Dresden Name Tag Holder Tutorial

Every year I have gone to quilt show I have always been tickled by all the cute coordinating items other show "go-ers" have on. Every years groups of ladies visiting the show together have coordinating hats, vests, bags, or nametags. I thought in honor of Nancy's first trip to Quilt Market on Friday I would coordinate us!

Here is a tutorial for a "Dresden Name Tag Holder"

 - a Quilters Crossing original! :-)

You will need: 4 rectangles for your bag measuring 6"x7" 

( I pressed Shape-flex to the back side of my rectangles for some added stability)

9 different squares from a Bella Solids Charm pack

1 piece of clear plastic measuring 4"x6"

 ALSO: 1 strip of fabric 2"x WOF and from that cut one 2"x 6" piece. Reserve the remainder of the strip for the neck strap of your name tag holder. Note: You can get all of your bag body, lining and strap made from 1/4 yd of fabric if you cut perfectly!

 Also needed: a mini  Dresden template- 

I used a piece from this set by Marti Michelle:

 This is the piece I used:

Cut your 2"x6" rectangle down to 1.5"x6". We will be pressing it in half lengthwise and then turning the long raw edges in to the center wrong sides in) 

 This will create nice clean edges all the raw edges in!

 Take this and tuck the rectangle of plastic inside the fold and then stitch it down giving your plastic piece a cuff.

 Repeat the same pressing and folding in of the long edges on the longer strip for your neck. This one you just run through your machine to keep those raw edges turned in. 

Set both of these pieces aside while you work on your dresden.

First cut one dresden wedge from each of 9 different charm squares:

 Next fold them in half lengthwise:

Like this: 

 And then sew across the fat ends of each wedge

 Then flip the seam inside and you get your little pointy dresden wedge! How cute is that!

Here is one:

 Here they all are lined up ready to be pressed flat:

 After pressing them each flat, sew them, right sides together, down the long wedge edge:

Keep adding them: 

Until all are connected and form an arc 

Press your seams open 

 This is what you have:

Place this on a 6" end of one of your 6"x7" rectangles as shown--You will want to displace it by about 1/4 inch to account for seam allowance as shown:

 Applique in your method of choice: I did hand applique but machine would be fine:

 Next hand applique a circle over the whole in your arc. I used the wrong side of a yo-yo so that all my edges were turned under:

 Next place your plastic sheet with its cuff closest to your dresden on the bag front as shown:

 If your cuff covers up the lower edge of your dresden trim the bottom edge of the plastic down until the cuff falls just beneath the dresden points. Next lay the back side of your bag (RST) on top of the front and pin.

Leave an opening at the top! 

 Sew along three sides leaving top open

Trim your seams to 1/8" 

 Flip right side out- be sure to poke out those stiff corners at the bottom! Next sew the other two 6"x7" rectangles together to form the lining- make sure to leave one 6" side open! Leave the lining wrong side out.

Next pin your strap on to the BACK of your bag body (not the lining)- on the outside as shown: Be sure there aren't any twists in  your strap! I positioned mine about 1 inch in from each edge and placed the raw ends just over the edge of my bag.

 I wrapped the neck strap around and tucked it into the pocket on the front to keep them out of the way while I sew the lining to the bag body:

 Next, (with the lining turned wrong side out!!) tuck the bag body(right side out) into the lining as shown:

 Pin around the top edge:

Sew around but leave an opening between your straps for turning: 

Pull the bag entirely right side out (bag body and lining) 

you should have this on the front: 

 and this on the back:

 Now tuck the lining down INTO the bag body:

 Hand or machine stitch your opening closed between the handles:

 and Wha-lah!

A completely finished and lined nametag pouch to sport at quilt show or quilt guild:

Maybe make a couple for your co-workers too! 

Hope Deb and Nancy like theirs! 

Quilters Crossing has tickets for the show available now! 

Stop in and purchase yours:

$12 for adults ( includes a preview nite pass)

$9 for seniors and students

New fabrics

 Moda has started making precuts in 2.5" stacks in addition to their Charm packs (5") and layer cakes (10")! Super cute! And they have started doing rainbows from their bella solids line. 

We received some cute flannels 

from Blank Quilting fabric company with planes, trains and trucks. 

 Cute flannel coordinating fabrics too!

New/Old Fabrics

Moda came out with this line "Summer Breeze" last year and it sold so well that they decided to make a "greatest hits album" out of it and reprinted some of the best bolts. 

We ordered some as it was a favorite amongst our customers:

Blank Textiles had this adorable sheep fabric available 

and we couldn't say no: 

These sheep are knitting! 

Wouldn't that be cute to make a Knitting needle holder out of?

 And these cupcakes were just too cute to pass up!

We also received some batiks the other day:

 And we are continuing our cat/produce collection with these two that just came out:

 And for our machine embroidery bee members, this is the second set of patterns and they come with the cd to whip these up for you or for some friends!

Rest in Peace Violet

When we opened the shop we inherited a cat- Violet.

 There used to be a needlework shop on the corner of Commerce and Walnut. They had gotten her fixed and taken care of her before they closed. Then she moved over to our porch, where we fed her, though she ranged all around the Relics by the Railroad complex. Many of you have seen her. She liked to stand in front of the shop door and peek inside at what we were doing. 

Last week the folks from Charlotte's Saddlery came over to tell us they found Violet as she had died near their shop and they had taken her home with them to their property to bury her. She had lived on Commerce Street for 8 years they said- long life for a street kitty. 

We will miss her peeking in at us, rest in peace Miss Violet!

Every little bit helps!

I don't know if everyone knows but Quilters Crossing is a drop-off point for the Million Pillowcase Challenge project.

Here is a link to all the free patterns you can download to make these pillows- there are several varieties or you can make up your own!

This is a nice program because the pillowcases stay within the community that makes them (locally). These are given to local charities to comfort local citizens in need.

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Quilters Crossing also has a group of ladies who make quilts for Wounded Warriors and their families. Often these are patriotic quilts but they do not have to be. Some of the quilts stay locally but some are shared nationwide depending on where the need is greatest.

 They welcome donations of fabric, batting, quilt blocks, quilt tops and of course TIME - they meet in the shop classroom the second Tuesday of every month from 9:30 until 1.  
Stop in and get involved.