Love Blooms 2.0 and a Lazy Tutorial

Remember the scraps I pulled a few days ago?  And do you remember the finished quilt the day before?  All I can say is I have absolutely no will power when it comes to the dresden block and

HOW CUTE IT THIS?!!

This may seem like an impulse project but it's really not. It too is a UFO because the black scallop quilt stand was purchased in December at my local quilt shop called Back Door Quilts.  If you would like to purchase one of these quilt stands you can find it here on their website along with several circle wool applique patterns.  

Since I'm allergic to wool and the applique patterns aren't my style, I decided to design a few patterns of my own.  Stay tuned for at least three more in the upcoming months. Don't get me wrong the patterns for sale in the shop are cute just not my kind of cute.  Below is an example of two of the patterns in the shop, cute!

By the way if you purchase this stand you will need adhesive magnets to make the mini quilt stick to the scallop.  I'm using two-sided tape for now.  I didn't see the magnets on their website but I called the shop and they said they have them in stock.  So, you could call them to place the order if they haven't added the magnets to the website.  I'm in no way affiliated with this shop other than it's a great place to shop!

I love this project and the Love Blooms quilt so much I decided to share both with you.  This won't be a real tutorial.  We'll call it a lazy tutorial.  You will need basic quilting knowledge.  I'm giving measurements and cutting information only.  If you don't know how to make a dresden quilt block or make applique, there is a gazillion tutorials for both via a Google search.  I made one for raw edge applique a few years ago and it has over 100,000 views!  You can watch it by clicking here.

 All the measurements for the tutorial below are in inches. The yardage is estimated by the EQ8 program, and I round up for UH OH's. Use a quarter inch seam allowance. Press however you like.  I press to the dark when possible.

The ruler I used was EZ Quilting Jelly Roll Ruler Mini Dresden.  I don't know if any other ruler will work.  I purchased mine at Joann's a couple years ago but it can also be purchased many places online.   Here's a link to one on Amazon.  I'm sure if you search you can find it cheaper.  

For the center of the Dresden, I used Heat and Bond Lite to make raw edge applique.  You could easily make it turned edge if you like.  The choice is yours.  Below is a picture of the FREE PDF with the applique templates. Before printing make sure your printer is set to "actual size" before printing.  After printing, measure the 1" square to make sure it printed correctly.  This PDF can be used for both the Circle Love Blooms 2.0quilt and the full Love Blooms quilt.  

Download the Love Blooms PDF.

 Love Blooms 2.0 Circle Quilt 

(1) 12 x 12 Background fabric

(1) 12 x 12 Backing fabric

(20) fabrics for the Dresden blades.  If using scraps, they must be at least 2.5 x 2

(1) 4 x 4 white for the center of Dresden.

(2) 2 x 2 prints for the hearts 

The binding NEEDS to be cut on the bias.  37 x 2.5

After quilting your mini quilt you will need to trim it to a 10 inch circle.  I used a bowl from the kitchen.  Then bind it using your favorite method.  Mine was 100% machine binding technique.  Sew to the back first then stitch it down on the front.

Love Blooms Quilt Basic Instructions

Cutting Instructions for Dresden Blocks

PDF Template Download (same link as above)

(5) 10 x 10 Background fabric

(100) fabrics for the Dresden blades.  If using scraps, they must be at least 2.5 x 2

(5) 4 x 4 white for the center of Dresden.

 (1) red 5 x 5 and (1) pink (5 x 5) or super scrappy (10) 2 x 2 for the hearts

After stitching the Dresden to the background fabric, trim to 9.5 x 9.5

Cutting for the pieced blocks

White/background estimated by EQ8  2yds.

(4) 9.5 x 5.5

(4) 5.5 x 5.5 corners of quilt

(16) 2.5 x 3.5

(24) 3.5 x 3.5

(104) 1.5 x 1.5

(64) 1.5 x 2.5

Binding

(4) 2.25 x WOF- I used 2.5 strips

Make (4) of the blocks below. 

Make (8) of the bocks below

Assemble the blocks as shown below. Finishes at 37 x 37.

That's it for today! 

 

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Love Blooms Finish

 At last the Love Blooms quilt is finished.  I love this little darling!  As you all know, all dresden quilts make me happy.  And it seems the smaller they are the happier I get.

Throw in some over the top quilt it to death quilting and its happiness overload!

Funny how quilting it to death gives it so much life. 

The original quilt it death plan for around the hearts was to leave it unquilted. But while looking over the quilt before taking it off the frame I decided it needed more quilting.  The meander was a perfect fit for me and the quilt....quick and easy!

The tiny scallops inside the dresden center were also added at the last minute.

Now I need to control this urge to start making more mini dresdens!  Maybe I should dig through the UFO's.  I know there's two or three dresden quilt tops needing to be finished.  They aren't mini dresdens but I think the larger ones might stop me from starting another new project.

So, tell me do you have a favorite quilt block?  One that is your go-to, that makes your little ole heart go pitter pat?

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Marking A Quilt For Quilting On The Frame

 Another little cutie has been found hiding in the UFO quilt top stash.  This one is only a little over a year old.  Dresden quilts are my favorite.  I've made so many that I've lost count how many.  Hiding somewhere my stash of UFO's is three more needing to be finished into quilt tops.  Maybe I can work on those later in the year.

Measuring 37x37 and having a lot of white space for quilting makes it perfect for quilting it to death.  You all know I struggle with quilting.  But coming up with a quilting plan for this one was a bit easier than most quilts.  A feather wreath around each dresden was my first and final plan.  Now it's time to mark the quilt so the quilting will be the same in every block.

I was like Goldilocks looking for the perfect kitchen item suit my needs.  Many plates, bowls and saucers were auditioned and failed.  And then a cake pan was just the right size for making the spine of the feathers.  The patchwork was used to help center the cake pan.

To test my quilted feather wreath idea, I used a piece of plexiglass and a dry erase marker.  I can quilt better than I can draw but it gives me a good idea of how this design will look on the quilt.  I love it!

Then it was time to decide what would go in the blank border blocks.  My first thought was a simple crosshatching, but it just wasn't right for this little quilt, well in MY mind it wasn't.  After doing the quilt stare for a while it occurred to me that doing the same feathered wreath design would be best.  The cake pan was carefully placed and traced (red arrow), using the patchwork seams as my guide for placement.  Then Goldilocks headed back to the kitchen to find the perfect circle for marking the ghost dresden.  This will give me place for the feather to stop and look just like the feathers around the dresden blocks.

After marking the circle/arc, the feather wreath plexiglass was auditioned...Perfect!  I considered drawing a dresden for quilting under the feathers, but that was more work than I was willing to do.  Maybe the two little hearts in this area would be cute.  In the end one little heart was added because it was easier than the other two ideas.   Now to let Goldilocks decide whether or not to add a background fill, and if so, what background fill.  

The same design was marked at each corner of the quilt, but I can't decide if I want a heart in the corners or just a background fill.  I guess Goldilocks has some things to think about today while I'm quilting.

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