I'm curious, seems like dresden plate and the fan pattern are so much alike. Seems grandmother's fan never has points or circled ends, just straight ends, but dresden plate can have either points or circles? Is it still a dresden plate if it has circle ends? They all seem so much the same pattern, except for the ends of the points. Do they have to have a certain number of spokes, or can it be any number? And i saw on Shadow's URR, she has something called a wagon wheel block, and it looks just like a fan block, but less spokes. :)

I think the fan is just a quarter of the dresden plate and I have seen it with straight, curves and points. I think its whatever floats your boat. I would think the number of spokes depends on how big you want it. Right now I am working on a real old one that is about 15 inches across and appliquing it to a 20" piece of muslin.

The Dresden Plate that I've started has round edges. I've also seen patterns that have the 2 combined. I think it's a personal choice.

beats me I just do what I like.... ;-) I would think the fan would be the quarter block....

so it sounds like if i want to make my own pattern, i could put as many spokes in as i want? I'm thinking of doing 4 spokes per 1/4 panel. Cathie, your dresden has inspired me, it's so pretty :)

The first dresdon plate is first quilt project I was taught
It had 15 sections with round tops
I have also seen it with even number of pieces.
I was told 15 at time so we could do five different colors or three divided equally.
Later I did the plate and did the pointed tops.
To me it is your own preference
oops :roll:

The orgin of the design were large flowers...In the early 1900's they changed it a bit and called it plate ect....so they could sell the pattern. there has been a fan pattern from way back with different shaped pieces. :D here is an article on it...I also read it in an old quilt mAGAZINE
:D http://www.patternsfromhistory.com/c...sden-plate.htm

Oh Ruth, that was a fantastic article!!! Thank you so much! That's what it was, i was curious about the origin of it, that was very interesting :) thank you