Simple Simon and Company

SUBSCRIBE TO GET ALL THE LATEST!

Guest Post· Quilt· Quilting· Quilts· Techniques· Tutorials· Tutorials

Broken Dishes Quilt Block Tutorial

Today I get to show you how to make Broken Dishes Quilt Blocks using Heather Bailey’s new “Hello Love” fabric.

The fabric not only has beautiful bold colors but is filled with fun prints inspired by The Beatles!

(Which may or may not be the reason I have had Blackbird stuck in my head for the past week….)

And when I saw it I knew I wanted to create something happy and vibrant and full of movement…so after much thought I decided upon a “Broken Dishes” quilt.

I felt that if I changed the scale of the blocks and placed fabric combinations in a random order rather than a systematic one it would not only show off the fabric but give the quilt a modern feel.  And I think I was successful because I really love this quilt!

And it was easy to make…Broken Dishes Quilt Blocks are made by stitching together 4 Half Square Triangle Blocks.

To create 2 Half Square Triangle Blocks at a time just follow these simple directions:

Easy right?

For the Half Square Triangle blocks I used in my quilt I started with 5.5″ squares and after pressing I quickly squared them off an cut off the “tails”.

Now even though I used my 4 Half Square Triangles to create a “Broken Dishes” pattern I wanted to show you how versatile Half Square Square Triangle Blocks are so below are 4 different ways to use Half Square Triangles to create different blocks:

Cool right?  Just by placing them in different arrangements you get totally different looks!

But the block I wanted  was a traditional “Broken Dishes” pattern which places the Half Square Triangles in a pattern where the triangles reflect each other on the diagonal like the one below:

When I make my Broken Dishes I lay out my 4 Half Square Triangles like in the photo above.

Then I place the top two blocks on top of each other with right sides together and stitch together using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

When I am finished stitching them together I open them up and press.

Next I repeat that same process with the bottom two blocks.

And finally I place the top 2 stitched Half Square Triangles on top of the bottom 2 Half Square Triangles and stitch together using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Then open and press.

That’s all there is to it!  And each block has a completely different personality just because of the fabric choices!

Each of the Broken Dishes Quilt Blocks in my quilt were squared up to be 9″x9″ and I made 21 of them.

Then I added 4 more 9″x9″ “blocks” that were just solid pieces of fabric…I did thins to add variety to the quilt…and because I couldn’t resist the octopus print.

In fact I loved that print so much I used it when I pieced the back of the quilt as well….

Anyway, back to the blocks!

This quilt is 5 blocks wide and 5 blocks long with each block measuring 9 inches.

I then added a 5″ border.

And that was that.

But guess what else I did….

When I cut out my quilt I cut out enough squares for one of you to make the same quilt top!

To enter to win the quilt top kit just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Beatles song!

Good luck!

More from my site

Subscribe to get all the latest

Comments

  8. Jennifer Ankeny says

    I saw her standing there! Hmm….or Let it be.
    I love this quilt! It makes me feel…Here comes the sun!

  10. Kristi White says

    My husband is from Liverpool. Without telling me because it’s “just the place he grew up” he took me to Strawberry Fields, Abbey Rd and Penny Lane. When someone asked if I’d ever been to any of the famous Beatle places I was all Nope and he was all Yep and then I yelled at him for not saying something at the time. My favorite Beatle’s song is “Something” and “Octopus’s Garden” .

  15. Danni says

    Let It Be takes the cake for me. If there was never ever another Beatles song ever made, that would be the one I’d pick as the one I could listen to on repeat as their one and only song ever. ❤

  33. Natasha White says

    Definitely has to be “Here Comes The Sun”. Always puts me in a gold mood. Beautiful quilt wotk! ❤

  34. Cathy C says

    Great quilt. I’d have to say Yesterday. One of the few songs I could play on the guitar as a teenager!

  36. Bree says

    My favorite Beatles song is “Yellow Submarine.” Years ago I taught young at- risk students, I sang this song constantly, it always made them groan and laugh at me but after a couple of weeks they would be singing along. Often they would say “Miss, that gets stuck in your head!”

  39. Kristine W Clay says

    Thanks for the fun tutorial! I was never a big beatles fan but my husband really likes 8 days a week and here comes the sun.

  40. Corinne Reagan says

    Well now I’ve got Blackbird stuck in my head too! Wow I just love the bright colors in this and the octopus is fabulous!

