• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Home About Subscribe Summer Sew Camp Disclosures

Always Expect Moore

Quilts & Pattern Design

  • Cricut Maker BOTW
  • Quilty5k
  • Gallery Wall QAL
  • Trunk Show
  • Guild Resources
  • Pattern Shop
  • Free Patterns
Home About Subscribe Summer Sew Camp Disclosures
  • Cricut Maker BOTW
  • Quilty5k
  • Gallery Wall QAL
  • Trunk Show
  • Guild Resources
  • Pattern Shop
  • Free Patterns
Home » Blog » Quilt » 78 Degrees and… Quilt

78 Degrees and… Quilt

Created On: June 11, 2017  |  Updated: June 11, 2017  |   12 Comments

Living in San Diego, you’d think it was always 78 degrees and sunny. Unfortunately, it isn’t… but this quilt makes it feel like it is! So I named it “78 Degrees and…” Not to be mixed up with “98 degrees and…” because that is way too hot! 78 is perfect for a beach day… or a hammock day!

78 Degrees and... Quilt Modern Improv Dresden

I made this quilt using the new Dimensional Dresden ruler that Nancy’s Notions sent to me to play with. I’ve played with other Dresden techniques before, like in my Roots and Wings quilt and Watermelon Coasters. I also made a Dresden Plate in Block 7 of the Technique Block of the Month.

Dimensional Kaleidoscope Dresden Template

The Dimensional Dresden ruler does much more than the average Dresden Plate template. First, it is HUGE! It can make a petal 10″ – which means you can make a Dresden Plate that is over 20″ across! You can use it to make curved ends, pointed ends, and flat ends. Also, it comes with a detailed instruction book. Not only telling you how to make a traditional Dresden Plate – but how to kick it up a notch. Making layered Dresdens. There are so many examples of how to layer the pieces by inserting them into the seams in different ways. The possibilities are completely limitless! Plus, it is on sale right now! Any ruler less than $20 is usually a good deal – but less than $10 is a steal (and since it is on sale, you can avoid the bad karma from actually stealing).

If you want to make a quilt similar to “78 degrees and…”, you’ll need:
Lots of assorted yellow fabrics (about 6 yards)
Nancy Zieman Dimensional Dresden template Regularly $17.99 – now $9.99 through July 31st!
6 1/2″ square ruler
Rotary Cutter and mat
Scissors
Seam Ripper
Blue wash-away marker or chalk pencil
Sewing machine and matching thread

I was feeling like I needed a little sunshine, so I grabbed my entire stash of yellows, pulling out anything that felt too orange or too brown. Leaving just the pieces that could read as solid from a distance. I might have given myself permission to head to my local quilt shop to add a couple yellows. Just to round it out.

fabric selections

Spoiler Alert: I used it all. Or, pretty close to all. I have a healthy bag of yellow scraps… and an excuse to shop for more buttery and sunshiney yellows. I might have a thing for all yellow quilts.

Using the ruler, I cut lots of wedges. First, I cut a strip the height of the wedges I wanted, then cut the strip up into pieces using the wedge ruler. No waste at all!

cut wedges

Lots and lots of wedges.

lots of wedges

I cut different sizes. More than half were 8″ or 9 1/2″. These would be my big background pieces. I also cut lots and lots of small 4″ pieces, and a variety of pieces in between.

All the smaller pieces, and some of the larger pieces, were stitched along the top to make dresden points.

stitched dresdens

And then pressed.

press all the pieces

There is a handy template that comes with the ruler for centering the seam on the back. So smart!

pressing points

Once I had all these points created, I used the instruction booklet to stitch together partial dresden plate blocks.

Pressing was sometimes tricky with all the bulk in the seams. I found that inserting a wooden point turner into the front of a tucked-in dresden helped. I could press the back seam open without pressing creases into the tucked in dresden. A round wooden chopstick would work well, too.

press open with stick

Three 8″ wedges going the same direction, and then a fourth going the opposite direction was enough to trim to 6 1/2″ square. For the blocks where I wanted the seams more diagonal, I used 9 1/2″ wedges.

big enough

I just used my 6 1/2″ square ruler to trim them up.

trim up the block

I kept the scraps to stitch to the sides of other blocks that needed a little more width to make it to 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″

On some, the inserted dresden extended beyond the edge of the 6 1/2″ block. I didn’t want to cut off the points – I wanted to keep the dimension!

I cut the sides that didn’t have the point. On the last side, I marked using a blue water-erase marker.

I carefully cut both sides with scissors, all the way up to the seam allowance. I ripped the seam on the part that needed to be removed, and removed it.

Then I pulled back the point, and cut into the dresden at an angle, towards the crease. I got to almost 1/8″ of the crease.

This allowed me to pull the point up and away from the side of the block, leaving plenty of room for the seam allowance. And all these raw edges will be protected when the point is appliqued down.

I repeated this process, making 47 blocks. The 48th block was special.

For this last block, I made a full Dresden with lots of points sticking out. Some sticking very far out!

Of course they wouldn’t fit within my 6 1/2″ square. I traced around the square.

I carefully trimmed each side like I had with the regular blocks – but this time I needed to trim all four sides.

Carefully moving all the points out of the way for cutting.

Or cutting right up to that seam allowance like before.

