Help Please! Dresden Plate Advice!

**Suze9395** · 07-14-2012, 04:48 PM

I am starting my first ever Dresden Plate quilt!!
I am going to use a white base and the plates are going to be scrappy blue.

I don't believe in monsters under the bed and I don't believe in the quilt police.
What I'm looking for is words of experience on the most effective use of diversity.

My question is:
- is it better to have 20 different blades with no duplicates
- let the duplicates fall where they may
- use the same fabric at the four "corners" and the rest all different
- something else?

Please help me!

**Patti25314** · 07-14-2012, 05:15 PM

This is one of those questions that you'll get all kinds of answers to. I know many folks who say put them in a bag and pull them out one by one. I can't do that. I need more order. So I would lay out one with 20 different blades and many a couple for the four of the same color idea and the rest different. Stand back and take a look. If one doesn't hit you immediately as the best way, sleep on it and look again the next day. Good luck.

**Gladys** · 07-19-2012, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Patti25314

This is one of those questions that you'll get all kinds of answers to. I know many folks who say put them in a bag and pull them out one by one. I can't do that. I need more order. So I would lay out one with 20 different blades and many a couple for the four of the same color idea and the rest different. Stand back and take a look. If one doesn't hit you immediately as the best way, sleep on it and look again the next day. Good luck.

This is what I would do because I'm the same way. There's lots of good advice here but try it both ways and see which you prefer. Good luck and I hope you'll share some pictures.

**Suze9395** · 07-22-2012, 04:12 PM

The pictures are washed out

. They are sittting on an Olfa mat, to give you an idea or what the colors should be.

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12" plates

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Close up of 12" plate with light corners.

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Close up of 12" plate with dark corners.

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3 small 4.5" plates

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Close up sample of 4.5" plate

**0tis** · 07-14-2012, 05:19 PM

I usually do them scrappy - but they do look great all one color or every 4th color - I just cut blades out and lay them out to see what catches my eye. The great thing is there is no wrong way to do it.

**burchquilts** · 07-15-2012, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by 0tis

I usually do them scrappy - but they do look great all one color or every 4th color - I just cut blades out and lay them out to see what catches my eye. The great thing is there is no wrong way to do it.

That's my favorite way to do them, too (tho I've done them all scrappy, all planned). I made a blue one that way years ago & I liked the "control" the 4 (I used solid) blues gave them. But that's just me. Make a couple of sample blocks & see what speaks to you. Or use "Google Images" & look at the samples that come up there.

**Wunder-Mar** · 07-15-2012, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by 0tis

I usually do them scrappy - but they do look great all one color or every 4th color - I just cut blades out and lay them out to see what catches my eye. The great thing is there is no wrong way to do it.

I was thinking of tackling a Dresden Plate myself later this summer and this thought (question) popped up in my own head, because I have more dark-dark blues than medium and light. THANK YOU, OTIS for this great suggestion. I'll sort out the dark-dark blues for the north-south-west-east points, and keeping them scrappy within each plate. I also like the idea of laying out the blades and composing each block beforehand - I might be able to create a nice gradation OR secondary pattern in the layout, which interests me.

**Grace creates** · 07-14-2012, 05:33 PM

I think you should do what pleases you. If you like it then it's perfect

**imadispatcher** · 07-14-2012, 05:34 PM

I just finished a red and white Dresdan Plate quilt. I just used a random method for the blades but I did keep all the centers the same, Sometimes the same blade was included but well seperated. I have added a narrow border of red and then a 3 1/2 " white border. I am real happy with the results. Now to sandwich and quilt

**jaciqltznok** · 07-14-2012, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Suze9395

I am starting my first ever Dresden Plate quilt!!
I am going to use a white base and the plates are going to be scrappy blue.

I don't believe in monsters under the bed and I don't believe in the quilt police.
What I'm looking for is words of experience on the most effective use of diversity.

My question is:
- is it better to have 20 different blades with no duplicates
- let the duplicates fall where they may
- use the same fabric at the four "corners" and the rest all different
- something else?

Please help me!

anything you want will work just fine with dresden plates...cut some blades and play with the different looks....I love them all, so I am no real help...hehehe

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