Sign up for new Ezine alerts
Email

 

 

Dresden Plate

The Dresden Plate is a name for a quilt pattern that was very popular during the 1920’s and 1930’s. It was so named after the delicate china that was made in Dresden, Germany between the early 1700’s and the late 1800’s.The beautiful porcelain was decorated in a wide variety of bright colors with highlights of gold. A particular favorite was blue and white Dresden china which is still often seen today.

The pattern for this quilt piece was published for the first time in the 1920’s under names such as the Dresden Plate, Sunflower, Dahlia, Aster, Sunburst, and Friendship Ring. This quilt was often made out of feed sacks which at the time were woven out of patterned color fabric. Since the quilters had very little during those times, they had to recycle everything.

Some of the inspiration for this pattern might also have come from the Victorian crazy quilt often in which multi-colored fabric would be pieced together in the form of a fan.

The pattern included here is similar to the original with rounded petals on the edge, but this pattern may also be made with pointed edges depending on preference. This pattern combines quilting with appliqué.

Often sixteen or twenty of the Dresden Plates were combined to form a quilt top which was then made into a bedspread. Today, this flower is a cool retro twist you can add to clothing such as a skirt or a handbag. It can also be made into a pillowcase, a retro doily, or of course, a quilt! You can adjust the size of the pattern using a photocopy machine and make any size Dresden Plate you wish.

Project

These instructions are to make a Dresden Plate center piece. This can be used alone or sewn to a block of fabric to create a lap quilt, handbag, tablecloth, magic carpet, or whatever you wish. Download template here.

Colors
The Dresden Plate is perfect for scrap quilting as every petal may be made with a different color. It also works just as beautifully with two colors. Typically, the center is a solid color which may or may not appear in the petals.

Materials
Typical Quilting Supplies
Variety of Different Fabrics for Petals (up to 12)
Solid Color for Center
1/2 yard Muslin for Lining

Tips
Use a ¼ inch seam allowance and set to 15 stitches per inch.


Instructions

Cut

1. Cut twelve petals from assorted fabric.
2. Cut two 4 inch squares from solid fabric for center.
3. Cut one 16 inch square of muslin lining.

Sew
4. Sew the 12 petals together in assembly line fashion. First, place right sides together of two of the petals and sew the two petals together from the widest point to the narrowest. Second, sew together another two and another two until you have six pairs.
5. Sew each pair to another pair, resulting in three sets of four petals.
6. Sew one set of four petals to another set of four petals.
7. Sew the last set of four petals to the set of eight petals to form a petal circle.

Press
8. Press each seam of the circle to one side. Try not to stretch the circle.

Half Way Done. . .
9. With right sides together, place the petal circle on top of the muslin lining.
10. Pin to hold in place.
11. Stitch around the outer edge following the shape of the petals.
12. Trim the edge to 1/16 inch.
13. Clip the corners, i.e. clip close to stitching at bends making sure not to cut through the line of sewing.
14. Now, you have a petal sandwich. Through the center opening, turn right side out.
15. With finger or the blunt round tip of a knife, smooth outside edges until rounded. If using the pointed petal template, use a utensil such as the point of the scissors to shape all points.
16. Press right side, so muslin cannot be seen.

The Center
17. Now, all that is left is to cover the hole in the middle of the flower. To do this, you will make a flat circle which will be appliquéd on top of the center to hide all raw edges.
18. To make the center circle, place the two 4 inch squares right sides together and pin.
19. Measure the circle pattern against the opening of the petal circle. If your circle has stretched or shrunk because of a different seam allowance, you may want to adjust the size of the circle. Do so by finding a circle (such as the bottom of a mug) which will entirely fit over the hole with a little extra to cover it. Trace the circle onto fabric.
20. Sew around the circle.
21. Trim 1/16 inch from the line of sewing.
22. Clip a hole in the form of a cross in the back. Don’t be afraid to do this. No one will ever see as it will be stitched face down to the petal circle.
23. Through hole, turn right side out.
24. With finger or the blunt round tip of a knife, smooth outside edges until rounded.
25. Press so only top fabric can be seen. Top stitch if desired, but not necessary.

Appliqué
26. Position the center circle in the middle of the petal circle and blind stitch together. You’re done!

 

Please Note...
All work; including photographs, descriptions, stories, books, artwork, patterns, and crafts, represented on this site and elsewhere is protected by copyright. Please feel free to use my pdf books, e-zines, and patterns for your personal use, but not for commercial use.
Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

© 2007–2009 Michele Young