  47. Elizabeth W. says

    My favorite Beatles aong is here comea the sun. When I was in 5th grade my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I was lost and angry. My 5th grade teacher who was a gigantic Beatles fan pulled me aside and told me the song reminded her of me. Since that day it has been ny favorite. [My mom has been cancer free sonce 2000.]

  48. Elizabeth W says

    Hahahaha. Ok so that’s this is what happens when you post something at 6 in the morning before you’ve had your coffee. Sorry for all the spelling errors. Let’s try this again.

    My favorite Beatles song is here comes the sun. When I was in 5th grade my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I was lost and angry. My 5th grade teacher who was a gigantic Beatles fan pulled me aside and told me the song reminded her of me. Since that day it has been my favorite. [My mom has been cancer free since 2000.]

  50. Amanda Best says

    Beautiful broken dishes quilt! I think my favorite would be Here Comes the Sun.

  51. Rhonda B. says

    I am not a big Beatles fan, but my choice is “Let It Be”. Thanks for the chance to win.

  52. cheryl norwood says

    Love the quilt and thanks for the directions. “All You Need Is Love” and “Imagine” are my favorites.

  56. Nely says

    Oh my gosh, there’s so many good ones!!! But an absolute favorite would have to be “Do you want to know a secret” I used to sing this song all the time when I was a little girl!

  61. Debbie Unelli says

    Hmmm I love the Beatles…maybe hey Jude..or all you need is love…or a hard days night!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  68. Liz Dyer says

    My favorite Beatles song is “Yesterday”. Cute kit, tank’s for the chance at another great giveaway.

  69. Pam says

    “I Feel Fine” was a favorite of mine waaaaaay back in the day!! Thank you for the opportunity to win. I hope I’m not too late to enter. 🙂

  70. Melissa says

    I want to hold your hand 🙂 I can’t help but start singing whenever I even see the song name.

  71. Carol Thompson says

    Song, “Yesterday”, my husband and I are 70 years young, and the Beatles we loved anything Beatles, but now, all these years later, “Yesterday” seems so appropriate, and your fabric is “sew ” perfect for The Beatles era! My husband was in England during the Beatles , due to his father getting orders to England. He loved it, and he went to all the Beatles places, and 20 years later, he was in the Air Force, and got orders to Germany. We went to England Every chance we had. At that time our boys were really into the Beatles music, so we took them to Penny Lane, all the Beatle places, and our boys said we had cool music when we were teenagers! They ended up confiscating all their Dad’s Beatles records and sharedthe story their travels in England with their friends. So Beatles music is. Cool enough for tjhe next generation!
    Afraid I got long winded, my apologies.
    Carol

  73. Kerry Howell says

    Here Comes the Sun….my best friend and I played guitars and sang it in the school talent show 1972 .

  74. Julie Huffman says

    All you need is LOVE – I love this quilt and would love to make it! Thanks 🙂

  82. Dawn H says

    My favorite Beatles song is Yellow Submarine. I used to sing it with my children and students.

  86. Mary Jane says

    This is very generous of you, thank you.
    My favorite has to be ” Hard Day’s Night”

  87. Betty says

    My favorite is It’s been a Hard Days Night. Hard to pick a favorite! I like Here Comes The Sun too. Love the colors and Broken Dishes pattern. I will be making it with the new fabric I just got…Peonies. Thanks for the pattern and tips.

  90. GG says

    WOW, Is this give away closed? Love the Beatles!!! Such Great songs- all of them.
    I miss their talent.
    Favorite Song: A Day in the Life
    (Or maybe I should pick, ‘ When I’m 64’ – Oops, TOO late, I ‘m already 65)
    Your colorful Broken Dishes Quilt caught my eye right away. I do love the fabric line.
    It’s a mood elevator.
    Thanks for sharing.

  91. Jimmye Dorman says

    I have a family of music lovers and the Beatles’ music has woven its way between us all. I grew up in the late 60s- early 70s, listening to their records that my older sisters played. I shared it with my older daughter, who then shared it with my youngest daughter. They are 27 and 14 now. It is great to share the love of music.
    My favorite Beatles song would have to be Yesterday, but there are so many good ones, it really is hard to choose.

    Thank you for the opportunity to win such a gorgeous selection of fabrics & thanks for the great tutorial.

  92. Sarah says

    “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”… I’m an odd duck. George was always my favorite Beatle!

  93. Debbie Unelli says

    Please please me….we were fortunate to see Sir Paul live last summer, absolutely amazing. I can’t believe he is as old as he is! Proves age is just a number. ❤️ The Beatles!