Cutting on all sides.

Once I cut in, I was able to pin the points out of the way.

pin out of the way

Then it was time to lay out the blocks.

lay out blocks

I made sure to have more points to insert in the seams.

pressed under

Some I stitched together.

stitch together

All of them I pressed 1/4″ in on each side to tuck in the raw edges.

press seams

I pinned them  so that the raw edges of the bottom extended beyond the edge of the blocks.

pin in place

And pinned them all over the quilt.

pin all rays in place

Then I stitched the blocks into rows… and the rows into a quilt!

finished quilt top

Then it was time for quilting. I used a walking foot to make rays out from the center. Then quilted the rays.

Swirls and pebbles, mostly.

Swirls mixed in with wavy lines.

I might’ve snuck in one feather.

Technically, she isn’t done yet. I want to hand-applique down all the points so they still have lots of dimension, but all the raw edges are tucked away and protected. And it isn’t bound yet. I’m undecided on if she will get a traditional binding, or if I’ll add a facing instead.

What do you think? Binding or facing?

Oh – and be sure to grab that Dimensional Dresden while it is still on sale! I have a couple more fun projects planned that you might be tempted to make!

Save

Save

posted in: Quilt, Quilt Pattern, San Diego, Sewing, Sewing Tutorials

Previous
Patriotic Oatmeal Cookies
Next
Free Motion Quilting Practice Designs

Reader Interactions

    Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

    Share your thoughts!
    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Comments & Reviews

  1. Donna says

    June 11, 2017

    You are amazing and this quilt is just as amazing as you!
    Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous piece!

    Reply
    • Carolina says

      August 20, 2017

      Awww… thank you! <3

      Reply
  2. glass beads says

    June 14, 2017

    It looks awesome. Great post. I will try it later. Thanks for sharing your creativity.

    Reply
  3. Patricia says

    June 16, 2017

    Awesome and beautiful

    Reply
  4. Hannah says

    June 21, 2017

    Carolina, Hands down for this pattern. The instructions are so very clear with pictures. This is the most awesome pattern I have ever came across. I am new to knitting/crocheting and have been taking online classes and so far i have created many small items and this is a great idea for my weekend project to try my hands on the big items.Thanks for the inspiration. I will be subscribing to you for more posts like this..

    Reply
    • Carolina says

      August 20, 2017

      Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! <3

      Reply
  5. Elizabeth says

    July 20, 2017

    Stunning.

    Reply
  6. Carol McClelland says

    July 19, 2020

    I love this quilt. I was wondering where I can download the pattern? I thought it would be embedded in the tutorial but didn’t find it. Also I tried the link for the Dresden ruler of Nancy and got a whoops sorry no such site. Hopefully you can help me.

    Reply
    • Carolina says

      July 30, 2020

      This is an improv-style quilt, so the instructions are here in the tutorial. There is no pattern.
      I think that Nancy’s Notions was purchased by Missouri Star Quilt Co. They may be re-doing the site? Just Google “Dimensional Dresden Ruler” and you should be able to find it…

      Reply
  7. Kathy says

    August 15, 2020

    I love this quilt! Just my kind, not fussy, all different blocks! I need to work on one,

    Reply
  8. Carol McClelland says

    July 10, 2022

    were do I get the dresden plate ruler and book?

    Reply
  9. Sylvia says

    October 22, 2022

    I love yellow as well so this quilt pulled me in as soon as I saw it. But as I was reading the directions I thought for a minute I was confused but then it all started making since. I love your creative mind. This is a beautiful quilt! Thank you for sharing with us!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Carolina!

I’m a Quilt Pattern Designer, Award Winning Quilter, and fan of all things quilting. I live in San Diego with my husband, our two boys and our pets. I love keeping both my hands and mind busy, so I’m always working on lots of projects. You’ll find lots of them shared here!

More About Me

Let's Keep In Touch!

I'll let you know about what's new in quilting, freebies you'll want to snag, and brighten your inbox about once a week!

subscribe
90% Faster Than Rotary Cutters

Fat Quarter Shop Quilting Fabrics and Supplies

Instagram Facebook Pinterest YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Flying Pig Quilt Block
  • Bunny and Carrot Quilt Block
  • Free Fancy Drink Quilt Block
  • Dutch Row Houses Quilt Block
  • Quilted Sports Jersey Numbers

Archives

Featured Projects

  • Everything you want to know about Pre Cut Fabrics!
  • Scrappy Placemat - easy to make scrap project
    Scrappy Placemat using Strips and Scrap Tape
  • Sewing Kaleidoscope SVG File
  • Drawstring Backpack
  • Carolina holding fabric marking pens
    Choosing Fabric Marking Pens

Let's Keep In Touch!

Brighten your inbox about once a week!

Always Expect Moore Submark Shop Patterns

Browse

  • Ruler of the Month
  • Quilty5k
  • QuiltMath
  • Cricut Maker BOTW

Shop

  • Digital Download Patterns
  • Quilting Notions
  • Quilt Stickers
  • Quilt Tees

Connect

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook Group
  • TikTok
©2025, Always Expect Moore. All Rights Reserved. About Disclosures
Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Let's Keep In Touch!

I'll let you know about what's new in quilting, freebies you'll want to snag, and brighten your inbox about once a week!