- Background (muslin)
- Medium (goldenrod)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 13 · Four-patch
Broken Dishes Quilt Block
Also known as Yankee Puzzle (related), Four Patch Triangles
Part of: Four Patch Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt BlocksEasy Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For Beginners
The Broken Dishes quilt block pattern uses contrasting triangles to suggest scattered fragments. This traditional geometric design makes a lively repeat and offers practice with the same half-square triangle units used in a Pinwheel.
- Level
- Beginner
- Grid
- 4 × 4
- Pieces
- 32
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
4 × 4 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Half-square triangle | 8 | 3 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 16 |
| Medium | Half-square triangle | 4 | 3 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 4 | 3 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the half-square triangle parents listed in the chart: 4 dark, 4 medium and 8 background. Cut each once on the diagonal.
Step 2: Sew each dark and each medium triangle to a background triangle. Press toward the print. Make 8 dark and 8 medium units and trim each to 3 1/2".
Step 3: Lay out four rows of four, alternating dark and medium units in a checkerboard and turning them as shown in the diagram.
Step 4: Sew each row, pressing alternate rows in opposite directions, then join the rows. The block should measure 12 1/2".