Finishing a Dresden Fan/Plate Block- the easy way!

Any Dresden Fan/Plate block comes with a hole in the center. Usually it is covered with a circle that is appliqued over it.
Finding the exact center of a block is not fun and it takes time. Out of necessity, here is how I thought to transform this annoying task into something quick and fun.

First, I don’t like circles! If they aren’t PERFECT, you immediately notice the imperfections.  So instead of circles I finished my Dresden blocks with octagons (because my block was turned into an octagon).

I made a paper template that has a shape similar with the shape in the center of my block. See the black wreath –  there are 24 edges for this wreath, but the template doesn’t need all those 24 edges. I made it with 8 edges, an octagon.
The template’s size must be smaller than the inside of the black wreath.
I measured the inside of my black wreath and made the template 1/2” smaller.
Then I cut out from the center an octagon – 1/4” bigger than the size of the octagon I have to applique on the center.

Here is the process:
1. Place the template over the block, keeping it centered – just align the template’s edges (top, bottom, left and right) with the corresponding black edges.

2. Then apply some glue to the turned edges of the octagon and center it into the cut out window.  Finger-press well.

Voila!! Quick, fun and easy!

Some of my blocks have a bigger black wreath so I made other template for them.

It is that easy!!

I don’t have any other particular block in mind now, but I imagine  this method works for other blocks too, blocks that need some appliques in the center.
You can make the template even in the shape of the final block if the block doesn’t have a clear design around the center, like my blocks.

OK, I know there are too many words in this post, I hope the pictures explain the process better, in case you don’t have patience to read them all or I did not explain it clear enough.  This really makes this task fast and easy and fun!

I hope this helps some of you.
Geta