Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Have you found your favourite quilt block yet?

I think I should really call this post my Current Favourite Quilt Block.

In the past I would say there is no question that my Simple Bricks pattern was my favourite. I have done tutorials for it and one can be found (here).

Picking a favourite quilt block is really challenging.  Each and every block has something to offer. My current favourite block is Broken Dishes. There is a reason for this. Actually there are a couple of reasons. First of all I hate wasting anything. So those lovely bonus triangles that so many quilters generate need to be made into something.

Secondly, somehow I have acquired a reputation at my Quilt Guild and people give me baggies filled with bonus/waste triangles.

These are just the very tip of the iceberg. So I have an endless supply and I need to do something with them.

Enter the Broken Dishes Quilt Block.

This is a finished broken dishes quilt. It is small, doll size in fact and was donated to the toy drive locally last year.

The Broken Dishes block starts with many, many half square triangles. Since I find I am usually working with bonus/waste triangles that need to be turned into Half Square triangles many of my Broken Dishes blocks are small blocks and I need a lot of them to make something usable. I did once start with yardage and made a table runner with larger components but the picture for that is long gone.


The steps and outtakes for a Broken Dishes quilt block

So for a Broken Dishes block you start with triangles. These are then stitched together with another triangle (background) to make a Half Square Triangle. Once you have four HST's you are going to stitch them together in pairs. The way I remember the orientation of the components that I am stitching together is I say "down and up" So the pattern portion of the HST is facing down and then up. These are stitched together and then pressed open.( I press these to one side myself).  This is a place where you can make an "error".  Note the direction of the seam in the middle of the green and white HST. If you consistently place this facing in the same direction before pressing then the resulting block, when all is said and done, will nest with the next block. For the light green one you can see at the bottom of the first column the seam is at the top and the angle of the seam inside the triangle is moving from upper right towards the lower left. When you press them open you get two segments that look the same (the pink ones). One needs to be rotated as shown in the pair of blue segments. Once stitched together they will give you a wee little block like the black and white one.
On the final column of components I show the "wrong" way to press and the result when you open it up. You can still make a Broken Dishes block but it won't nest nicely with your other blocks. Unless of course you do them all this way.

And finally a photo of three Broken Dishes quilt tops waiting for something to happen to them.
As I look at the photo I am not certain it shows what I am after. The grey top has added sashing between the blocks. The white top I tried to grade the colours from light to dark and the black background shows that they don't always work out the way you think they will. The red print had a lot of black in it and the black and red  sort of blend into each other.

I hope my little explanation has given you enough to go on and that you will look at your bonus triangles in a new light. Thanks so much for dropping by.  Piecefully, Joanne


Be certain to stop by the other participants in the blog hop this week for lots of quilt block ideas.

Monday, September 9th


Tuesday, September 10th


Wednesday, September 11th


Thursday, September 12th



Friday, September 13th

28 comments:

  1. Your Bricks block is really simple and pretty. 'Remember it from your Guest Blogger post. I also love Broken Dishes. Thanks for both tutorials.

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  2. Thanks for explaining the broken dishes block. What a great way to dig into one's stash!

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  3. I have two baggies with HST squares that I keep telling myself that I'll use (eventually) for something. Thanks for the great idea!

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  4. Thank you, Joanne. This is one I really want to try, but then I have so many from this hop. I have a box of hst to get me started. Thanks for the block tutorial and joining the hop.

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  5. I see this in my future considering my new love for hst's. Doubtful it will be as small as yours though. Thank you for sharing the tutorial.

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  6. So many tiny pieces in that quilt...love it! What a great way to use those extra triangles. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Visiting from the Favorite Block blog hop - I love what you're doing with the Broken Dishes blocks! I admit that I don't save very many bonus triangles - but now I will, because I'd like to try out some of your ideas for them!

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  8. Great block, that is one I have never tried. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  9. That's interesting about the broken dishes. I like the look of the quilt, but I don't think I'd have the patience for so many small pieces. LOL

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  10. Your a girl after my own heart. I love using those leftover triangle pieces. :-) I need to break some of my bags out and start working on them again. Thanks for a very inspirational post!

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  11. I have a shoebox full of 1 1/2 inch HST. Thanks for the idea. Love your quilts!

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  12. Thanks for sharing a variety of layouts for your Broken Dishes blocks, Joanne! Great addition to the Hop. And... Now I know what I can do with (some) of the random HSTs that are occupying my sewing space. Fun!

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  13. I save all my scrap triangles but never could figure out what to do with them. Now I know. Thank you.

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  14. I have kept most of my leftover triangles. Maybe I will take them out and see what I can do with them.

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  15. Wow! I can't imagine how many HST's you've made in your lifetime! I LOVE the little doll quilt you made for an auction. There is something about tiny things that really attract me.

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  16. Wow, great job Joanne! I'm saving those scrap triangles but haven't had the time or courage to tackle a project with them. You've provided good inspiration! Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Fun. I like Broken Dishes as part of a bigger block. It's a fun unit that gives a chain effect, or other secondary design. Great colors in your quilts.

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  18. I have a collection of bonus hst's that need to come out and play.

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  19. Nice collection of projects from your favorite block!

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  20. What a great block! I have never made this quilt block before and I'm wondering why; it is stunning! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Beautiful, I love the tiny pieces and all the colors!

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  22. Oh I really like your broken dishes too!! I have found a lot of blocks making there way onto my - do this - list!! ha ha!

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  23. This is a very interesting block. Thanks for all the background info both positive and negative. I'll be starting on a project from my scrap bin very shortly and this block will definitely make the cut.

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  24. The three tops in the picture are a good lesson in color theory! I love the doll quilt. And I have also been gifted bags of bonus triangles, but sometimes they don't even make a 1/2 inch finished HST! I do appreciate that they remember me though. 😁

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  25. Sooo pretty!! Thanks for sharing all those tips! xx

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