Dresden Color Wheel Mug Rug Tutorial

April 24, 2015July 26, 2021 | terriaw

(Please ask for permission to use my photos from this post beforehand.)

I had a lot of fun making mini Dresden color wheels this past week, so I wanted to share a quick tutorial on how to make your own. I backed this one with felt to use as a mug rug, which really brightens up my work space and makes me happy!

After choosing fabrics from your stash, cut about 20-21 wedges (I used 20 wedges in the sample above and 21 in the sample below – use your own judgment to see what you can make work), using one of the smaller measurements on the Easy Dresden Template designed by Darlene Zimmerman (got mine from Joann’s). For the examples pictured here, I used the 1-1/2″ and the 2″ positions to cut my 20 wedges.

Fold each wedge in half the long way and stitch along the top, using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Turn right side out to form a point at the top.

This is a great step to chain-stitch the pieces together.Lay each wedge right side together, and stitch all the wedges together to form a ring, using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams open.

dresden plates sewn into a circle Measure the inner circle and add 1/2″ to 3/4″ to each side for the seam allowance. Cut a circle from paper or plastic to use as a template; cut 2 circles from your center fabric.

For these smaller dresdens, I cut circles that measured 4″ to 4-3/8″. With right sides together, stitch the two circles together using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Cut notches in the seam allowance to reduce bulk. Pinch the fabric on one side of the circle and cut a small slit. Pull the fabrics through that slit to turn the circles right side out. Press.

circles right sides together

cut slit in circle for turning

circles sewn together Lay the fabric circles on top of dresden ring, pin if necessary, and top-stitch to attach to ring of the wedges. I top-stitched twice to make sure it was secure.

Lay the dresden on a piece of felt for backing and top-stitch 1/8″ in around the points and valleys. Trim the felt close to the points and valleys.

Stitch in the ditch around the circle to fasten more securely to the felt backing.

Happy sewing, my friends!

Terri

PS – Note: Because I create with human hands, my cutting is never perfect. My sewing is never perfectly straight. My circles aren’t perfectly symmetrical or even. And I always have threads to trim. Please forgive me for that 😉 This is just a fun project I was excited to share. I’m sure there are many ways to make this; I’m just sharing my concept and process here.

Patchwork Projects: Garden Party Quilt

December 2, 2014 | terriaw

I am so excited to show you my finished Garden Party quilt!

A former quilting bee I used to belong to helped make some of the blocks using this tutorial for a “2.5 Times Around the Block” quilt block. I wish I could have made it a little bigger but my stash of the red mingling and ice mingling prints from the Garden Party fabrics designed by Anna Maria Horner was quite limited.

The backing is all about the turquoise centerpiece print!

My friend Julie, a professional long-arm quilter, did a beautiful job quilting it.

garden party quilting

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am with this quilt! I started making it about three years ago with a quilting bee I belonged to at the time, and it’s one of the few quilt finishes I’ve had in a looong time. Projects like this are one of the many reasons I love sewing and wanted to learn how to design fabric, sewing patterns and surface patterns.

Terri

Stats:
Block: 2.5 Times Around the Block
Size: 42″ wide x 55″ high
Fabrics: Garden Party fabrics designed by Anna Maria Horner

Peace Quilt Blog Hop and A Pattern Giveaway-Closed

January 28, 2013January 31, 2013 | terriaw

Welcome to the Peace Quilt Blog Hop. Today is my turn to showcase Rene’s Peace quilt pattern.

My friend Rene‘ asked me to test her Peace Quilt pattern, which includes instructions for three sizes. I chose to make the smallest size, which is a 30″ square.

Rene’ did an excellent job writing out the pattern, and providing a chart for laying out the squares in the peace sign shape. The most challenging part for me was following the instructions very closely so I got the layout correct. At first, I had it wrong, but you can’t tell from my progress picture below. (I was actually missing a column on each side.) I noticed it when I started sewing the columns together, which was easy to fix by referring to Rene’s peace sign grid, and remaining the extra strips and squares I had leftover from the cutting steps. LOL!

I had fun choosing fabrics for the squares, which all came from my stash of Anna Maria Horner scraps. I still have a nice bin of fabric scraps, so I would love to make more projects like this, since this was a great way to use scraps. I used a pale yellow solid fabric for the background to provide the most contrast with the squares making up the peace sign.

As part of her blog hop, Rene’ is giving away a copy of her Peace Baby quilt pattern to my readers. Leave a comment by 6pm Thursday, January 31 to win your copy.

Here is the blog hop schedule:

Monday, January 21 – Katie at KT Quilts (http://ktquilts4fun.blogspot.com)

Tuesday, January 22 – Michele at Nostalgic Cafe (http://nostalgiccafe.blogspot.com)

Wednesday, January 23 – Cindy at Live a Colorful Life (http://aroundtheblockdesigns.blogspot.com)

Thursday, January 24 – Michelle at Frustrated Quilter (http://frustratedquilter.blogspot.com)

Friday, January 25 – Stephanie at Peas in a Pod (http://peasinapod.typepad.com)

Monday, January 28 – Terri at Terri’s Notebook (https://terrisnotebook.wordpress.com) Right where you should be today!

Tuesday, January 29 – Doris at Made by a Brunnette (http://www.madebyabrunnette.com)

Wednesday, January 30 – Mary at Mary on Lake Pulaski (http://maryonlakepulaski.blogspot.com)

Thursday, January 31 – Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts (http://www.prairiemoonquilts.com)

Friday, February 1 – back to Rene’ at Rene’ Creates (http://www.renecreates.com) for a final give away

Thanks for stopping by.

Sewing With Friends

July 10, 2012July 10, 2012 | terriaw

My circle of sewing friends includes my blog readers who sew and a couple people I know locally who sew.

