Reimagined Dresdens – A Review
February 19, 2025
Hi!
It’s review week again, and I’ve had so much fun with the “Reimagined Dresdens” class I’ve just taken from Candyce Grisham, on the Creative Spark platform. I have to be honest – although it’s always great to learn new things, (and I think it is really important to do so in order to keep expanding your quilting skills and practices), some classes really seem to spark my creativity more than others, and this was definitely one!
There’s lots of dresden eye candy photos to share in this post, and do read through to the end to find out how you can be in the running to win this class for Free for yourself!
Candy Grisham is most definitely a quilter that has made a ton of different styled Dresden blocks, and as an expert, in this hour-long “Reimagined Dresdens” class, she runs through a huge variety of options and style choices for when you want to make your own Dresden blocks.
Best of all – this class includes a bonus downloadable ebook copy of her “Dresden Quilt Blocks Reimagined” book (worth $19.99), so that you have all the details of the class and more in a handy reference guide for you to keep returning to.
Candy starts with her ‘how to’ for cutting and piecing her 20 wedge blocks, and then builds in the assortment of variations and finished for the edges of these versatile blocks.
First was the straight edged unit, with her clever use of fusible interfacing to finish the edge in a smooth circle.
The pointed edge dresden is always a favourite, and there’s plenty of examples to show how different fabric choices and placement within the unit can really impact the finished block.
A ‘happy accident’ led to this Serendipity Block (and it’s easy once you know how),
And the Curved Edge brings quite a different style to this block. Flowers anyone??
I haven’t tried these curved edges before as I didn’t want to fuss around with trying to tuck under seam allowances evenly, but having seen Candy’s clever use of facing, I’m sold, and this technique is definitely going on my “to do” list!
Likewise with the circular centres of these blocks. Candy’s freezer paper tip makes it easy to get perfectly smooth circles in whatever size you like, and this is actually a great method for any time you need to make circles for applique.
I loved the effect of the Split Wedge Block, and the clever use of dark/light fabrics really got me thinking….
The sawtooth block was a bit of a revelation too. I assumed that it involved foundation piecing, in order to add those fun spiky points, but there’s a tip for this too, to make it soooo much quicker and easier than that.
And some blocks are just fun! I loved her Bull’s Eye Block too – again, it’s actually super easy to piece, and gives such a vibrant effect, with great movement in the block, seemingly no matter what fabrics you use.
With your blocks all made, Candy runs through some of her layout ideas, so you can work out your own quilt design, with flow and layers of Dresdens.
Another great tip was to quilt your background first. In this example above, the background is larger squares and rectangles of small print on white fabrics, and Candy quilted it in varying vertical and horizontal lines. This gives you a finished background on which to layer and applique your Dresdens. You can then simply hand or machine applique your blocks, and quilt them last.
These are some examples of blocks that I really liked –
Perfect for Kaffe fabrics…
Mix and match techniques for fabulous effects.
And who wouldn’t want to just leave them as Dresden stained glass decals? 🙂
One of Candyce’s quilts, with the Dresdens spaced out,
And her stunning “Midnight in the Garden with Friends” quilt featuring more than 40 Dresden blocks.
Feeling inspired, I’ve just used Candyce’s Split Wedge technique to make a quarter block today.
For those of you who’ve been following along the Sunflowers saga in my weekly newsletters, this is most appropriate – a sunflower quilt label!
(There’s an update in Friday’s newsletter, and you’ll find the pattern for this pretty quilt label in our new March Premium Online Quilt Magazine too, which will be out early next month.)
If you are at all interested in making Dresden blocks – whether you’ve made some and are looking to expand your repertoire, or if it’s one of those classic blocks on your ‘to make’ list that you haven’t quite gotten around to yet, I cannot recommend this “Reimagined Dresdens” class (with book) from Candyce Grisham highly enough.
And this brings me to the other fun bit – Last month’s lucky Free class winner was Anna Cornel, and if you too would like to be in the running to win this “Reimagined Dresdens” class for FREE this month (courtesy of Creative Spark and Candyce Grisham), you just need to leave a comment below and let us know which of the different Dresden blocks above is your favourite, and what you’d like to make with it.
