Independence Dresden {Quilt}

“Independence is loyalty to one’s best self and principles.” ~Mark Twain

Meet my latest finish!!!

A very good friend sent me these vintage placemats she picked up at an antique store awhile back. I went back and forth on using them as placemats or making them into a quilt. 

After rediscovering them reorganizing the studio, I realized I have had them for about six years. I decided to just finish it and make it a quilt!

I found some leftover Navy Essex Linen to use as a background and plenty of the blue Simply Color fabric.  The blue had been designated for a winter quilt project that I abandoned earlier this year. 

It didn't take very long to applique the dresden plates after spending what seemed for ever planning the layout and pinning to the linen! The linen was about 44' wide and not my typically favorite size, but I knew going in that it would be more of a display quilt than a cuddle quilt.

 It definitely was a nice movie watching project along with some Needlepoint projects.

I decided to do some freemotion quilting on my longarm. 

Meandering seemed best for the linen background and I didn't want to take away from the original handquilting on the dresden plates, so I did some curved stitching on the insides.

I was so pleased that the backing colors and how they married with the original fabrics at the front. 

Because of the longarm, I did have to add a strip of scraps at the back to make a pieced backing strip. I can't express how important it is to have the extra fabric on the sides while quilting. 

My advice is to always upcycle old things into something more functional for you.

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 44" x 62”

Pattern: Placemats are Vintage Dresden Placemats appliqued.

Fabrics: Vintage for the Dresdens, Navy Essex Linen Background

Quilted: Freemotion Meandering and curves on HQ Avante Longarm

Because of the colors, this quilt will definitely get pulled out for the patriotic holidays and not live in a bin anymore. I am so happy with how it turned out!