Broken Dishes Quilt Block tutorial

The name “Broken Dishes” sounds traumatic, but it’s actually a beautiful traditional quilt block. See how to make it in this easy tutorial.

This is a beginner-friendly quilt block made with three fabrics.

If you look closely, you will see that it is similar to a pinwheel block, but the pieces are oriented differently.

Details

These instructions are for a block that finishes at 12″ square.

Fabric requirements

• two 7″ squares background fabric (white)
• one 7″ square fabric 1 (blue)
• one 7″ square fabric 2 (green)

Block assembly

Begin the block by making half-square triangle units (HST).

This tutorial uses the Most Popular Method for making HSTs. You can use another method if you prefer, but then you will need to cut your fabric differently.

Make half-square triangles

On the back of the light fabric squares, draw a line from corner to corner.

Place each square right sides together with a dark fabric square. (ie. white and blue together, white and green together)

Stitch 1/4″ away from the marked line on both sides.

Cut on the marked line and open the half-square triangle units.

Press with the seams towards the dark side.

Trim these units to be exactly 6-1/2″ square.

You should have four HST units in total – two blue and two green.

Block Layout

Layout the half-square triangle units as shown in the diagram.

Notice that the diagonal seams go to the outer edge of the block, not the centre as in the pinwheel block.

Join the pieces in pairs, pressing the seams toward the dark fabric.

Join the pairs together. If the seams are too bulky, press open, otherwise press to one side.

This piece is 12-1/2″ square.

More quilt blocks

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