I love Dresden plate and wedding ring quilts. In 1999, I combined elements of both designs and created the original quilt above from ethnic fabrics. This spring Gina Perks (from Payson, AZ owner of The Copper Needle Quilt Shop) discovered the design and requested a shop sample made from fabrics in her quilt shop. She chose a retro collection by Jen Kingwell for the rings. I added background prints of light gray fabrics.
I decided to add an inch around the edge of the quilt so the plates did not hang over the binding. It took a lot of fiddling to do the points and I decided to simplify the process so the points could be appliqued on to the larger background edge. Well, this is such an unusual way to make a quilt that I decided to completely revise the original pattern. This tutorial is a supplement to the pattern. you can order it from my website virginiarobertsondesigns.com
The next quilt I made was a runner made from two rings and fabrics from the Kaffe Fasset Collective artists. On this sample, I fractured the background in the circle centers in order to make the quilt more scrappy. The templates for the fractured background is included in the revised pattern. Also, because I didn’t have enough Kaffe lights for the background. I had to use a batik for the outside edges.
When cutting the wedges, start with four inch strips. Mark one strip with a plastic template, flipping and flopping the template as shown. Then layer several strips under the marked one. Use a short rotary ruler to cut out multiple wedges. Pin in the center of each wedge with thin, flat head pins if needed.
Chain piece across the top (widest end) of the wedges. Clip them apart, turn inside out with a collar point turner and assembly line press the points. Work on a design board as you sew, because you might want to add or change some of your fabric choices. Here is a shot of Gina’s quilt in progress, on a flannel board.
Lay the points in a line, center each point and press. When the wedges are pieced in arcs of eight, add a light and a dark corner square C to each end of one arc.
Pin the centers, then each end.
Sew from the wedge side. It will ease into the football. Don’t try to do it all at once, Do an inch at a time, keeping the raw curved edges even. Remove the pins as you sew.
Now pin the arc with the squares on each end to the pieced unit that you just completed. Start at the center, then pin the corner block corners with opposing seams.
Sew with the pieced arc unit on top as before. Then press well with a spritz of water. Press either away or towards the football, depending on where you want to quilt.
Join four completed football units by sewing them at the corners. Don’t sew through the 1’4″ seam allowances. Leave them open for pressing alternating corners later.
Pin the circle centers (template A) to the back of the pieced footballs.
Flip the points into alternating sides. Glue all the points from the front, then remove the pins as you glue.
Applique by hand or machine. The photo shows the back of a machine appliqued circle. I used clear thread on top and regular light thread in the bobbin. I used a narrow blind hem stitch. If you hand applique, use an invisible ladder stitch.
Assemble the quilt or runner, circle by circle, in rows. Piece rows together with A center pieces.
When the quilt or runner is pieced, add sides and borders. Do corners first, folding on the diagonal to pin to the center of the corner circles.
Pin the edges of the background fabrics to the back of the quilt. Make sure your project is square and even before gluing. Then glue the points from the front as with the circles. Cut out the extra layers behind the overlapped wedge points to reduce the bulk.
Fold the C corner edges under 1/4″ and glue baste to the background sides.
You may need to adjust the ends of the corner and side pieces to fit, centered with the C corner seams as shown. I pieced the adjusted seams by hand.
I hope these extra photos help you construct your Dresden Plate wedding Ring. You can contact me through my website. virginiarobertsondesigns.com I would love to see photos of your quilts and share them on Facebook.