Tammy Silvers used the monochromatic Roses are Red collection to create a Dresden beauty with a vintage feel. Gorgeous! The pattern for this quilt is featured in the October-November issue of Quilt magazine.
"Roses are Red" by Tammy Silvers
Q. Why did you decide to make a Dresden Plate
design?
Tammy: Even though the prints are obviously floral,
reds and pinks remind me of little hard candies - so I decided to embrace that
impression and combine it with a traditional dresden plate block. I think
dresden plates are fun to work with, especially these with the pointed tips.
Once you get past cutting the templates (and using a great template ruler
designed for them, such as Creative Grids' Dresden Plate ruler), it is smooth
sailing. And while it is a plate—a circle, you're actually stitching
straight lines. How cool is that?
Q. Can you talk about the on-point layout you
used?
Tammy: The dark red narrow sashing frames each block
and lets each one shine. AND it has the added benefit of making the quilt
easier to construct! Sashing and cornerstone blocks help quilts keep blocks
straight. Have you ever put a quilt together and when you get done,
realize that it "tilts" to one side? I certainly have - proof
that every fraction of an inch off really does add up!
Q. What is your preferred appliqué method and
why?
Tammy: While this quilt LOOKS very traditional, and it
certainly can be made traditionally, I tend to favor methods that speed things
up. I fused the blocks on with narrow strips of fusible (set in a large
"block" format, leaving the tips free); the edge stitching was a
blanket stitch, which is definitely a favorite of mine, and done just around
the center. The blocks would be charming with blanket stitch around each
blade. I certainly hope that if someone does do blanket stitch around
each block, they will share pictures with us. I would love to see that!
Q. What attracted you to the Roses are Red
fabric line?
Tammy: This is a terrific line, in that it has a great
range of tints and shades of the red family AND it is a nice variety of print
scale and type. There are some nice geometric style prints, and the
florals run from small tone on tone to large-scale prints.
Q. What are the advantages and challenges of
working with fabrics that are all one color?
Tammy: A monochromatic quilt can be quite dynamic - or
it can be very boring. The challenge is achieving variety through
contrast. It's an excellent opportunity to work on contrast - you will
definitely understand when you're through that between your light (white, for
example) and your dark (black, for example), the tints and shades of grey in
between draw their contrast and place in the color scale from their partner -
the other fabric you pair it with. If you're pulling together reds from
your stash, or from a quilt shop's shelves (even better, right?), you do have
to make sure they play nicely together. When working with fabrics from a
single collection (like these luscious Roses are Red prints), that issue has
already been resolved for you. They are designed to play together!
Q. With a red and white quilt we have to ask:
did you worry about color bleeding?
Tammy: Pre-wash! Did I? Ha - I'm too
impatient for that! So I'll have to treat this quilt with kid gloves.
But I should have. And even after pre-washing, with a high contrast
quilt such as this, I would still test my fabrics to make sure all excess dyes
have been removed. Pre-washing is always a good idea.
See the entire Roses are Red fabric collection here.
Find the kit for this project here.
Learn more about Tammy here.
Find Quilt magazine here.
I have made several Dresdens...love them all. this one is no exception. Gorgeous!
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