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Thursday, October 27, 2011

BIG Dresden Pincushion Tutorial....and a wee giveaway!

Every once in a while I wish I were more competent with the computer...it would make things a tad bit easier....like preparing a tutorial. Ugh!
But here you go....I have prepared the BIG Dresden Tutorial for any of you who would like to make one for yourself...or for a friend.

First: Here are the templates you will need to complete the project.  Please set size to 100% to copy....not fit to page.  And be sure the copier also is set to 100%.
Click on the image to bring it up to copy.
The large circle is for the top and bottom of the pincushion...it measures about 6.25" across.  The medium size circle {within the larger one} is for cutting out a piece of stabilizer { I used Decor Bond} or cardboard to fit on the bottom circle...it measures 5" across.  This will help keep the bottom flat.
The smaller circle is for the center of the Dresden Flower.
And the wedge is the template for cutting out the blades if you do not have an 18 degree Dresden ruler.

Copy the templates at 135% on your printer 

To begin cut 20 wedges using the template or if you have a Dresden ruler you can cut a strip of fabric 2 inches in width to cut your Dresden blades from.

  

Set the bottom edge of the ruler at the bottom edge of the 2 inch wide strip.  The top of the strip should touch the 2 inch mark on the ruler.  Begin on the left side of the strip and make one cut on the right side of the ruler.  Now you can flip the ruler and use the last cut as the left side of the wedge....  


  Once you have 20 wedges, fold them in half length wise and finger press.  


Reduce the stitch length on your machine...I use 1.7 for tiny pieces like this.  You will sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance across the top {wider} edge of the wedge....at this stage chain-piecing comes in handy. 



Cut wedges apart and turn inside out...push out the pointy top of the blade.  They look like little hoods!


Press the pointy wedges with your iron and stitch them together along the raw edge.  Don't worry about the bottoms aligning so evenly...the peaks and valleys are more important.  You will be putting a center circle over the raw center edges - later.


Press all the seams in the same direction.


   For the bottom and top circle {the larger circle}, I cut one from two different fabrics.  I cut a piece of Decor Bond from the medium size circle and fused it to the wrong side of the bottom.  If you don't have any stabilizer, you can just cut some poster board to slip in before you stuff the pincushion.

   
   To the top circle I attach my Dresden with applique pins.  Center the Dresden on the top large circle.  Be sure to keep at least 1/4 inch from the edge of the circle free from any Dresden Points!


  I like to hand applique my Dresdens, but if you prefer to use the machine you can simply top stitch close to the edge.
I use applique pins when I am hand appliqueing so I don't poke myself too much!


 For hand applique I use a long thin milliner needle { also called a straw needle }


Here's a little tip to keep your stitches from showing too much when doing applique.  When you are taking the needle back down into the background fabric....go down directly under where your needle came through the edge of the Dresden wedge.  That way your stitch should not show....if you stitch at an angle the stitch will show.  And I try to use a thread that matches what I am appliqueing....not the background fabric.


After you have finished the Dresden Plate applique, it is time to put the center circle on the Dresden.  There are a couple of methods you can use here.  You can trace your circle template onto the right side of the fabric, cut beyond the traced line, clip around the circle and needle-turn applique the center in place.  Or you can trace the circle onto the wrong side of the fabric {cut 2} and stitch them together on the line.  Trim around the line, close to the stitching and pull the two pieces apart slightly....snip a hole to turn the circle inside out.  Turn inside out and press.  Then applique this to the center of your Dresden.  The advantage to the second method is that you don't have to do needle-turn and your edge is already finished.  Plus it is easier to center the center circle without that extra fabric for turning in the way.

 center for needle-turn

center circles stitched together....cut a slit in one half and turn.

Then simply applique the center onto the Dresden Plate...again....you can just top stitch if you would rather.


I placed a smaller piece of batting under my top circle {batting is the same size as the stabilizer circle}....I did this because I want to add some pick-stitches and french knots.  Then I added a yo-yo and a button!!!


  Are you still with me???
Now I am ready to put it all together.  Cut a piece of fabric 1 1/2 inches wide by 23 inches long for the band that wraps around the center of the pincushion.  If you want your pincushion to be deeper then simply cut a piece of fabric wider than 1 1/2 inches.


   Take the long strip and fold over one short end about one inch.

Pin the long strip to the bottom of the Dresden.  It should go completely around the bottom circle {right sides facing} and over lap by about an inch from the beginning fold.  You can trim off any excess.
Carefully stitch around the circle.

