The dresden plate practice had a purpose. I had a quilt idea in my head using these little plates. So, I though maybe the second time would be the charm. So I made this little pink one. Nope, same problem. It wasn't flat either. More tweaking. I've got a third one cut out. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment. I'm going to keep trying. I do love how they look.
I would like to applique the color wheel onto some white fabric, but with the trouble I had making that little circle for the center, I'm not sure I'm up to it. Any suggestions from the applique wizards out there. What would be the best way to tackle that so it actually looks like a circle?
Last week I won a giveaway at Katie's blog, Sew Katie Sew. This is what arrived yesterday. She sent some great fabric, some vintage too, and look at those buttons, how cool are those? Thanks Katie. Can you see some of your fabric in the next picture?
I finished these for my mom's birthday. I'm posting about it cause she saw them yesterday. Way too much peeking going on around here. I'm torn...work of art or potholder? I'm really leaning towards the work of art. One might have to be because it only has one layer of batting...oops! I wouldn't let her take them home yesterday until I got a picture. And how about those grommets...they're my first ones. Not too hard and love the look.
56 comments:
Love your color wheels. Use freezer paper - cut it in a circle, iron your fabric to the shiny side, fold fabric over and use a glue stick to secure the fabric to the back of the freezer paper, machine applique it on (use invisible thread on the top so you don't see it) sewing right at the edge, and go through the back to remove the freezer paper. You can either cut away the backing fabric entirely, or just make a large slit. I've never tried a Dresden plate pattern - but these look fantastic! And I agree - teh potholders are too pretty to actually use.....
Kris
your color wheel is so pretty! i have wanted to do one too, but I am terrified of circles. I love the potholders too. I might make me some of those. they are darling! (i am also in need of some new pot holders)
i thought this trick from A.M. Horner's blog) using aluminum foil was great. worked for me!
http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2007/02/super-circles.html
I have made these blocks before. You can see them in this post here.
http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/2008/06/me-in-movie-at-quilt-retreat.html
I did use a specific technique to round out the edges then sewed them down with ric-rac to the background. The technique involves a lightweight fusible interfacing that you sew to your wheel sticky side to the right side of fabric. Sew about 1/8" then when you are done cut a slit in the interfacing and turn right side out. Smooth out your edges with a point turner or something of the sort. Now you can fuse it to your background. You can then choose to hand applique, blanket stitch by machine or hand, or do something like I chose embellish with ric- rac. I hope you understand what I was trying to describe. If not, definitely e-mail me and I can give you a better description.
Those potholders are really cute, and I love the grommets. Bet you could make those with a quilt-as-you-go technique, too.
Good luck with the plates/wheels. Please share whatever technique works for you.
Well you've been busy Jacquie! Love your color wheel dresden plate. You have lots of fantastic ideas in that creative head of yours. I did grommets for a shower curtain years ago and I think I found the most difficult way to do it. Potholders--no--work of art--YES!
I am too afraid to play with Dresden plate pattern (who knows maybe one day I would feel brave enough), so you are my hero... I love how they turned out.
Potholders are too cute, I bet your mom loves them.
wow!looks great! are you paper piecing your circles?
I love your plates! They are wonderful. I've used Jackie's technique for other applique things - it works great! It was the first way I learned how to do applique. Your art/potholders are spectacular. I don't think I could use them as potholders because they are too pretty. And someone might burn them - *gasp* horrors!
The potholders are definitely art and should hang in the kitchen to decorate it. It shoulds like Jackie's idea is a good one.
Your color wheel is fabulous! I can't help you with the applique portion, but I will be taking notes as the answers role in. Please share what does end up working for you!
I love your potholders/miniature works of art!
I've always admired the dresden plate pattern but been too scared to go anywhere near it. Good for you - going for it!
You are ambitious! Love what you've got so far on your plates - color wheel!? It's fab :) My only experience with applique is my bookmarks, interfacing and a little zig . . . I look forward to hearing what works for you.
I absolutely love the Dresden plate color wheel...what a terrific idea! Potholders are definitely works of art...I've been making them as well (in fact I posted some of mine today, too!)
I second the freezer paper method!
Love the potholders. I'm glad you like your goodies ;)
love the pot holders/art work. :) i'm glad to hear grommets are not too much work. i'm planning to make some curtains with them shortly.
You certainly have been busy! Your potholders look great and I just love the dresden plates. I'm always drawn to them, but always imagine they're too difficult to make. I can't wait to see what you use them for!
I use freezer paper, but after ironing the circle down to the fabric I use spray starch, which I spray into a little dish. I use a small stiff stippling brush to brush the starch onto the seam allowance and then use the iron to press the seam allowance around the freezer paper. It gives a nice crisp edge for appliqueing and a great finished product.
This is a method I found and really like for appliquing: http://afewscraps.blogspot.com/2008/04/easy-appliqu-with-dryer-sheet.html Good luck with the color wheels!
Sorry I can't help with the applique, but I do think they're really pretty! Also, I LOVE the potholders/works of art. They really are works of art!
My vote is for 'work of art', but I would still use 'em. Art should be part of every day!
I love your plates but if they are harder than they look they must be pretty darn hard. I love your potholders.
Beautiful plates. They look really wonderful. They are sewn on your machine? I think my favourite is the colorwheel :)
Why don't you try Anna Maria's great circle idea here:
http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2007/02/super-circles.html
Good luck.
Andi :-)
oh my goodness. i love those plates! gorgeous. i have no advice for you. i just love them.
Sorry I don't have any suggestions for you for making the circles, but I'd love to hear what method you choose to use (and how it works...)
Great pot holders/ work of art!
Jacquie, you always amaze me! I love the colors in the second plate, the pinks are perfect. And I'll believe you when you say they are harder than they look. I'm almost glad that I'm a novice! The potholders look great too. Love the grommets, maybe you can do a tutorial one day, (hint hint).