I’ll randomly draw a name out next Tuesday afternoon (Sydney, Australia time), so good luck!
Enjoy your week, and do check this class out.
28 responses to “Reimagined Dresdens – A Review”
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I love making Dresdens. A few years ago I had a lot of fun making successfully larger Dresden rings to surround an initial smaller Dresden.
I really like the Serendipity block because it has a three dimensional feel.
I would use it as a motif on a tote bag, or perhaps a small version as a feature on a blouse or skirt.
I have two favorites, just can’t narrow it down to one. I love the serendipity block for it’s 3D effect, but I also love the sawtooth block. I have never seen a Dresden block done this way.
Sawtooth block is my favorite and love the black and white but think I would use a Marine blue and white.
I loved the serendipity block, her color choices alone sparked my interest. I am torn, as I loved, loved , loved the sawtooth block as well. I can already see a combination of those two blocks in a quilt with scrumptious colors!
I like the curved edge and the bullseye. I am new to quilting so might not try this technique for a bit but want to do a pillow or tote or a cute table runner, which is what is my speed right now
I really like the look of the sawtooth block. I’d like to make it in various black and white fabrics.
Pick a favorite? Are you kidding? I have a 9 degree ruler but have never made a block with it. I certainly will try soon, hopefuly with the Curved Edge block. So, i guess that is my favorite.
I like the split wedge blocks a lot. I’m not sure how I’d use them.
Hard to choose one, but I find the Split Wedge Block particularly striking. All the blocks shown are amazing and I do love a Dresden block! Thank you for this inspiring article.
The different designs for the Dresden plates are intriguing. I definitely want to try this method.
The stain glass blocks, especially the sawtooth block, would look great on my balcony door.
I would love to learn to sew the bulls eye dresden. I think it would be fun using my Kaffe stash. Thanks for the class info.
Happy Accident and Mix and Match are my favorite
What beautiful dresdens, love them all. This was my very 1st quilt I ever made, with some help from my Mom, nearly 68 years ago. Boy would I be excited to learn all the new tricks, etc…
Thanks
I like the one where Candy’s chin is almost touching. The colours really stand out and I would make it the star of my quilt with smaller similar Dresden blocks encircling in such a way as to add interest.
I like the stained glass ones and would do nothing further to them other than hang them up.
Jody. The bird thieves are so beautiful. It would be hard to get very mad at them. I guess you’ll need to net your garden. We have deer, bunnies, and turkeys. And an 8 ft tall fence.
🙂 They are lovely, if a bit naughty…. (Just noticed they got our neighbours’ big sunflower yesterday too, and it had literally just opened! We were lucky!!)
It’s too hard to pick a favorite, there’re all beautiful. I’ve only made 1 Dresden quilt and loved it. I’ve been wanted to try other ways, this is a awesome giveaway.
Saw tooth is the one u have tried n have enjoyed. Wish to learn other methods.
I do wish to learn all other methods.
i had previously checked out the book form our local library. awesome! will certainly want to buy it someday before beginning my dresden journey.
(buying a book means it is really special)
in the meantime, i did make a mug rug to get warmed up.
As you can imagine it is hard to pick just one Dresden design. I’ve made little ones out of 2.5 inches strips to large plates that are over 12 inches acrossed. All the ones that I’ve made have been pointed at the end, I would like to learn how to make rounded blades, So much to learn. Would love to win your class. Robert, from northern Iowa, USA.
I loved them all but the split wedge block stood out for me. Haven’t done a dresden plate for ages so these have inspired me to do some.
This class looks like so much fun! I love the curved edge blocked but also the pieced sawtooth block. So many possibilities for a beautiful quilt!
I’ve been wracking my brain to discover how I can use the sawtooth dresdon ! Wheel trim?? Love it!
I love that quilt and the label!!
My fav is the the Split Edge Block, but I love them all!!
Think I missed the drawing, but have always been partial to the split wedge dresdens. Would like to try the rounded edge dresdens.