Broken Dishes Quilt Block Tutorial

We are going to use the method that we used for the pinwheels because this entire block is made of half square triangles. LOTS of half square triangles - 16 to be exact! But no worries, it will go quickly!

The name of this week's block is Broken Dishes. You can see where the name comes from - it really looks like broken dishes. Depending on how you look at it, you can see a pretty star pattern as well.

Here is what you need to start.

Two contrasting fabrics: 9" x 16" of each fabric.

For this method, we are going to draw our 4" squares on the fabric. Remember, each square makes two triangles, so you need eight squares. Draw a 2 x 4 grid of 4" squares. Now, draw diagonal lines in each of the squares. If you draw it like I did, you can make a continuous stitching line - you'll see what I mean in a minute.

Stitch 1/4" from both sides of diagonal lines. You can stitch off into the 'extra fabric' around your grid to turn and go to the next line.

Here is what the stitching should look like when it is done. Follow the arrows so you know which line to stitch next.

Now you are going to cut ALL of the lines - diagonal and straight.

Here is my last cut.

Now you should have 16 beautiful little half square triangles that you can press toward the dark fabric.

Line up the diagonal line on the ruler with the seam, making sure the edges of the square extend just beyond the 3 1/2" mark. Trim the top and right side.

Line up the sides you just trimmed on the 3 1/2" lines. Trim the other two sides.

Look how pretty they are all lined up!

Stitch the half square triangles together in pairs. They should all be stitched the same: 8 pairs total.

Press the pairs to look like this - press them all in the same direction!

Stitch two pairs together to form a row. Repeat to make four rows.

Press the rows. Remember to press all of the rows the same. When you turn every other row upside down to form the block, the seams will then go opposite directions, making it possible to butt-up your seams.

Here are your completed rows. Lay them out like this.

Now stitch the top two rows together. Remember that you can butt up your seams to make the corners match. Repeat and stitch the bottom two rows together.

Press the seam. The direction that you press doesn't matter at this point.

Stitch the top rows to the bottom rows. Again, you can butt up those seams.

Press the last seam.

You're done! I love this block and I love the versatility of the half square triangle.

Here is a quilt made from this block.

Here is a scrappy version.

Here is a version with an alternating block.