to get these particular wedges? Hoping to spare DH the missery.

one lady does do templates, marks the fabric, and then rotary cuts.

i just tape the paper templates to my ruler and cut the fabric - no marking no plastic or cardboard templates.

you can see pics of both methods here

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-128774-5.htm

i believe deb did a tute on the spring swap too showing her method.

There is also a Dresden Plate ruler - the template from Quiltercachs would be the 4 inch wedge :wink:

OK I apparently have the wrong wedge ruler. Mine is more narrow and takes like 20 plus wedges to make a plate while I need one that comes out to 16 wedges total. OK Maybe I can find some one to trade with or find one in the store. Now I understand why there are that many.