It’s a lucky day when you get to meet your blog readers / sewing friends in person. An even luckier day when you get to spend an entire weekend sewing with them! Last weekend was the third year in a row we got together for our retreat at Gruber’s Quilt Shop and retreat center in central Minnesota.

We had eight people this year instead of our usual ten: (front row) Cindy, Amanda Jean, Stephanie, (back row) Doris, Michelle, Rene, me, and Mary. (we missed Shelly and Toni this year.)

Our fabric tastes and sewing styles are different and complementary, so we get along quite well. Of course, we do A LOT of sewing! I haven’t had much time for sewing over the past six months, with the busy class and homework schedules I’ve had. I didn’t realize how low my sewing motivation had gotten until I started sewing again. I sewed a lot!

I made two patchwork rugs using my Innocent Crush stash, one for a bathroom and one for my new screen printing station in the basement.

I pieced together a patchwork tablecloth using a variety Garden Party fabrics, Loulouthi fabrics and solids from my stash. It just needs a border and backing.

I quilted concentric squares on my scappers delight block to be used as a pillow cover for the 25-inch pillow form Amanda Jean made for me.

I pieced together wonky stars for a table runner and a center piece using more of my Innocent Crush stash.

I made a set of zipper pouches from some of my Spoonflower fabrics to share with everyone for our “happies” exchange. (I will share the happies I received in another post.)

The most fun was digging through my scrap bin to piece together new fabrics. I ended up making giant pincushions. Giant, as in this 9-inch square!

For this one, I had a wrist rest in mind but it also kinda looks like a bolster. I just love it!

It was crazy fun hanging out with like-minded people, fabric lovers who share my same creative enthusiasm, uber talented sewers, and the nicest women a girl could ask for in friends. Thanks for stopping by!

PS – I did a bit of fabric shopping which I am excited to share with you in another post.

Pattern Testing

June 24, 2012 | terriaw

It’s always a privilege to test a sewing or quilting pattern for a friend. So I was thrilled when my friend Amanda Jean asked me to test a pattern from her book Sunday Morning Quilts.

I think you’ve heard me say that I’m not very good at using my scraps, so this book is perfect for me because it’s chock full of creative new ideas for organizing scraps to make beautiful quilts.

I tested the Scrappers Delight pattern, which is made up of strings and snippets. These blocks actually made me love working with my scraps again. It was a challenge to come up with just the right scrap to sew next, from size to color, kind of like putting together a puzzle. This pattern was very easy to follow and fun to make, so I highly recommend trying it! This block set came out to a 25-inch square, so I’m planning to quilt it and turn it into a big throw pillow for the floor.

I also tested the storage cube using a pile of strips from my Chocolate Lollipop stash. It measures 8 inches wide and 6 inches high. It works perfectly for holding more scraps, but I use it to hold sewing patterns and fabrics. These storage cubes are addicting to make and have so I highly recommend trying this pattern too!

I love seeing the success Amanda Jean’s and Cheryl’s book is experiencing! I’m so proud of all the hard work they put into writing these patterns and writing their book. Their combined talent is so inspiring! And I feel lucky I was able to contribute in such a small way.

Happies

May 29, 2012 | terriaw

My friend Amanda Jean was in town recently to do a book signing at a new sewing hangout.

She brought me a bag full of “happies!”

Note: Happies are a concept invented by Rene and Michelle’s mom: “a small, unexpected gift given for no specific reason other than just because.”

She brought me so many wonderful things! A beautiful mini quilt in my favorite colors, a thread basket, a pincushion, (still hoping to see a pattern to come out for those two goodies), a stack of fabric squares, another stack of fabrics, soap, lip balm and chocolate. What more could a creative girl need!

Photoshop tutorials

Distraction Sewing

February 29, 2012 | terriaw

Sometimes, I need a simple sewing project to work on, whether I’m procrastinating working on homework or just feeling anxious and need a distraction.

For each of these projects, I started out with a scrap piece from a Square Dance Panel, and added scraps of solid strips to the sides to simply frame them or make a log cabin block.

It was relaxing to start with a small piece and challenge myself to keep adding to it without a plan.

I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do with these blocks, maybe just a fun set of mini quilts for our end tables or mug rugs.

I love these panels, and I especially love to imagine what they would look like as a doodle page in a sketchbook. That’s next on my list of distractions.

Giveaway Day – December 2011 – Closed

December 12, 2011December 16, 2011 | terriaw

It seems like ages since I’ve offered a giveaway, so I’m excited to be participating in Sew,Mama, Sew’s Giveaway Day again!

I am offering the book Pretty in Patchwork Doll Quilts which was the inspiration for the mini quilt I also made for the lucky winner (see below). This book is full of 24 projects for making mini quilts in a great variety of sizes and themes.

Along with this book you will receive this mini quilt I made based on the cover project, a Christmas star measuring 19.5 inches all the way around. Perfect for a table topper or centerpiece.

I used that green fabric for the binding and that red fabric for the backing.

I will also include the scraps in case you want to make something else to match your new mini quilt, like a mug rug, potholder or smaller mini quilt.

Leave a comment by 7 pm CST on Friday, December 16 to be entered. International entries are welcome. Good luck, friends!

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED NOW.

Procrastination Sewing – Orange

December 8, 2011 | terriaw

I have a couple commissioned projects I’m supposed to be working on. So how did I spend my time? Making these two mini quilts instead!

The star was inspired by this mini quilt. I used this tutorial. Love love love how this turned out! Definitely need to make more of these.

The half square triangle mini was totally inspired by this mini quilt. Love love love this one too!

They are both on their way to being delivered as gifts. Now, where was I?

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