  Normally, I would stitch the top with the Dresden first, but I wasn't thinking and did the opposite.  So you may want to stitch the band to the top first and then to the bottom.

Now I am ready to stitch the top of the Dresden onto this band.  Again, with right sides facing pin the band and the top of the pincushion together.  Be sure to leave a 3 inch opening for turning during this step!  And use a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance so you don't catch any blade points in the stitching.


After the top and bottom have been stitched to the band, turn inside out and push out all around to give a nice circle shape.  Then stuff your pincushion with cotton stuffing or even with left over batting.

  
  Once it is stuffed -   sew the opening closed!!!


So there you have it....one BIG Dresden Pincushion.  I love mine!  I hope you like yours too :)
If you really like the one I have just made...with this sweet American Jane fabric....add a comment and I will draw a lucky winner of this pincushion {plus I will throw in some fat quarters from the shoppe}.  This giveaway will end Sunday at HIGH NOON!!!!  And since this is the weekend for Quilt Market, in your comment tell us which fabric designer you would like to meet at Quilt Market!!!  
Oh!!!!  And last - BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST - be sure you are not a no-reply blogger!!!  I just can't find you if you are a no-reply blogger.  I need an email address so I can contact you...please :)

Happy Thursday everyone!  And if you haven't visited Summerfete yet today...you must read her sweet tale of her 400th. post!  So fun!
mary 

***Note*** Sorry....didn't mean to mislead you...I am not going to Quilt Market :(  I am having too much fun saving my extra pennies for College Tuition {only 2 girls this year} and text books!!! heh, heh!  But someday....although I will only be an observer not a featured player...LOL! 

***The Giveaway is Closed....will be announcing the winner very soon....stay posted***
mary

74 comments:

  1. What a great tutorial - thank you! I'd like to meet Aneela Hoey or Lucie Summers...

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  2. I love Dresden plates and pincushions, can't wait to make one of these for myself. Would love to meet Kate Spain.

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  3. Oh, I love everything about this pincushion!! Thank you so much for the tutorial and the giveaway :)
    rktunnell {at} gmail {dot} com

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  4. I have read it Moll Flanders! Now she was a naughty girl!

    Love your pincushion, of course I do!

    I'd like to meet you at Market, Mary, but if not then Kate Spain or Heather Bailey...

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  5. thank you for the great tutorial! i have been wanting to make a dresden plate and it might be good to start with this small size. i would like to meet Sarah Jane Wright or Aneela Hoey.

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  6. Mary,you really make a cute pin cushion! I'm saving your tutorial too! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. It's all too beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I don't know what quilt market is?

    I'm not really interested in designers, I'd rather meet you!!

    Thanks for the shout out, you're too sweet ;p

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  8. i talked to aneela hoey over the internet a lot, so she would be my choice to meet at Market! thanks for the tutorial Mary, its darling...i just bought a dresden ruler...inspired by you of course!

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  9. that is absolutely adorable! I cant' imagine making anything that small--my fingers are not nimble enough, even though you make it look easy!!

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  10. Your tutorial is great!! :o) Thanks so much for sharing with us. :o)
    I am over the moon in love with your give a way!! My fingers (and toes) are crossed!! :o)
    hugs. Trish

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  11. Thanks so much for the brilliant pin cushion tutorial. I can't wait to make one or two or three! Perfect Christmas gifts for my sewing pals.
    I'd like to meet both you and Kate Spain at Quilt Market... I can dream eh!
    Thanks again for your hard work making that tutorial..much appreciated.

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  12. I love your pincushion! I would love to meet Aneela Hooey and Kate Spain. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  13. Thanks for the great tutorial. Your pin cushion is lovely. I'd just love to go to Quilt Market to meet everyone but it's a bit far from Australia!

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  14. What a delightful pincushion, thanks for sharing the tute.
    I am working with 1001 Peeps at the moment so maybe Lizzy House would be fun to meet.

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  15. Love this little pincushion and am also smitten with dresdens. I haven't made any yet (I'm a beginner) but they're near the top of my list.

    I also happen to be a major fan of Sandy Klop (American Jane), so I would like to meet her, of course. And I'd like to meet Heather Ross. And ... well, who wouldn't want to meet a host of fabric designers - call me greedy but I would love to meet them all!

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  16. that is one cute Dresden pinnie! thanks for the tutorial! I'd love to meet Melody Miller at Quilt Market...I love her fun style in fabrics...

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  17. That is one seriously darling pincushion. Well, let's see, I think I'd like to meet Heather Ross. She seems fun and I love her work. So many wonderful designers come to mind it's difficult to pick just one.

