We’re heading into the home stretch of the Dresden Summer Stitch Along, and the creativity in this community is nothing short of amazing! Your Dresden Plates are bursting with color, texture, and personality, and those hand-embroidered centers— stitched with gorgeous Aurifil floss— are the perfect finishing touch.
Today we’re releasing the Week 5 embroidery pattern, another delightful design to add to your growing collection. Whether you’re keeping pace week by week or working at your own speed, this is the perfect time to settle in for some slow stitching and enjoy the process.
This Stitch Along has been such a joyful collaboration between Susan Ache (@yardgrl60), Moda Fabrics, and Aurifil. We’re thrilled to be part of a project that celebrates tradition, creativity, and the magic of making something beautiful by hand.
📅 Dresden Summer SAL Schedule
— June 18: Preview
— June 20: Week 1
— July 4: Week 2
— July 18: Week 3
— August 1: Week 4
— August 15: Week 5 (You Are HERE)
— August 29: Week 6
— September 12: Finishing & Wrap-Up
We can’t wait to see your Week 5 creations—don’t forget to tag @yardgrl60, @aurifilthread, and @modafabrics so we can keep cheering you on. ✨
Well hello there, stitching friends! It’s Susan Ache here (@yardgrl60 on Instagram) and somehow, we’ve made it to Week 5 of our Dresden Summer Stitch Along. I’m not sure how that happened so quickly… I feel like I just poured my first glass of sweet tea and printed Pattern #1 yesterday. Time sure flies when you’re stitching your way through summer!
So, how’s your embroidery going? Are you keeping pace with the patterns as they come out, or have you created your own little “stitch queue” for a rainy day (or a slightly cooler one)? There’s no wrong way to do this—I’ve seen people powering through, others enjoying slow-and-steady evenings on the porch, and some just happily collecting the patterns until the mood strikes. I love it all.
And hey—if you’re feeling like you’ve fallen behind, I’m here to tell you… you haven’t. This is not a race, there are no deadlines, and nobody is checking your progress chart. Whether you’re on Pattern #5 or still working on #1, you’re exactly where you need to be. Every stitch counts, and they’ll all get you to the finish line eventually.
Have you decided what your final project will be? Are you aiming for the full quilt finish, or are you dreaming up smaller projects—pillows, wall hangings, table toppers—using just a few of the Dresdens? Personally, I think both options are wonderful. A full quilt is a beautiful statement, but there’s something sweet about a single Dresden block turned into a little project you can enjoy right away. And let’s be honest… sometimes it’s nice to call something finished before the leaves start turning.
Me? I’m still happily bouncing back and forth between embroidery and Dresden prep—stitch a little, cut a little, repeat. It keeps things fresh and gives me the joy of seeing both parts of the project come together bit by bit.
Your Week 5 embroidery pattern is ready and waiting for you below. Grab it, trace it, stitch it… or tuck it away for later. No rules here—just a whole lot of encouragement from me to you. Keep enjoying the process, keep loving your stitches, and keep soaking up this summer feeling.
See you in two weeks with more patterns and more cheering from me! Thanks for stitching along with us!
— Susan
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Dresden blocks or trying your hand at embroidery for the first time, this is a project designed for joy, exploration, and a whole lot of summer stitching fun. We can’t wait to see your take on these joyful blocks. Happy stitching, and stay tuned for our final pattern release on August 29!