Dresden Plate Tutorial!

As promised, here is my Dresden Plate made from Kaffe fabrics, using a Dresden Wedge Ruler that I had custom-made from perspex and measures 8.5" along the middle line. This plate measures approx 19" across the diameter, measuring outer tip to outer tip. I really love it and I am very happy with it, however here in Australia, I think it may be difficult to get a Dresden wedge that measures longer than 8" along the middle line. I had wonderful thoughts of using 2.5" pre-cut Jelly Roll Strips and to achieve accuracy the wedge has to be 8.5"!
So here it is made with my Dresden Wedge Ruler that I had custom made!

Here are the instructions for making a Dresden Plate, using a commercially available 8" wedge - I have been able to find EZ and Matilda's Own. The diameter is approx 17" - all seam allowances are 1/4" - enjoy!

Cut 4 strips of fabric 2.25" wide - this can be made from scrap pieces, fat quarters, or width of fabric - maybe the more you use the more interesting the plate becomes - try for 20 co-ordinating fabrics minimum, though 10 would do!

Sew the fabrics together, place your ruler at the 7.5" line and cut with a rotary cutter. You will notice the ruler can be topped and tailed.

You will also notice how I have pressed the seams in opposite directions so they will interlock nicely when sewn together.

Now, fold each wedge of 4 fabrics in half and sew a seam across the top, double stitching and clipping the corner. This will help to make a nice, sharp point.

Fold top down with seam in line with the middle line made by the iron, and this makes a nice point using bluntish scissors, skewer or knitting needle to poke the point out nicely.

Sew wedges together, say in 4 lots of 5, and you will have 20 wedges total!

Chain piecing can be used!

Whew - half way there! How are you going?

Press the seams on the back all in the one direction - you will notice how all seams have nestled into each other and the half plate is sitting flat. Make another half in this manner and sew both halves together!

Okay, so now your full plate is made and all seams pressed in the one direction on the back!

Make your centrepiece with a 3.5" diameter piece of light cardboard, leaving 1/4" seam allowance all around! Hand-sew a running thread around the circumference and draw the thread into a gather to fit snugly around the circle!

Use a little spray starch to press nicely, then pop the cardboard out of the centrepiece, tack around the edge and sew with tiny blind stitches around the centrepiece, attaching it securely to the wedges!

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I do hope this is a helpful tutorial - the patterns for both blocks are my own! It is after 10pm our time - it has been a busy day, so I would love to have your feedback - please contact me if I have omitted anything or given incorrect information - it has been a buzz to do this tutorial and I intend trialling smaller blocks - all would make a nice quilt or cushion cover! There are quite a few other tips that will be useful, but best leave them for another time - hope you aren't yawning and over it!

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Oh, to finish up and into bed after a very hot summer's day - it is lovely and cool tonight - to read an interesting book will be just lovely!