No, I have been pressing them open and I probably should say ironing them open. think maybe this would help if I did it all in the same direction?

when did poly's start shrinking?

Something you might try that has helped me before is when you are sewing the blades together, start from alternating ends each tie you make a seam; with the first 2 sets of blades, start sewing from the outside tip of the blade, on the next set, start sewing from the inside tip...this technique helps a lot with a few other blocks that meet near the center, like the Leymoine Star, so it might also help with Dresden Plate.

I read someplace to put 2 blades together and don't put blade to blade to blade. But 2 + 2+ 2+ etc. then put them together. You ask why? Can't remember that part. Not sure this will help but it would not hurt to try.

Yep......what she said. Just don't beat yourself up, quilting is a journey, you practice and you will see your dresdens improve.

Yes, accuracy is very important. I took a BOM class where we made "plate" blocks. The first month, we all laughed after seeing each others blocks (or hats as the instructor called them).
The 1/4" seam was key.

After several months, we got our blocks flat and our 1/4" seams perfect!!

This was a great class to learn accurate stitching.

Good Luck !

Are'nt you supposed to press your seams open on a dresdan plate? I always do, and theres a certain way to stitch them together also. Make them in sections, till you have 2 halves then sew the halves together. When you are sewing the blades together, you need to start at the end that is the widest, and dont start stitching right at the edge of your fabric, I start about 1/4 inch down then back stitch to the edge, then continue stitching. That way there are no threads sticking up and showing from the front of your plate. Can you tell I have made several of these?? Its a learning process. Hope this helps.

I just steam the heck out of them and then cover with the center circle. Sometimes I make the center circle a little bigger than Zimmerman suggests. Usually works!

I heard of some sort of mallet that you use to whack the center of certain patterns to make them lay flat when there are a lot of seams that come together. Do you think this would help. I would NOT use a hammer from the basement (LOL). It would have to be at least a wooden mallet that is a bit wide.

I don't know the name of the one that I read about, and I think I read about it here on the board a long while ago.

I get 2 different opinions on pressing open or all in same direction. Will try your idea on the sewing together. thanks for your time & info.