Dresden blocks

Hi everyone, wonder if you could help me. I bought 52 Dresden blocks that were done on very thin background fabric. It was done about 30 years ago and have been sitting. They're already to put together but the background fabric kinda smells and as I say very thin. Any suggestions about changing the background fabric? Thanks for your help.

[Helen W.]

Hi everyone, wonder if you could help me. I bought 52 Dresden blocks that were done on very thin background fabric. It was done about 30 years ago and have been sitting. They're already to put together but the background fabric kinda smells and as I say very thin. Any suggestions about changing the background fabric? Thanks for your help.

Could you post a picture of the front and back of one block. Makes it easier to come up with ideas. If they were appliqued
onto the background fabric you could just take out the stitches around the circle, and then applique on a different background.
If you want to keep the thin fabric you could put a fusible stabilizer like Pellon 906 on the back of the blocks to get them
a little more sturdy feeling. It is a light stabilizer so it does not make the fabric stiff. I use it all the time with applique. For the smell
maybe something like a light misting of Febreze. The TV commercials say it takes smells out of fabric. Or wash by hand in cool
water with a quilt soap like Orvis. Would love to see a picture. HelenW

Hi Helen, thank you so much for all your great suggestions. I'm trying to send the pictures but it's showing that the files are too big. I'm trying to make them smaller. I'll call them tomorrow to get some help.

here's the first picture

OK, think you might be able to see these now

[Helen W.]

OK, think you might be able to see these now

Lucky you to have such well done Dresden blocks. Great pictures. It would take some time, maybe while watching TV to
rip the stitches out. Looks like they were hand stitched so it will be easier than if machine stitched. You could use the
method Robin Long uses on her Summer Bloom,Winter Wreath project for appliquéing a circle on the center and
a background behind the Dresden plates. You can watch her videos on you tube The Quilt Show to see the circle on
fusible interfacing for the center circle. It is the summer project that Robin is teaching for The Quilt Show.
HelenW

[Helen W.]

I tried to post a picture of what I was thinking but I got the dreaded ? box. I am trying again as a separate post.
I drew it in EQ8. The background could be one big square, or a big four patch like in this pictur
If you want to put your blocks on a design wall or table and try to take a straight on picture, I could play around
with some ideas. HelenW PS what is your first name???

Hi Helen, so sorry to take so long to respond. I laughed when you said to rip them apart. When I bought this a friend of mine said the same thing....hence they have been sitting since then. OK, so I started and it's taking some time. I'm not sure where I ever got the idea there were 52.....there are only 38, thank goodness. I've ripped out 12 so far and they don't lie flat at all. I took one and starched it, made no difference. So at the moment I'm not going to think about how to make them lie flat until I've taken them all apart. Once I've got more done I'll put them up on the design board. I'm signed up to follow Robin Long, but have had too many things on the go at the moment. I'm going to try and watch her next weekend. Your suggestions have been wonderful and I thank you so much. Will post a picture by next weekend. I hope my name (Marylyn) shows up this time

[Helen W.]

Hi Helen, so sorry to take so long to respond. I laughed when you said to rip them apart. When I bought this a friend of mine said the same thing....hence they have been sitting since then. OK, so I started and it's taking some time. I'm not sure where I ever got the idea there were 52.....there are only 38, thank goodness. I've ripped out 12 so far and they don't lie flat at all. I took one and starched it, made no difference. So at the moment I'm not going to think about how to make them lie flat until I've taken them all apart. Once I've got more done I'll put them up on the design board. I'm signed up to follow Robin Long, but have had too many things on the go at the moment. I'm going to try and watch her next weekend. Your suggestions have been wonderful and I thank you so much. Will post a picture by next weekend. I hope my name (Marylyn) shows up this time

Hi Marylyn, Robin's videos are great to watch. If you just want to know how to make the interfaced perfect center circle
you can watch a 5 min. version on you tube. There are a lot of them. I took a screen shot of one so you can google it.
A Dresden plate is a circular design so it has to have 360 degrees to lay flat. If you get a volcano shape you have more than
360 degrees so it lifts up in the center. If the pieces were cut accurately, then it is in the seam allowance. If the seam
allowance was too small, the extra fabric goes into the center. If the seam allowances were too large it will be wavy
because there is not enough fabric to make the circle lay flat. If you take a piece of vellum and draw a circle on it
draw a horizontal thru the diameter and a vertical line. Lay it on top of the block You should have 4 blades in each of
the 4 quadrants. You will be able to see if it is too big or not big enough to align with the quarter of the circle.
What diameter size are the dresden's? Click on the picture to see the name of the video. HelenW

[Helen W.]

Hi Marylyn,
I tried to edit my last post and add a couple picture but it would not let me, so I am trying just a new post. The one
picture of the Dresden you posted does not look far off. I could not rotate your Dresden so not too accurate.
The first one is what it should look like with 4 blades in each of the 4 quadrants. HelenW

[Helen W.]

Hi again Marylyn, Found a good blog post on fixing wavy dresden's. I took these screenshot. Just type in the name of the
blog and you should get. Lots of advice and pictures. HelenW

Hi Helen,
You're such a wealth of amazing information. The info addressing the wavy dresden is exactly what I'm up against. I've 6 more to unpick and then I'll follow the directions for pin-tucking where it needs it. The horizontal and vertical lines also helps. Looked at more of the dresdens and they don't line up. I do believe this is going to be a winter project!! AND it's going to be a very large quilt when finished. Each block will measure 15". I've come up with a layout that will work.
I can't thank you enough for all your help along the way. I'll keep you posted as the tucking goes along and once I start sewing them onto the (not found yet) background fabric. Will send pictures for sure. Thanks again

[Helen W.]

Marylyn, Glad you are getting some info that helps. Yes, it is going to be a big quilt. King Size probably.
Are you planning to quilt it yourself. If yes, and you are doing it on a domestic regular size sewing machine
you might consider quilting it in sections. I did draw up a couple layouts so you could see with sashing and without
and horizontal layout and on point layout. HelenW

Hi Helen, SO SORRY for not responding to your last comment. I absolutely love the bottom right one. So when it comes time to put these together I will be reaching out to you for more help. There has been so much going on these last two months it's been hard to keep up with all my projects as well as I'm still working so it takes me longer to get things done. Bit by bit it will all come together. All the garden work is almost done (by this weekend). Then I can stay in and do what I love. I really am so appreciative of your help !!

[Helen W.]

Hi Marylyn, No problems, I will be glad to help when you are ready. Even though I am now retired, I don't know
where the time goes. We are about ready for winter, in North Idaho we have all 4 seasons. Right now it is a beautiful
fall. I have been getting in a couple hours a day for my quilting addiction. I just finished a wall hanging that was
really fun. Took fish from Susan Carlson's $5 line drawings and made an underwater fantasy fish scene. Time to
get back to the TQS BOM so I won't be too far behind. Helen