Dresden plate in satin stitch hand embroidery pattern

Intermediate · 6 colors · 6 kinds of stitch

Dresden plate in satin stitch: preview of the stitched design

A quilt block has a Dresden plate of twelve round-ended blades round a gold four-hole button, with a fan of three blades in each corner, all inside a navy square. The blades are in four patterns: four in navy and sky blue stripes, four rose with three pale French knots each, two plain gold and two plain blue. The striped, gold and blue blades and the fans are satin stitch, the rose blades and the button are long and short stitch, the button rim is chain stitch, the navy square round the block is stem stitch and the quilting line round the plate is running stitch.

Size and details

Intermediate. Uses long and short stitch.

6 colors of floss and 6 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size and the widest satin stitch, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters	Satin stitch up to
3 in (8 cm)	1.4 × 1.4 in	3.6 × 3.6 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
4 in (10 cm)	2 × 2 in	5.1 × 5.1 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
5 in (13 cm)	2.7 × 2.7 in	6.9 × 6.9 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
6 in (15 cm)	3.4 × 3.4 in	8.6 × 8.6 cm	1/4 in (6 mm)
8 in (20 cm)	4.8 × 4.8 in	12.2 × 12.2 cm	3/8 in (10 mm)

In a 3 inch hoop the French knots are drawn smaller than about 2 mm (a little over 1/16 in). Use one strand of floss for them there, or choose a larger hoop.

The pattern is drawn inside a circle about half an inch (1.3 cm) smaller all around than the hoop.

What you need

DMC 336 Navy BlueNavy square round the block, quilting round the plate, navy striped blades and button holes
DMC 3852 Very Dark StrawFan centers, gold plain blades, button rim and button
DMC 322 Dark Baby BlueSide blades of the fans and blue plain blades
DMC 3350 Ultra Dark Dusty RoseMiddle blade of each fan and dotted blades
DMC 3755 Baby BlueBlue striped blades
DMC 543 Ultra Very Light BeigeDots on the blades

The floss is six-strand cotton; the stitch guide says how many strands to use. You also need a hoop, an embroidery needle (a size 7 to 9 suits two or three strands) and plain cotton or linen fabric. To frame the piece in its hoop, cut a square 3 inches (8 cm) wider than the hoop: a 9 inch (23 cm) square for a 6 inch hoop.

Stitch guide

Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsNavy square round the block
Running stitch 3 strandsQuilting round the plate
Satin stitch 2 strandsFan centers, fan blades, plain blades, striped blades
Long and short stitch 1 or 2 strandsDotted blades, button
French knot 2 strands, two wrapsDots on the blades, button holes
Chain stitch 2 or 3 strandsButton rim

Getting it onto your fabric

The PDF holds the pattern twice at actual size: once as drawn, and once mirrored for an iron-on transfer pen. Print it at 100% with scaling off and check the one-inch square (25.4 mm) with a ruler before you trace. How to transfer a pattern explains tracing, carbon paper and the other ways. The files are under Downloads.