Dresden Plate Tutorial Copyright © 2010 Vanessa Wilson.

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craftygemini@gmail.com

I love Dresden Plate blocks! Here is a step-by-step tutorial I created to show beginning sewists and quilters how easy they are to

make! This tutorial is picture heavy and I hope you enjoy it! Please do not disperse this tutorial on the internet. Instead, link to

my page so, others may download it themselves.

Supplies:

Scraps of any fabric you want to use

30– degree angle ruler or homemade template

Fusible web (optional)

NOTE: This tutorial is for a Dresden Plate block that fits nicely on a 9.5” x 9.5” (unfinished) block of background fabric.

1. Cut a 5” strip x WOF (width of fabric) of whatever fabric you want to use for the blades of your Dresden Plate.

2. Lay your strip horizontally in front of you and lay the 30-degree ruler or template on the strip like this:

3. The first cut requires you slicing on both sides of the ruler. From here on out just alternate the orientation of the ruler/template

every time you cut. First with the narrow tip up and then with it down until you get something that looks like this:

4. Now take one of the blades and fold in half with the wrong side of the fabric facing outward.

5. Using a 1/4” seam stitch down top edge:

6. Finger press the seam open a bit:

7. Flip the point of the blade corner

inside out.

8. Using a pointed blunt object make sure you get that tip nice and pointed. I use a small plastic crochet hook. You can use a chop-

stick, etc.

9. Now I like to use a perfect 45-degree angle to press blade in place. Here is what I do:

- Use an index card, piece of cardstock or chipboard and take one of your quilting rulers that has a 45-degree angle marking

and trace it onto your card.

10. Now take your marked card and insert it in the point of he blade making sure to line up the 45-degree line with the seam. Press

in place. Remove card and press again.

11. Now you have a blade that looks like these. Using a 30-degree angle ruler you can make a Dresden Plate block that has a total of

12 blades. So, repeat steps 4-10 for all the blades you will need for your blocks.

12. To put the Dresden Plate together take your prepped blades and put them with pretty sides touching, then sew together with a

1/4” seam. Make sure you backstitch at the top to ensure they don’t come apart over time.

Backstitch

to secure

13. Press seam open.

14. Continue to do this until you have all the blades for your entire plate. Piece your units together until your entire plate is

complete.

15. For the center circle there are many different ways of doing this. Here I’ll show you how to do the quickest and easiest method

using a fusible applique technique.

- Trace any circular object you have around the house onto the paper side of the fusible web. You can use a cup, thread

spool, etc. The circle can be any size you want.

- Then fuse with paper side up to the wrong side of the fabric.

16. Cut out circle on traced line and fold in four to mark center. Line up the center lines of the circle with the lines of the Dresden

Plate and fuse. (You can add the center before or after you sew the Dresden Plate to the background fabric.)

17. Decide on the size of your background fabric block for the Dresden Plate. For this size plate I like to use a 9.5” x 9.5” block so

it will finish 9” x 9” when it’s in a quilt. Fold your background fabric block in four and press to crease center lines. Arrange

your Dresden Plate block in the center and pin securely in place. Using a zig-zag, blanket, or another decorative stitch of your

choice stitch around the entire perimeter of the Dresden Plate and the center circle to secure into place.

That’s it! Not too bad, right?!

Happy Quilting!

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