Vintage Dresden Plate Quilt

Miniature Adaptation

Believe it or not, the quilt shown below is NOT the bed-size quilt shown on the cover of our Dresden Plate Homecoming pattern. Faye Heyn made this wonderful adaptation and brought it to us in Paducah, where we happily displayed it.

The original Vintage Dresden Plate quilt, shown on the previous Web page and below right, folded, is 80-3/4" x 102-1/2". The miniature version, shown at left and on the wall behind the folded big quilt, is approximately 33-1/2 by 42".

If your pattern is a few years old and it does NOT include the instructions for the mini quilt, the modifications are given below. Newer printings of the Dresden Plate Homecoming pattern do include the instructions for the mini quilt. You will need the Mini Dresden Plate Template Set (Product No. 8964) to make the mini quilt.

Use reproduction fabrics reminiscent of the 1930s. We have listed the pattern page numbers to make navigating the bed-size quilt instructions easier. After you print this out, you may want to cut it apart and staple sections to appropriate pages.

PAGE 1
MATERIALS REQUIRED
1 yard of white background fabric
1/2 yard of yellow setting fabric
3/8 yard of blue outer border fabric
30 or 35 assorted fabrics, 6" x 9", or the equivalent
Plan on using a wide variety of scraps for the plates, the center basket and the inner pieced border. The more, the merrier!
1/2 yard for the binding
1-3/8 yards of backing fabric
Batting approximately 38" x 45"

Use the Mini Dresden Plate Perfect Patchwork Template Set (#8964). You will also find that the
6-1/2" My Favorite Squaring Up Ruler (Product #8950) is indispensable for perfecting the block size (#8973).

Template G45 is used for the Inner Border (#8950).

 

PAGE 2
LOOKING AT THIS QUILT
Column 1, paragraph 3: With the Mini Dresden Plate Template set there are 2 different sizes of finished Dresden Plates; measuring across the center, they are 3" and 5-1/2". They are commonly appliqued on 4" and 6" squares of background fabric. In this quilt, you will use wedge-shaped template b for the petals, and the finished block size is 6".

CUTTING THE ASSORTED FABRICS
Column 2, paragraph 2: Change the quantity of 72 to 60 and change template D22 to G45.
Column 2, paragraph 3: Change a scant 5" to a generous 2-1/2".
Use template b from the Mini Dresden Plate set & G45.

CUTTING THE POINTED PETALS
Column 3, Step 1: A scant 5" again becomes a generous 2-1/2"

The Tip for Cutting should reference template G45 instead of D22.

PAGE 3
MAKING THE CENTER CIRCLES AND HEART
Column 2, paragraph 1: Use Circle #1 from page 9 of the Dresden Garden Wallhanging, the second quilt pattern in your two-for-one Dresden Plate Homecoming pattern.

COMPLETING THE DRESDEN PLATE BLOCKS
Column 3, paragraph 1: Change 17 to 7
Change 16 to 6-1/2

Column 3, paragraph 4: Change 16 to 6-1/2
Change 15-1/2 to 6

PAGE 4
CUTTING THE BASKET
Column 1: Ignore the template references

Column 1, Step 1: Change 73 to 2-1/2" square cut in half diagonally.
Change 10 to 5 and 74/75 to 1-1/4"

Column 1, Step 2: Change two #76s to a 1-5/8" square cut in half diagonally.
Change 1-3/4 to 1, and 17-1/2 to 8.

Column 1, Step 3: Change 10 to 4-1/8.

MAKING THE BASKET
Column 2, Step 1:Change 76 to triangles from the 1-5/8" square.
Change 10 to 5.

Column 2, Step 3: Change 73 to the triangle that results from a 2-1/2" square cut in half diagonally. Since these aren't Perfect Patchwork templates, this may not be a perfect fit; be prepared to trim when you true up the block.

ASSEMBLING THE DRESDEN BASKET
Column 2, Step 1: Change 17 to 7-1/4
Change 1-1/2 to 7/8

Column 3, Step 3: The 3/8 isn't accurate; but the background will be larger.
Change 1-1/2 to 7/8

 

PAGE 5
Column 1, Step 5: Change 16 to 6-1/2

Column 2: The numbers given are not appropriate for the mini size; but place it so it is centered, and looks pleasing,

Column 3: Use Heart #4 on page 9 of the Dresden Garden Wallhanging.

PERFECTING THE DRESDEN BASKET SIZE
Use My Favorite Squaring Up Ruler: Lay it on the block with the 1" marks along the outside edge of the lower basket portion; the diagonal line printed on the ruler will run vertically, directly between the 2 basket feet. Trim this lower part of the block. Then rotate to trim the top portion of the block. The 6-1/2" ruler is the exact size of the block with seam allowances.

PAGE 6
MAKING THE DRESDEN BASKET SECTION
Column 1, Step 1: Change 8-1/2 to 3-1/2 in both places.
Change 16 to 6-1/2 and change 31-1/2 to 12-1/2.

CUTTING THE SETTING TRIANGLES
Column 3: Change 11-1/2 to 4-3/4

PAGE 7
Column 1: Change 24 to 9-3/4 and 12 to 5-1/8

MAKING THE PIECED TRIANGULAR BORDERS
Column 3: Change D22 to G45.
Change 74 to 64

Column 3, Step 1: Change 16 to 13

Column 3, Step 2: Change 16 to 13 and 17 to 14

The top and bottom border strips will piece 1/2" larger than the size required to fit. You could increase the seam on each seam allowance a scant .02" :-) or just take in a few seams until the length is appropriate.

Column 3, Step 3: Use the new pattern piece provided at right to cut 4 corner pieces. (Compare the measurements noted on the pattern to your printout. If your measurements don't match ours, adjust the % number in your printer dialog window or page setup window and print at a higher or lower percentage until your printout measurements match ours.)

Column 3: Instead of Units A & B and an extension, simply combine 17 print and 18 white pieces.

PAGE 8
ADDING THE PIECED BORDER
Column 1: The side borders will fit as pieced, no modifications are necessary. The top and bottom borders need some adjustments as described above. Add the inner pieced border in the sequence shown.

ADDING THE FINAL BORDER
Column 2, Steps 1 & 3: Change 3-1/2 to 3

 

PAGE 9
PERFECTING THE BLOCK SIZE
Change 17 to 7 and 16 to 6-/12
Use My Favorite Squaring Up Ruler, 6-1/2" in place of those suggested.

Column 1, Step 1: Instead of 8, use 3-1/4; ignore the ruler in the diagram.

The center point should be 3-1/4

We hope you love your Miniature Dresden Plate as much as we love Faye's!

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© 1996–2011 Martha G. Michell. All rights reserved.

NOTE: Most of the instructional information and artwork shown is excerpted from my books. Like other published material, it is protected by copyright law, but you have my permission to print and download these materials for your own non-commercial use.