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  18. That is so cute, but I feel all thumbs just looking at the tiny peices!

    If I went to quilt market I would stalk Tula Pink.

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  19. I would like to meet Laura Gunn, Sandy Klop and Aneela ? of Sherbet Pips fame, but I am afraid if I really went by one of their booths I would just freeze and not say anything. I wouldn't want to be all lame. :)

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  20. Thank you for your generosity in sharing the awesome pincushion, love it. I'd probably love to meet anyone at quilt market whose fabrics and patterns I'd use but most of all I'd love to meet fellow bloggers, they're designers too in my mind.

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  21. So cute! I just made my first Dresden this past month. I would look for Tula Pink. Her frogs make me smile.

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  22. Thanks Mary, such a gorgeous pincushion and fab tutorial!...Cant wait to make one! So many great designers its hard to pick one....Hmmm i think i would like to meet Aneela too she seems very down to earth!

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  23. You are so wonderful to share this pattern with us. Its definently on my to do list.
    Not sure about who i would want to meet at Quilt Market. I would love to see the booths all set up

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  24. Love the pin cushion! Thanks for the great giveaway :)

    I'd love to meet joel dewberry - just love his fabrics.

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  25. Lovely pin cushion! I was just thinking about Dresdens and was going to add it to my oh-so-long project list. ;) I will have to try out this tutorial so thank you for sharing!

    If I were going to Quilt Market I'd love to meet Aneela Hoey of Comfort Stitching and Pam from PamKittyMorning! ;)

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  26. I think it would be fun to meet Sandy Gervais or Lizzy House...

    This is a great tutorial!

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  27. If I could go to quilt market I would love to meet Brenda Riddle from Little Acorns. She is a blogging friend and just the sweetest. I would love to win your beautiful pincushion!

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  28. Thank you for the great tutorial. As for designers, I really like the designs by Sandy Gervais and would enjoy meeting her. Unfortunately, market is not in my plans this year.

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  29. What a well-written tutorial, thanks! I'd love to win your sweet pincushion. otherwise I have to add it to my want-to-make list!
    No Quilt Market for me, and if I did go, I think I'd have to lurk for a while ad figure out who seems approachable. Is that fair?

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  30. Thanks for the pin cushion tutorial! I would enjoy meeting with any of the designers, going to market would be delightful : )

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  31. I love the pincushion and your tutorial!! I know you're not going to quilt market, but I would love to meet you! I'm not quite sure who all will be there. I would probably faint if I met Rashida Coleman-Hale or Elizabeth Hartman! :)

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  32. I would love to meet Camille of Bonnie and Camille. I absolutely love Bliss and Ruby. Thanks for the tutorial, the pincushion is super cute!

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  33. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial and the chance to win yours :-) I would love to just be able to go to quilt market and meet all of the wonderful designers , I have many favs

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  34. Love the tutorial- thanks Mary. I pinned it. So nice of you to offer it and to giveaway the lovely pincushion.
    :)
    If I were lucky enough to get to go to QM I would have to put Anna Maria Horner at the top of my list and then perhaps Denyse Schmidt. Does she go too?
    Amy Butler?
    So many, so many!
    PS: Happy to have found you on Pinterest and am now following there too. :)

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  35. who would i want to meet? probably anna maria horner and miss joanna figueroa! love them both! oh and that ginger monkey. she cracks me up!

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  36. Wow! It is gorgeous! I NEED to make a couple for gifts this year. I would love to win your gorgeous pin cushion for myself though ;).
    I would love to meet so many people but the first off the top of my head would be Camille Roskelly. I love all her fabrics. lexilucas@gmail.com

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  37. Mary, Mary! All those tiny Dresden points are giving me heart palpitations and phantom burned fingertips! I hope you will be pleased to know that I intend to spend tomorrow getting all caught up on my Coin quilt! Hope you have a great spoooooky Halloween :)

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  38. Do I have to meet just one person? lol I think I would like to meet one of the guys who are quilting and designing lately just so cool.

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  39. First your tutorial is great and thank you for not only the tutorial but being generous and having a giveaway.....If I was lucky enough to go to quilt market I would love to meet Kaffe Fasset if he was there as I love his fabrics, Valori Wells and then Tula Pink.....

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  40. Great tutorial, you made it look so easy. If I could meet any designer I'd pick, Sandy Gervais. Thank you for the generous giveaway, I'd love to give your beautiful pincushion a new home. ;-> Toni Anne

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  41. Thank you for the beautiful tutorial Mary! I'll be making one this winter.

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  42. What a great little pincushion! I would want to meet everyone.

