Dresden Plate Quilt Block Tutorial: Jenny Doan's Classic Charm Pack Method
The Dresden Plate is one of the most iconic quilt blocks in the quilting world — a beautiful circular design with petal-shaped "blades" that radiates warmth and vintage charm. In this classic tutorial, Jenny Doan shows you her brilliantly simple method for creating a stunning Dresden Plate block using nothing more than a charm pack (5" squares).
With nearly 1.7 million views, this tutorial has helped countless quilters master a block that looks complex but is surprisingly approachable. Jenny's charm-pack method means you can cut two blades from every single square — and she walks you through every fold, stitch, and press with her signature warmth.
What Is a Dresden Plate?
A Dresden Plate is a traditional quilt block that dates back to the 1920s and 1930s. It features petal-shaped fabric "blades" arranged in a circle on a background square, resembling a decorative plate, a sunburst, or a flower. The name comes from the ornate porcelain plates made in Dresden, Germany.
The classic design uses 20 blades arranged in a full circle with a fabric circle covering the center. Each blade has a pointed or rounded top, and the variety of fabrics used in the blades creates a beautiful, scrappy look. It's one of those blocks that looks incredibly intricate but — as Jenny proves — can be made with surprisingly simple techniques.
What You'll Need
🧵 1 charm pack (42 squares, 5" × 5") — you need 10 squares to make 20 blades (2 blades per square). Shop charm packs.
🎨 Background fabric — one square at least 16" × 16" for each block. Shop fabric.
⭕ Center circle fabric — one charm square and a round template (about 3-4" diameter).
✂️ Rotary cutter, ruler & cutting mat — for precise blade cutting. Shop rotary cutters.
📐 Quilting ruler — for cutting the wedge shapes from charm squares. Shop rulers.
🔥 Iron & ironing board — pressing is crucial for crisp blades
🪡 Sewing machine — standard ¼" seam foot
Charm pack bonus: Since you only need 10 squares for one block, a single charm pack gives you enough for 4 complete Dresden Plate blocks! That's a whole quilt's worth of blocks from one pack.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut Your Charm Squares into Blades
Take a 5" charm square and place your ruler on it. You're going to cut two wedge (blade) shapes from each square. Position your ruler so you cut a tapered shape — wider at the bottom, narrower at the top — about 2½" wide at the base.
You need 20 blades total for one Dresden Plate, so cut blades from 10 charm squares. Flip your ruler after the first cut to get the second blade from the same square.
Step 2: Fold and Stitch the Blade Points
Here comes the magical part! Take each blade and fold the top edge down onto itself, right sides together. Stitch straight across the top with a short seam. When you turn it right side out, you'll have a crisp, pointed tip.
Repeat this for all 20 blades. It goes fast once you get into a rhythm — Jenny calls this the assembly-line method!
Step 3: Press and Align Your Blades
After turning each blade right side out, press them carefully with your iron. Make sure the seam at the top is centered — this is what gives you that sharp, even point.
When you press, make sure the center seam lines up right in the middle of each blade. This ensures all your blades are uniform and will line up beautifully when assembled.
Jenny demonstrates the pressing technique that gives each blade its crisp point.
Step 4: Sew the Blades Together
Now start joining your blades! Place two blades right sides together and sew a ¼" seam along one side, from the pointed top down to the wider bottom. Chain-piece them to save time — sew pairs first, then join pairs into groups of four, then groups of ten, and finally join the two halves.
Press the seams to one side as you go. When all 20 blades are joined, you'll have a complete circular plate!
Step 5: Prepare and Attach the Center Circle
Cut a cardboard circle template (about 3-4" diameter). Trace it onto the wrong side of a charm square, then cut the fabric circle about ½" larger than the template all the way around. Run a gathering stitch around the edge, place the cardboard in the center, pull the threads tight, and press. Remove the cardboard — you have a perfect fabric circle!
Pin or glue-baste the circle over the center of your Dresden Plate, covering all those raw edges where the blades meet. Appliqué it in place with a small blanket stitch or invisible stitch.
Step 6: Appliqué the Plate to Your Background
Center your completed Dresden Plate on your background square. Pin or baste it in place, then appliqué the outer edge of the plate to the background using your preferred method — hand appliqué, machine blanket stitch, or a simple zigzag.
Make sure the plate is centered and all the blade points are evenly spaced around the circle. Press the finished block and trim to your desired size.
The finished Dresden Plate block — vintage elegance from a simple charm pack!
💡 Pro Tips for a Perfect Dresden Plate
- Mix prints and solids — Alternate busy prints with calmer fabrics so each blade stands out. A charm pack's built-in variety is perfect for this.
- Press as you go — Each seam pressed flat now saves headaches later. The flatter your blades, the better the final circle will lie.
- Try different counts — While 20 blades is traditional, you can make Dresden Plates with 12, 16, or even 24 blades for different looks.
- Use spray starch — A little spray starch on each blade before assembly makes the fabric crisp and easier to handle.
- Turn it into a table topper — A single Dresden Plate block on a large background square makes a gorgeous table centerpiece or wall hanging.
The Dresden Plate is one of those timeless blocks that never goes out of style. With Jenny's charm pack method, you can create blocks that look like heirloom masterpieces in a fraction of the time. Whether you make one block for a mini quilt or a dozen for a full-sized bed quilt, every Dresden Plate is a showstopper.