Explorations in Dresden Plates

Today’s post is a part of a series called The Quilt Maker’s Toolkit, showing and teaching about the products I use while I make my quilts.

There are no products in this series that I do not use and use often, though sometimes my opinions may change as I grow and move along in my journey of quilt making. To view all posts in this series click here.

If you are participating in the Bari J Quilt Along with me, then this past Monday you got the low down on iron on adhesive. It’s pretty much my new best friend. It’s magical. I hate when I’m so late to the party. You have to tell me these things, people! We are friends! Hello! I told you about “cheater sashing”, didn’t I?

I’ve always been (with the exception of fabric) fairly frugal when it comes to purchasing things that pertain to quilting. I don’t have a massive pile of rulers, only the ones I need. I don’t go and buy the latest products just because they look cool. The money is just not there for me. All I really need is a good sewing machine, fabrics, and the same rotary cutter that I first started with. Through the years, I’ve accumulated a bit more, but it’s been done slowly and mindfully.

So when I discovered iron on adhesive and that it wasn’t expensive in the slightest bit, I was a little irked with myself for not being more of an explorer of products. The time this product could have saved me! I’m talking hours. Do you know how many “hand cut heart” quilts I’ve made that could have been sped up tremendously by just this simple little thing called iron on adhesive?

I’m going to end my rant now and tell you how and when you should use. But remember, we are friends. You tell me stuff that would make my life easier, and I’ll tell you stuff when I learn them as well. We all grow together.

The what and the why’s

This little package is iron on adhesive. Heat n Bond is the only brand I’ve tried, but I’m sure there are others.

You can add appliques to your projects and not have to stitch around the perimeter, like in my Hand Cut Heart quilt I mentioned above. The product is sticky on both sides and acts like interfacing, but since it’s two way sticky, you just iron it down onto your project. Of course, later on you will want to make sure you quilt over it to make it even more secure, but still you have cut out a very huge step if you are adding an applique to every single quilt block.

When you quilt over it you can’t even tell that you are quilting over it. It doesn’t get glue on your needle, you don’t have to use a larger needle, everything is the same.

The only drawback that I have found so far is that the decorative stitches around an applique can add detail to their appearance. You are cutting out that detail by using this if you want to. Of course, feel free to still stitch around the perimeter if you like.

Purchase Heat n Bond iron on adhesive here.

Support a small shop

If you are on the hunt for cute sewing pins, pin cushions or needle books or even just want to browse through some cutie pie handmade notions, you must visit this shop.

This is my second post on exploring Dresden plates. If you need to read the very first post which also details how to make a Dresden plate, then visit this page.

We are going from the very basic to the very cool today!

Here is a close up of my hand stitches. I used the iron on adhesive mentioned above to attach my center for the Dresden plate and then added the stitches. I’m kinda wishing I’d used black thread as it would have stood out more, but hey, I wasn’t sure what this was going to look like, but in the future I’ll think more about contrast.

Watch the video below for a detailed tutorial on how to use iron on adhesive and how to add this center to your Dresden plate.