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  43. That is a sweet pincushion! Tiny piecing. I'd love to meet Lizzy House.

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  44. I am pin-cushion-less. This would be lovely. I'd also like to meet Lizzy House... She's a fan of Canadians and I really dig her Peeps!

    Thanks!

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  45. Firstly, great tutorial, except I don't think mine would ever look as cute as this sweet little dumpling! I'd like to meet Amy Butler, but only if you'd introduce me! ;-))
    ps Empty mail box today! ;-(

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  46. Thank you for the tutorial, I love it and I really need to make some more pin cushions. Thanks for the chance to win one too! Linda

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  47. Thanks for a great tutorial!
    I would love to meet Aneela Hooey or Kate Spain

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  48. Your Drresden pincushion is simply adorable and sweet!! If I were to go to Quilt Market, I would like to meet Aneela Hooey or Valori Wells.

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  49. Love that pincushion and will HAVE to make one although would prefer to win the one you made in those gorgeous fabrics.
    I would like to meet the designer behind the Sweetwater label.
    Margaret

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  50. I would like to meet Anna Marie Horner or Kate Spain. Love the cute pincushion!

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  51. I don't know enough about the designers yet, but I can't wait for David Butler's Parson Gray line to come out. Lots of grays! LOL.

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  52. I'd love to meet Lizzy House - Thanks for the tutorial!

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  53. What a sweet pincushion! I would love to meet Anna Maria Horner and Amy Butler, I love their designs, so very colorful. kcannon@anwsu.org

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  54. Oh boy, I had not thought about it much. Maybe ALL of the gang from Moda. That would be cool. Thank you for the tutorial. I will be making this soon for a friend. Thank you for the chance to win this pretty pincushion!

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  55. Super cute pincushion!

    I think I would like to meet Kaffe Fassett. But really I would just love to look at all the new fabric!

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  56. Lucie Summers - as I'd like some advice on screen printing fabric!!!!

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  57. I would pick Barbara Brackman to meet. I have been loving reproduction fabrics and quilt history lately. Such a pretty pincushion!

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  58. LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! Thanks for the great idea for Christmas gifts. I don't care who I would meet at market....I just would love to go!!!! :)

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  59. Thanks for taking the time to give us such a lovely tutorial. I would love to win your pincushion. Ooo I'd love to meet Heather Ross.

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  60. I adore that pincushion, and I'd rather win this one than make my own--even though your tutorial is awesome!

    Who would I like to meet... The Alexander Henry brother and sister duo.

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  61. Thank you for the great tutorial and this is the most fantastic pin cushion! So pretty!

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  62. I love your pincushion. It's charm grew and grew as I watched your wonderful tutorial!

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  63. Love your dresdens! And yo-yos! ;] I would say Suzy Ultman but I met her at the midwest craft caucus this year so I'll go with Joel Dewberry! Hard question, though, they are all so inspiring and it seems like a field with a ton of fun personalities who keep it friendly and supportive...

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  64. Wonderfully clear instructions for us, thanks so much. I'd love to meet Aneela Hoey, Kaffe Fassett or Robyn Pandolph (but I don't know if any of them will be there - I won't either!). Please enter me in the draw for your cute pincushion.

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  65. Lovely! I am so making this with some of my finds at the fabric shack! But of course I'd love to win a Mary made lovely!

    I'd love to meet Aneela Hoey! The makers of Moda, Michael miller and Alexander Henry oh and so many others! Someday :)

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  66. Awesome pincushion! When my boys go down for their nap, I will surely get started on it! I just sewed my very 1st dresden last night from pre-cuts my mom bought me in Maine! IT's adorable....having trouble picking a color for the center...I would love to meet anyone from MODA! I don't have a blog nor do I have a store of any kind so I guess I won't ever attend the wonderful world of Quilt Market :( KERIHAG at YAHOO dot COM

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  67. Thank you for sharing this lovely tutorial!
    ; )

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  68. Thank you for the tutorial. It is on my to-do-list for sure. So very charming.

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  69. I was ga-ga over your pincushion and yours was my inspiration for the one I made. You can see it on my Dec. 13 2011 post....iffin ya wanna!

    Thanks for your great tutorial!!!

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  70. Holy moly, this is amazing! I need to make one of these after my pickledish class is complete! Have you ever filled your pin cushions with crushed walnut seed? It was recommended in a quilting magazine I read. I bought a huge bag at the pet store... I will bring some to share at our next class!

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  71. It's adorable, and your tutorial is great.

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  72. I love this, Will make this tonight for my May 14 pincushion swap. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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