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Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

In keeping with my promise to make more 4th of July decor for the house, I created a pretty 4th of July banner to hang across my piano.   It’s a really fun way to display different fabrics and show off your sewing skills.  I made it using a traditional quilt block pattern called a Dresden Plate.  Normally, you would create a whole circle shape, but I made the banner using just half of a Dresden Plate.

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

To make this 4th of July banner, you’ll need:

  • Dresden Template
  • rotary cutter and cutting mat (optional)
  • red, white and blue fabric
  • bias tape or ribbon
  • fusible interfacing (Pellon 805 or Heat’n Bond Lite)
  • circle and arch printable templates

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

You’ll want to make only half of a Dresden Plate, with six wedges.  Follow instructions to make the wedges with five-inch wide strips of fabric and a point wedge end style.  I made a total of five half-Dresdens, so I cut 15 white wedges and 15 red wedges.  You can make more or less depending on how long you want your banner to be.

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

Since we aren’t going to be sewing the Dresden Plate onto a quilt, we need to hide the seams on the back.  First, fold the top raw edges down 1/4-inch and press .

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

Trace the arch template that I have provided onto the paper side of your interfacing.  Iron it onto the wrong side of a piece of white fabric, and cut out the shape.

Peel off the paper backing.

Place the arch, interfacing side down, over the back of the Dresden Plate.  Iron it down.

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

Follow the same process with the interfacing and cut a circle out of the blue fabric.  Fold it in half, slide it over the top of the Dresden, and iron it on.

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

Top stitch around the edge of the circle to secure it.

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

Finally, you’ll want to sew all of your half Dresden Plates onto some bias tape or ribbon.  I folded 5/8-inch ribbon in half and ironed it to make a crease.  I sandwiched the top of the Dresdens in between the ribbon and sewed it shut.  I spaced each Dresden Plate 1-1/2 inches apart.

Dresden 4th of July Banner Tutorial

The 4th of July banner turned out so beautiful, that I might just need to make some for other holidays.

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Betty

Monday 19th of September 2022

I love your idea for the Dresden plate July Banner! It’s just perfect for decorating indoors! Thank you for sharing!

Elfi

Saturday 26th of February 2022

Help! I am not getting a half circle with six Dresdens. I have used the narrow end of the template and have also tried it with the wider end to cut my 5" strips. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

francine lynch

Thursday 4th of May 2023

@Elfi, Me too.....I noticed she said to use point wedge end style, mine is square on the small end of the wedge.

Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts

Thursday 10th of March 2022

Maybe you have a different size dreseden template? This was my first and only time working with them, so I don't know a lot about them. So sorry.

Randi Schmid

Tuesday 8th of December 2020

How can I find the Dresden template?

Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled

Friday 9th of June 2017

This is really pretty and unique! Love the combo of different fabrics. Visiting from BFF Party.

Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts

Sunday 11th of June 2017

Thanks Victoria!

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