I designed the quilt below while flying on an airplane to our family vacation last week. It’s amazing what a little boredom on a plane ride can do, right? Now it’s on my “to make” list!
This my contemporary interpretation of a Dresden Plate block. I call it “Modern Dresden.”
I started with the idea of “plates” or “wedges” radiating out from a center. But instead of classic curves, I wanted to keep my design straight and angular. So I played around with lines and angles in EQ7 and this is what I came up with.
It’s a 6″ unit and 4 units are sewn together to create one Modern Dresden block.
Click the image below to download and print off my free PDF paper pieced pattern. Make as many copies as you like and play around with rotating block positions to see what other designs you can create.
Paper Pieced Modern Dresden
Be sure to print the block size at 100%.
And just for the fun of it, here’s the same design in purple. It really sparkles by using lighter hues of the same color at the edges of the blocks.
If you decide to make a few blocks, or even a whole quilt, please share them on my flickr group: Christa’s Quilt-Along.
Updated: This block has now been featured as a favorite on FaveQuilts.com. They renamed it Ultra Modern Dresden Block. Pretty cool, huh?
I love this block and what would happen if you just paper pieced the plate and appliqued it to the black? Or better yet take each part to the plate and had sew and then applique. I just may try all of it.
Directions would be nice so we can get started
I will definitely come up with a more complete tutorial so watch my blog for updates!
I love this block!!
Thinking of enlarging it to make the center of a medallion quilt.
Beautiful!!! Makes me want to start quilting again!!
Beautiful! Great designing, thanks so much for sharing this pattern. Can’t wait to get into my stash and see what colors I can make this block.
I love it but how do you do the piecing? I printed off the paper pattern and can’t figure out how to start and what to do. HELP!!!!!
Sherry in TX
Thanks! I would refer you to some online tutorials or youtube for basic paper piecing instructions. Just google “paper piecing tutorial” and you will find a bazillion of them, LOL! Then apply those same techniques to the block. This gives me an idea – I will work up a tutorial on how to make the block later…. so stay tuned!
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I really love the design of this Dresden block. The colors that can make it pop are going to be fun.! Thank you.
What a beautiful pattern and I can’t believe I missed it! Just saw it on 19 Paper Piecing Quilt Patterns at FaveQuilts.
I love this block! Gonna try it for sure.
That is quite a stunning block!