Broken Dishes Quilt Block-Fat Quarter Shop Classic and Vintage Series

Hello hello! I wanted to pop in with another fun block in the Fat Quarter Shop Classic and Vintage Series. First I have to apologize for the radio silence around here. I had pretty intense surgery on my foot in July and was off work for several months. I’m back part time now and spend the rest of my time in physical therapy and learning to do everything with my left foot. Including sewing 😉

Anyway, let’s chat about this super fun block shall we? Fat Quarter Shop has this fabulous set of quilt blocks and full quilt patterns that they’re calling their Classic and Vintage Series. They are a nod to traditional blocks with an updated look and newer techniques. There are several patterns in this series and you might remember I made the Rocket Star Block awhile ago. You can find this particular Broken Dishes Block here .

There are a couple of supplies you will need to complete the block and/or full quilt. You can off course find them all at Fat Quarter Shop .

First you will need some fabulous fabric. I used the Freshly Picked Line by Melody Miller for Cotton + Steel

You will also need some background fabric. I used my go to Kona White.

You will also need the 2″ Finished Half Square Triangle Paper.

To follow along with this specific pattern you will also need to grab a Creative Grids Square on Square 8″ Trim Tool.

I know that sometimes it’s hard to justify a “fancy” ruler for 1 project but I promise this is one tool you will use over and over again. If you like making “economy blocks” that are so popular right now this ruler will make trimming those blocks SO.MUCH.EASIER!

I suppose I should say that technically you will need thread and a sewing machine as well 😉

Following along in the pattern you will cut the print and background pieces to the sizes listed. The next step will tell you to assemble the 4 Fabric F triangles and 1 Fabric C square. To make sure my triangles are centered correctly I always fold the Fabric C square in half both directions and finger press well. This will give you a perfect line to center the point of the Fabric F triangles, making sure everything is lined up correctly.

If you look closely you can see my finger press lines.

You can see how I lined up the point of the triangle right on the line in the center of the Fabric C square. Press that triangle out towards the background then add another one directly opposite on the other side. Then press it out towards the background as well.

You will repeat those steps with the remaining two triangles and the other sides of the center square. Press everything really well. You may want to add a spritz of starch, if that’s your thing, to get things really flat.

Then you’ll use your fancy new Square on Square Trim Tool to trim your block to 6 1/8″ by 6 1/8″.

You’re going to repeat the same process with the next round of Fabric B triangles.

Isn’t she pretty?

The Trim Tool helps you to square things up perfectly and makes things so easy.

Now we move on to the fun part. We are essentially going to paper piece the Half Square Triangles (HSTs) with the 2″ Triangle on a Roll paper . Again this is for ease and accuracy. If you haven’t tried it I encourage you to give it a go. It really does make things so fast, easy and perfectly accurate.

Make sure you lower your stitch length to around 1.5 to make tearing the paper out later easier.

I also really like to pin my paper well. It helps prevent shifting when you sew.

This may be a bit overkill but better safe than sorry I say 😉

You will sew along the dotted lines and then cut along the solid lines. The little arrows show you the direction you should sew.

If you look closely you should be able to see my stitched lines.

Now you get to tear the papers out. I like to fold along the horizontal stitched edge and then hold the smaller side with one hand and tear the bigger piece with the other hand. Obviously I couldn’t photograph myself while doing it so just use your imagination. It’s actually somewhat satisfying to see your perfect little triangles when you’re done. Make sure you press towards the print fabric. Again a spritz of starch will get this nice and flat.

Now you just assemble the 2 1/2″ HSTs along with the Fabric G rectangles. Then you can piece the block together by adding the finished HST/Fabric G units to either side of the center squares unit. Be sure you follow the pressing instructions in the pattern to ensure everything fits together nicely. If you’re a perfectionist like I am then check your block and trim to 12 1/2″ by 12 1/2″ if necessary. Truthfully you shouldn’t really have to if you’ve used the Trim Tool and Triangles of a Roll properly.

Lastly, admire your pretty block. If you are going to make an entire quilt using this block you can most definitely chain piece as you go along.

That Freshly Picked Fabric is SO fun!! I have a few other pieces from that line and can imagine that a whole quilt of these blocks in this fabric would be amazing!!