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Block of the Month 2025: Block 7 – Dresden
Moderate |
Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps
Fresh and contemporary, this stylish version of the traditional Dresden block lies at the centre of our quilt and can’t help but draw the eye.
The illusion in this block is that although the centre Dresden and outer small fans look curved, they are, in fact, all straight cuts. This makes the whole process, including cutting, much easier. The Dresden technique has become very popular in recent years and, with a fresh placement of fabric, has given this traditional block a modern feel.
By making this block, you’ll:
- Learn an easy way of creating the popular Dresden block with an up-to-the minute twist.
- Find out what it means to sew a ‘scant’ seam allowance and how to do it.
- Discover a way to create rounded patchwork shapes without having to sew any curved seams.
- Find out how to use interfacing to create a neat and precise curved appliqué piece.
Note: stitch with an accurate ¼in (5mm) seam allowance. After you have printed your templates, do check the size of the 1in (2.5cm) square so you can be sure that your templates have printed at the correct size before you cut your pieces.
Unfinished block size: 24½ x 24½in (62.25 x 62.25cm).
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You will need:
Equipment
- Sewing machine
- Rotary cutter
- Quilting ruler
- Quilting mat
- Scissors
- Optional: pinking shears
- Optional: glue pen/spray adhesive
- Templates
Materials
Fabrics (see my Introduction to the 2025 Block of the Month). From these, you will need to cut:
- One 32x 2¼in (81.5 x 6cm) strip in Fab A
- One 4 x 11½in (10.25 x 29cm) strip in Fab A
- Two 20½ x 2½in (52 x 6.5cm) strips in Fab B for the border
- Two 24½ x 2½in (62.25 x 6.5cm) strips in Fab B for the border
- One 4 x 11½in (10.25 x 29cm) strip in Fab B
- One 4 x 11½in (10.25 x 29cm) strip in Fab C
- One 4 x 11½in (10.25 x 29cm) strip in Fab D
- One 32 x 2½in (81.5 x 6.5cm) strip in Fab E
- One 4 x 11½in (10.25 x 29cm) strip in Fab E
- One 3¾ x 12½in (9.5 x 31.75cm) strip in Fab F – or you can cut the Fab F pieces from small fabric leftovers if you have suitable scraps
- One 32 x 2¾in (81.5 x 7cm) strip in Fab G
- One 23 x 6½in (58.5 x 16.5cm) strip in WW
- One 20½in (52cm) square in WW
- One 3¾ x 12½in (9.5 x 31.75cm) strip of interfacing – either sew-on or iron-on
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Project steps:
Step 1
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Step 2
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