Broken Dishes Block
The Broken Dishes block is a simple quilt block consisting of four right triangles that meet in the center.
This tutorial uses a light fabric and a dark fabric for clarity but you can use whatever fabrics you like!
To begin, cut a square that is 1 1/4-inch larger than the size you want your final block to be from both the light and dark fabrics.
Cut each square diagonally in both directions thus yielding four small right triangles.
With the right angle of the triangles pointed towards the upper left, pin a light triangle to a dark triangle wrong sides together and with the light triangle on top, along the left short side.
Sew the triangle pair together along their pinned sides with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Press each sewn piece open with the seam allowance pressed towards the dark fabric. You now have a larger right triangle.
Repeat these last three steps with a second light and dark triangle to create a second larger right triangle.
Each block is made out of two of these larger right triangles sewn together along their long sides. The seam allowances should be facing in opposite directions as shown above.
Pin the two pieces right sides together, along their long sides paying special attention to lining up the center seams. Sew them together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Press the blocks open. Press the last seam allowance to one side.
Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!