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

Design Wall Tutorial

I was with Diane today who is getting ready to open her second Quilters/Crafters retreat next week!! and we were making the design walls for the workroom.   I mentioned how we have had many people ask us about the design walls in the classroom at the shop, and she said,  "You should do a tutorial!" 

So like any good blogger I whipped out my camera and away we went!

Here is what you need:

A well ventilated room

A friend

A large work surface ( a clean floor would be okay but I like a table--not thing you can't wipe down because glue and flannel bits get everywhere on it and make a mess--DO NOT coat a nice table with newspaper or your pretty white design wall will be dirty!)

6"x24" ruler

Razor*

Duct Tape*

Loctite* or other spray on glue/adhesive suitable for multiple surfaces including fabric!

Nice pair of scissors

108" flannel (available at Quilters Crossing)

1 4'x8' sheet of residential insulation board or styrofoam board* 

(*the spray glue, duct tape, razor and insulation board are found at a local home improvement store)

First you measure the area you want to cover with design wall, if you do not want the whole piece use your ruler and razor to cut the foam board down until it is exactly how big you want it. 

We needed a large design wall so we left it intact.

Next measure out your flannel - with 108" flannel you have plenty of length so you won't have a seam in your design wall. Measure out your width plus add 10-12" extra to wrap around the back so you have a nice finished looking edge.

 (You don't have to cut precisely or neatly here so no need for a rotary unless that is handy)

Next lay your insulation board plain side up on your work surface and cover it with your flannel making sure there are a few inches all around extra.

Now fold back one half of the flannel like so and spray on the glue after shaking it well.

Now here is where you really need a friend. You gently smooth the flannel you had folded back, over the now glued tacky area. Keep the loose part held up out of the glue. Starting in the middle and working out towards the sides and end lay the flannel down. Smooth out wrinkles as you lay it down, if you get a ripple or wrinkle just gently pull it up and re-smooth.

Repeat the process on the other end of the foam sheet:

fold back, spray:

Smooth you have this now:

It is nice, smooth and glued down on the foam but loose on the sides. Flip it over:

Now you are going to pull the loose bits to the back side. Start with the corners. Have your handy friend cut pieces of tape for you while you pull it snug like doing hospital corners on a bed- It won't be perfect but you won't see it at all on the front so don't worry.

Hold with your finger then place the duct tape to hold it in place. Be sure to catch a bit of the foam board as well as the fabric. Repeat for the other corners.

 

Using the duct tape put the tape on the edges of the flannel and give a little pull to make sure it is snug and place the tape down on the foam as shown:

(It won't be perfectly even if you cut it really straight because of all the pulling and smoothing when you were on the other side)

So now you have completely taped down the loose edges:

 And when you flip it over....

 it looks like this: perfect and ready to hang!

Use a drill to screw right through these in the four corners wherever you want your design wall. Make sure your screws are 1/2" -1" longer than your design wall is thick so they'll reach the wall. 

(Some styrofoam is pretty thick and

 you'd need really long nails for it)

For a fun touch you can even cover up each of the screw heads with a button like we do at the shop! 

Or maybe you have another idea to personalize yours.

The table will have received some of the glue spray 

(as well as your clothes, skin and hair if you aim like I do!) and then the flannel touches it you get this mess fuzzy sticky residue on your table but will wash off easily with a little soap and water.