Dresden plate newbie
 

I am attempting my first Dresden plate. I am using the ez quilting ruler by Darlene Zimmerman, 5 inch blades and I need 22 blades to complete plate?? I have checked my seam allowances and look correct. The end result looks good and lays flat but I thought I would only need 20 blades?? What am I missing??

the number of blades in a full circle is determined by the angle/# of degrees in the template. the package should tell you how many are required for that particular template. if your package says 22, then i would always go with that for a full circle. if it doesn't lay flat, i'd have to check my seams.

I don't have that template but when I googled it I found this youtube video for a 4" one using that tool, and she mentions using 20 blades ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0YLBItkfV4

As Quiltnan said the # depends on the angle. Sew 5 together and if you get a good 1/4 fan then go with 20. The end seams will line up at 90 deg on your cutting mat for you

I have that ruler. According to the instructions (240 blades for 12 blocks) you should use 20 blades per plate.

I made three dresden quilts in a row a few years ago. I just used the number of blades I needed to make it lay flat.

I have that template, too, and sometimes I do find that 20 blades don't lie as flat as I'd like until after I sew on the center circle. I also make my center circle just a bit larger than the pattern to make sure I cover all the unfinished inner edges.

If you used 22 blades, you must have very small seam allowance, but if you are confident they will hold up, quilt on. My first Dresden was 47" across and took 40 blades. It was a big "volcano" that took several hours of restitching to make it lie flat. If yours laid flat first try, I am suitably impressed.

Just a follow up. I measured each seam and sewed five blades together to make a quarter of plate and my Dresden plates lay flat and have twenty blades as pattern states. Thanks to everyone who offered advice. Practice makes better if not perfect!!����:)