Dresden Carnival: 16 Modern Quilt Projects; Innovative Designs

The Dresden plate is a traditional quilt block that has been embraced by modern quilters as a way to exhibit contemporary fabrics and geometric form. Designers Gallian and Jones drew inspiration from vintage quilts and from memories of their childhood summers for these designs, which spotlight the Dresden plate in myriad settings. Patterns include centipede, which cuts the Dresden plate in half, offsetting the sides to comprise three undulating waves of petals across a quilt top; garden party, which applies fussy cutting to create a kaleidoscope effect when the petals are assembled; heat wave, which features a large focal plate framed with two borders; and windswept, which places Dresden plates along a large white background, indulging modern quilters' love for negative space in their quilts. Since Dresden plates involve curves and appliqué, many beginners are intimidated, but an overview of piecing and finishing Dresden plate blocks yields a helpful guide. Cutting charts and traceable templates are provided.