Today I loaded the backing, batting, and Dresden Flowers & Flutters quilt top on my frame and began quilting it. The top three borders are done, and I've rolled the quilt forward. Photos 6 and 7 show how I keep track of which arc ruler I've used, so that I may properly duplicate it at the other end of the quilt. 8, 9, and 10 show the area next to be quilted. I'm using Quilters' Dream 80/20 batting. The quilt is for granddaughter Keira.
Today I finished appliquéing the Dresden Plate flowers and the butterflies to the quilt background. I didn't have a piece of fabric large enough for the backing, so I pulled out two pieces, a dark mauve with tiny dark cream flowers and a pink batik with teal, purple, and cream swirls, and set about combining them into a piece that would wind up approximately the correct size. I've used up nearly all of both fabrics. The third and fourth pictures are views from the window in the north-facing dormer in my quilting studio this rainy day.
The Dresden Plate flowers and the butterflies are all glued down to the background and ready to be appliquéd.
Dresden Plates 16, 17, and 18. I've printed templates on newsprint for seven different butterflies. I'll trace them onto freezer paper tomorrow, choose some fabrics, cut the pieces, and start starching and pressing under the edges. I'll finish the center circles for the flowers the same way.