Work of art!!! Too pretty to get food on them from the stove. I love the way you hung them... clever you.
Joni
Hi -
I love your colour wheel...!!
Some of the tips I can give you maybe already posted but I'm in a hurry and can't read them all..
1. Use fusible web (one sided) right sides together with your circle fabric, sew, cut 1/8" around the circle, cut a slit in the fus. web and turn right sides out, iron in place and stitch down OR simply do that with two pieces of the same fabric - gives a little 3D effect
2. Yoyo! - make a yoyo and appliqué it in place (plain side up)
3. Freezer Paper - cut a circle, iron on wrong side of fabric, finger press seam allowance (after cutting some "noses" in s. a.), stitch in place, cut a slit in background fabric & pull freezer paper out.
I sometimes "cheat" with Roxanne's Glue Baste It to hold seam allowances in place while I'm appliquéing.
Good luck,
Julia
...whose Dresden plates don't lay flat either
P.S.: Oh, before I forget - I did some plates via English paperpiecing, also the center circle...cut template cardstock and then baste circle as you would do with hexagons...
Your quilt is gorgeous! It must takes ages to cut out all of those pieces. I shall come back snd see how it progresses.
Love the plates! Your mother's present is wonderful! I love the bright cheeriness of it.
I LOVE the color wheel. I may have to try that one for the sewing studio.
When I have done the plates in the past, I have cut a piece of the heatable template plastic in a circle, cut the center piece slightly larger and gather it around the plastic. I then spray starch the back of the circle and remove the plastic. It is perfect. Good luck.
I just cut some pieces for circles out oo - I haven't sewn them yet, but I'll be using some of the help in these comments - your look fab!
You are just rockin' and rollin'! Love the wheels, and your mom has some special gifts there. :~)xx
My goodness, you are one busy gal! The color wheel/Dresden plates look great, as do those cool pot holder/art hangings! Great job on the grommets, I have never tried them, too intimidated!
Congrats on the giveaway, looks like a lovely selection of goodies!
I see you have had lots of advice with your circles, so am sure you will perfect it all - love your colour wheel and those potholders are something else! I wouldn't be using them, just gorgeous decorations they would be for me!
Hugs - Lurline!
Your circles look so effective - love the colours!! Your pot holders are wonderful and are sure to brighten up your Mothers kitchen. I use the spray starch method when appliquing - it gives great results with circle shapes. Can' wait to see the finished product.
Circles are easy if you use Karen Kay Buckley's "Perfect Circles". I can't tell from your pic how big your block is, but Karen now sells the perfect circles in two groups. I don't want to sound like a commercial for her products, but I have not had a pointy circle since using her technique.
Needled mom discussed the technique above. Email me if you need it described in more detail.
Good luck!
I am so blown away by your plates! They look wonderful and so does your mini quilt! Beautiful beautiful!
How do you get so much done?!? I'm consistently impressed! It's all beautiful!
Oh do you have more than 24 hours there, in your world...haha...
take a look at this http://texassiren.blogspot.com/2008/08/show-and-tell.html
see that dresden plate? made by a pro (my grandmother) and it was so very non-flat that I was tempted to add a back to it and stuff it for a pillow. I finally just decided to tie the quilt and not look too closely. remember the saying "it'll quilt out".
My guess is that your pattern needs a bit of adjustment...maybe narrower at the bottoms or perhaps has 1 too many leaves. I actually think this is one of those patterns like Grandmother's Flower Garden that works best either paper pieced or hand sewn.
For the circle. I use very small basting stitches and round it as I sew it down. that's by hand, I don't machine applique. Actually, most of my stuff is by hand so that's probably just my stock answer haha.
How cool is that? A color wheel for your sewing room made from fabrics? I have to have one.
What a nice prize to win. I'm never lucky at stuff like that.
And I love the pot holders/sculpture I think your mom is the one who should get to choose the use for them. She may just want to look at the art work for awhile before getting down to the practicalities of using them as pot holders.
~~Fran...:c)
I love these color wheels! What a great idea, I especially like the pink one.
The color wheel is delightful. I definitely would applique the center on top, using a cardboard template and gathering the fabric around it using a running stitch in the seam allowance. Steam, let cool, and loosen the thread to remove the cardboard. Perfect circle!
I'm having a giveaway - check out my blog.
I LOVE that color wheel! It looks hard, and, it looks like a great idea for a quilt top! Might have to keep that in mind!
Work of art I say...how beautiful are the fabrics you have chosen?
Love the color wheels! How about paper piecing? Cute potholders! They are works of art.
Oh I love the gromets. I have some but haven't used them yet. That makes me want to use them! Love the wheels - what a lovely stash in the wheels.
I love your colour wheel even if it isn't flat ;-))). I've never tried round curves but seeing yours I think I should give it a try
Your potholders? To me they are definitely ART! I love them.
the dresden plates are gorgeous!
Wonderful idea to make a colour wheel using the Dresden plate pattern. I love that pattern! I love the fabrics you used for all the ones you made.
Wahoo! What great swag from Katie!
You're potholders are so gorgeous, Jacquie. Works of art, indeed!
eek! That color wheel plate is gorgeous! Dresden plates are one of my favorite quilting patterns and I would love to make a quilt with them one day. I wonder if they have templates that would work for this?
your projects are beautiful! wow. you and kate have inspired me to try something like this.
Jacquie, I have a circle tutorial on my site. It helps with the construction and application. I think it might help you. Get a hold of me if you have more questions.
the grommets look great and the plates are ever so pretty - I've never made them with so many pieces so have never had the flat vs. bumpy problem - now you've given me a challenge - broaden my horizons and try something trickier! :-)
Post a Comment