Dresden Plate Wedges
There are several popular quilt blocks that utilize a wedge as a part of the quilting pattern. One of the most well known and popular of these blocks is called the "Dresden Plate." This is a quilt block that is a circle that is comprised of separate wedges. Learn make a quilting wedge that can be used for sewing the Dresden Plate quilt block or one of the other blocks that use a wedge. Once you learn the technique it is not difficult to master.
Instructions
1. Measure and cut out the wedge pattern piece from cardboard. It should have a height of 4 1/4 inches, a long width of 2 3/8 inches and the short width of 1 inch. Measure and cut out a circle with a 4 1/2-inch diameter from cardboard. Set the circle aside.
2. Lay the five rectangles of fabric in a stack. Line up the edges so that they are all neatly aligned.
3. Lay the cardboard pattern piece on the stacked rectangles and trace four wedge shapes onto the fabric. Lay the ruler against the traced lines and cut out the wedges with the rotary cutter. You should have 20 wedges when you are finished cutting (four wedges of each fabric).
4. Fold each wedge in half lengthwise with right sides facing in and wrong sides facing out. Sew a 1/4-inch seam along the long width edge of each wedge. Trim each seam allowance to 1/8 inch with the ruler and rotary cutter.
5. Turn the wedges right side out. Press the seam down the center of the wedge and pull out each point so that they are neat and sharp.
6. Determine the order you want the five different colored wedges to be sewn in around the circle. Make a stack of five #1 wedges, a stack of five #2 wedges, a stack of five #3 wedges, a stack of five #4 wedges and a stack of five #5 wedges. The #1 wedges are the wedges you determined would be first, the #2 wedges are the wedges you determined would be second and so on.
7. Sew all of the #2 wedges to the #1 wedges with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Sew all of the #4 wedges to the #3 wedges with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Clip all threads, open out the wedges, and press each pair of wedges well.
8. Sew the four #1-#2 wedge pairs to the four #3-#4 wedge pairs with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Clip all threads, open out the wedges and press the sewn wedges well.
9. Sew each single #5 wedge to each 1-2-3-4 wedge grouping with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Clip all threads, open out the wedges, and press the sewn wedges well. You should now have four groups of sewn wedges with five different colored wedges in each group.
10. Sew two wedge groups together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the seam. Sew the other two wedge groups together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance and press that seam. You should now have two halves of sewn wedges. Match up the seams and edges and sew the two halves together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the entire wedge circle well.
11. Lay out the 5 1/2-inch interfacing square with the smooth side facing up. Place the circle pattern on top and carefully trace around the circle using the pattern. Place the bumpy side of the interfacing onto the right side of the 5 1/2-inch fabric square. Pin to secure.
12. Sew around the drawn circle and then trim around the circle 1/8-inch away from the drawn line. Cut a slit into the center of the interfacing and use this slit to turn the circle right side out. Press the circle edges well. What you have just done is finished the edges of the circle to enable you to place it in the center of the wedge circle without having to finish the edges.
13. Find the center of the muslin square by folding the fabric square into quarters. Place a pin at the exact center. Place the wedge circle onto the muslin square, centering the wedge circle around the marked center. Pin the wedge circle into place. Place the center circle in the center overlapping the edges onto the wedge circle slightly. Make certain that everything is centered and pin the pieces to hold them in place.
14. Sew around the outer edges of the wedge circle 1/8-inch away from the edge. Sew around the outer edge of the inner circle 1/8-inch away from the edge.
Tags: 4-inch seam, seam allowance, 4-inch seam allowance, wedge circle, with 4-inch, with 4-inch seam, five wedges