Today I will share a tutorial to make dresden plate quilt block. It is really easy and gives very good results with various fabric or colour choices. Whatever you choose, it comes out well.
Most dresden plates are made by using an 18 degree wedge ruler that requires 20 blades to complete a full circle.
The dresden plate I made requires 30 degree template and it requires 12 blades. I like it better with less blades, what's more, you have less blades to sew.
I made my own template. If you have a 30 degree triangle ruler, you can use it or you can download DOWNLOAD DRESDEN PLATE TEMPLATE
In this tutorial I used 6" wide strip to make dresden plate that is 13 3/4" wide from point to point. You can make dresden plates at any size varying the height of the template and the width of the fabric strip.
In other words, you can make dresden plates any size you want by changing the height and width of the template.
Step-by-step tutorial
- Prepare your template either by printing out the template I share HERE and cut or prepare your own one.
- Place the template on the fabric strip and cut it out. Continue cutting until you have 12 blades for one dresden plate quilt block.
- Fold each dresden blade in half right sides together. Sew the wide end with 1/4" seam allowance. Do the same for all 12 pieces.
- Trim the point of the blade to reduce the bulk at the point.
- Press the blade in half to form a centering crease and turn right side out and push out the point with a semi-sharp object.
- Press seams open and align the seam with the center crease. Do the same process for the other blades.
- Arrange your blades into a circle that make you happy about color arrangement.
- Sew the blades first into pairs and then together. Start sewing from wide end. Make sure that they match up well at the top.
- Press the seams open. You do not need to worry much about the narrow edges lining up since it will be covered up by the center circle.
- Now we will be preparing the center square. Place the circle template on the back of te fabric and draw around the circle using your fabric pen. Cut out 1/4" away from the draen line. Fold the fabric around the back of the template.
- Sew around the square with basting stitches on the folded fabric so the fabric forms a circle.
- Press the square with iron and then remove circle template.
- Pin the fabric circle to Dresden plate and then attach the Dresden plate to the background fabric. You have already finished it! Dresden plate quilt pattern is versatile. It can be used to make a pillow or a quilt.
