Background size?
#1
Background size?
Back in the 70's or 80's (I'm guessing) my late mother pieced together over 60 Dresden Plate blocks which I now have and want to make into a quilt. My question...how much bigger do I cut the background squares in proportion to the size of the plates? Is there any standard for this?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
Personal preference, how big do you want your quilt to be, are you going to use sashing? How big are the Dresden Plates?
I would work backwards and forwards. Frist determine how big the plates are. Then think about how big you want the quilt to be and what layout you will use. Then add in sashing if you are going to use it and lastly determine how big the blacks should be
I would work backwards and forwards. Frist determine how big the plates are. Then think about how big you want the quilt to be and what layout you will use. Then add in sashing if you are going to use it and lastly determine how big the blacks should be
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,539
How do you plan to quilt it? If you intend to SITD around the plates and down the sections only, do 2 inches around so you don't have big unquilted bits in the corners. If you plan to quilt SITD around the plate and then another design in the corners, go as big as you want.
#5
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
i think the answer is "what looks good to you"
remember to allow for the seam allowances - on both the dresden plates and the seam allowances.
do you know if your Mom used washed or unwashed fabrics?
if this was my project - inwould make sure all my "new" comp9nents were washed (shrunk)
and i would carefully soak the plates in hot water for about an hour - lay them on towels to dry - and go from there.
my reason for doing that - i think uneven shrinkage is unattractive .
remember to allow for the seam allowances - on both the dresden plates and the seam allowances.
do you know if your Mom used washed or unwashed fabrics?
if this was my project - inwould make sure all my "new" comp9nents were washed (shrunk)
and i would carefully soak the plates in hot water for about an hour - lay them on towels to dry - and go from there.
my reason for doing that - i think uneven shrinkage is unattractive .
#7
i think the answer is "what looks good to you"
remember to allow for the seam allowances - on both the dresden plates and the seam allowances.
do you know if your Mom used washed or unwashed fabrics?
if this was my project - inwould make sure all my "new" comp9nents were washed (shrunk)
and i would carefully soak the plates in hot water for about an hour - lay them on towels to dry - and go from there.
my reason for doing that - i think uneven shrinkage is unattractive .
remember to allow for the seam allowances - on both the dresden plates and the seam allowances.
do you know if your Mom used washed or unwashed fabrics?
if this was my project - inwould make sure all my "new" comp9nents were washed (shrunk)
and i would carefully soak the plates in hot water for about an hour - lay them on towels to dry - and go from there.
my reason for doing that - i think uneven shrinkage is unattractive .
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
I agree that some fabrics should not be put in hot water. As far as that goes, some should not even by touched by any water.
How does putting fabric in hot water weaken it? Does ironing it with a hot steam weaken it also?
For my purposes, I feel that the cottons should be soaked in hot water before cutting them. My items go to people that have young children - and I want to make sure that the fabrics will not bleed or shrink when washed "with gentle care."
I do recommend washing a finished quilt in cool to warm water - on a gentle cycle - and drying on low to medium heat - or drying flat . I do not recommend line drying.
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
I know that many others do not let their fabrics touch water before they are cut. That is their choice. I've had enough unpleasant surprises to take the extra step. Many others have said they have never, ever, ever had any problems.
The unpleasant surprises I had occurred with gentle, tepid water washing - which is why I try to make sure that items that I expect to be washed can tolerate the process without bleeding and (much) further shrinkage.
I had acquired this cute skirt with an adorable appliqué on it (it seemed to be made of cotton). It was a yard/rummage/garage sale purchase and it smelled a bit funky. I washed it by hand (actually, in water in a dishpan - but I swished it around by hand) - and when it was dry, the appliques had shrunk a lot - so much so that it was impossible to iron/press the fabric under them flat.
Also - if one (or more) of the fabrics in the Dresden plates has bad manners, it/they could be replaced comparatively easily before they are attached to any background fabric.
Last edited by bearisgray; 04-25-2018 at 08:05 PM.
#10
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
Some ways I have managed to weaken fabric
by scorching it with an overly hot iron
by bleaching it
by leaving it in the sun too long
by hanging a heavy item on the line on a very windy day
by letting it twist in a washer or dryer
I've heard that hydrogen peroxide can also weaken fabric.
I have found so many ways to goof things up - I'm sure I'll come up with a few more -
I'm just trying to share my mistakes and what did not work for me.
by scorching it with an overly hot iron
by bleaching it
by leaving it in the sun too long
by hanging a heavy item on the line on a very windy day
by letting it twist in a washer or dryer
I've heard that hydrogen peroxide can also weaken fabric.
I have found so many ways to goof things up - I'm sure I'll come up with a few more -
I'm just trying to share my mistakes and what did not work for me.
Last edited by bearisgray; 04-25-2018 at 08:09 PM.
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