Quick answer

Start the Rainy Days & Sunday's Quilt Along by gathering your EPP supplies, cutting fabric for the Dresden plate shapes, and following the free supplemental instructions from Katja Marek.

What makes this quilt along special

This project is based on Katja Marek's book Distinctive Dresdens, so you'll be working with fan shapes and petal arrangements. The quilt along provides free supplemental instructions, making it a good choice if you want to learn Dresden plate techniques without buying the full book upfront.

Steps to start your Rainy Days & Sunday's Quilt Along

  1. Download the free supplemental instructions: Visit the link provided with your product to access the free PDF. This contains the quilt along schedule, block diagrams, and fabric requirements. Save the PDF to your device so you can reference it offline.
  2. Gather your EPP supplies: You'll need paper pieces (Dresden plate shapes), fabric glue or thread basting supplies, a needle, and thread. A cutting mat and rotary cutter help with fabric prep. Check that your paper pieces match the template sizes in the instructions.
  3. Cut your fabric with seam allowance: Using the templates from the instructions, cut fabric pieces leaving a 1/4 to 3/8 inch seam allowance. This extra fabric wraps around the paper for neat edges. A common mistake is cutting too little seam allowance, which makes wrapping difficult.
  4. Baste fabric to paper pieces: Fold the seam allowance over the paper and secure with glue or thread. Be careful not to distort the paper shape. For Dresden plates, work one petal at a time. Avoid using too much glue, which can gum up the needle and leave residue.
  5. Stitch pieces together using whipstitch: Match two basted pieces edge to edge and whipstitch along the seam, catching only the fabric folds. Work from the center of the Dresden plate outward. Keep your stitches small and even so the seams lie flat.
  6. Remove papers after stitching: Once all pieces in a block are joined, gently remove the paper templates. Reuse or discard them as you prefer. Wait until the block is fully assembled; removing papers too early can cause the fabric to pucker.

Product facts

  • Rainy Days & Sunday's Quilt Along by Katja Marek: Rainy Days and Sundays: Quilt Along by Katja Marek based on her book, Distinctive Dresdens! Free Supplemental Instructions can be found here. You can join the quilt along without purchasing the book first, but having the book gives you the full pattern library for future projects.

    Rainy Days & Sunday's Quilt Along by Katja Marek

    Rainy Days & Sunday's Quilt Along by Katja Marek