Cutting my own extra large Dresden Plate template
 

I am needing a template for an extra large DP template for making a necktie quilt for a friend who recently lost her husband. The quilt she wants appears to use a large portion of the necktie length for each blade. Do you think I can subdivide a large circle and create my own pattern. Or is such a pattern already available? Thanks so much!

I use freezer paper to make my own templates.....once I get it right then I use some other template material.

Have you worked with neckties before? If not, you may be in for some challenges. I believe that most of the quilts that use large blades for a Dresden plate are using the entire tie. If you take the tie apart in order to use the silk as a single layer, you need to use a fusible to give it some substance.

I took some silk ties apart and hand washed them prior to fusing, and I had such a mess I gave up. These were old silk ties and the reds bled like crazy.

There's no problem with making your own templates. I would cut the Dresden spokes out of freezer paper, then iron the freezer paper templates to the wrong side of the silk, leaving them in while piecing on the machine. This makes matching the edges for piecing easier.

Be sure to Google Dresden tie quilts before starting so you have an idea of some of the issues that can arise working with ties.

Go to YouTube and search "Men's tie quilt" and several helpful tutorials come up. One is by Fons & Porter on how to prepare ties to use for a quilt.

I wash my ties before deconstructing them. I throw them (silk, cotton, poly) into the washer and wash them just like anything else I wash: warm wash & rinse and regular detergent. I don't use fabric softener because I use Pellon SF 101 Woven Fusible interfacing. I recommend putting them in a mesh laundry bag or a pillowcase with the end pinned or basted closed. Otherwise you will have a jumbled, tangled mess! (Voice of experience ;)). After they are washed and deconstructed (which is pretty simple to do), I PRESS them and then apply the Pellon SF101.

You can certainly make your own Dresden template by sub dividing a circle. Good luck and be sure to post a picture when you are done.

What about the long length 9' or 10 ' degree wedges used for the spicy spiral table toppers

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions, everyone. I have been researching all afternoon, since talking to my friend. I have gone back and forth between excitement and fear. One method showed sew and flip, similar to string piecing. Or would you make the Dresden Plate and applique it down? Thanks again.

It seems like dresden plate types of blocks have varying numbers of segments/blades.

Probably the first thing to do is to decide how big you want the center piece to be - and then go from there.

I did a search in Yahoo Images and saw a huge quilt with full length ties. it made a very large center area and they had something embroidered in there.

I just ordered some of the Pellon on eBay. Going to give the ties one more chance. :) Thanks, auntpiggylpn!