Dresden Plate Easy Tutorial

I've been on a dresden plate kick lately and have had many questions about the block. It truly is easy so I thought I'd share a little "how to."

I use the EZ Quilting Easy Dresden lucite template by Darlene Zimmerman. Directions are enclosed on sizes of blades, size to cut fabric, and size to cut background fabric. 

Whatever size you want your blade is the size strip of fabric you cut. I'm using a 2 1/2" blade so I cut my fabric strip 2 1/2" wide.

The template is really well marked. Using your rotary cutter trim off the outer edge piece then cut along side the other edge. This will give you your first blade. Turn your template with the 2 1/2" mark to the bottom and the smaller edge to the top and cut again. You keep rotating your template in this manner until you have the desired number of blades.

Fold your blade right sides together aligning the top edge. Sew 1/4" seam. I chain piece when I'm doing my sewing and end up with a long string.

On the folded edge snip the corner at an angle. My top edge is rough looking because the charm pack I'm using was pinked instead of straight cut.

If you don't have a Purple Thang use a toothpick or bamboo skewer. The Purple Thang is inexpensive and the handiest tool I own. Flip the edge right side out and use your Purple Thang to help make a nice sharp point at the tip of the blade.

Carefully lay flat and iron from the back side. Turn over and iron the front side.

Now you have a nice sharp blade. About 20 blades for this size dresden plate. Honestly depending on your seam allowance accuracy you could have more or less blades in your plate. Once you have your blades made start sewing them together, gently pressing the seams in one direction.

The smaller the blades the fussier they are to work with so here's a 5" blade. I definitely recommend starting with a larger size blade.

With this size blade your background fabric would be cut about 14" square.

Now you have a neat back.

All you have to make is the circle. No template given for that. I trace a circle that is larger than the hole. Applique your dresden plate to your background, pinning well. Place your circle on top and applique it down. (The template instructions tell you what size to cut your background depending on the size blades you make.)
I hope the mystery is now taken out of the Dresden Plate block and you have fun making your own beautiful blocks. 7

Many years ago I made a dresden plate quilt. All Robyn Pandolph fabric when she was still designing for Moda. (I did not do the quilting.)

This is the first dresden plate quilt I ever made.