Broken Dishes Quilt Block

I'm excited to be quilting along with the Fat Quarter Shop for their Classic and Vintage series.  This it the Broken Dishes quilt block.  I read where this block first appeared in October 2013 issue of The Quilt Life.

This post contains affiliate links to the Fat Quarter Shop, meaning if you make a purchase at the FQS I may receive a small commission which does not change the price you pay.  

You may recognize the prints from the quilt I recently finished using the Ruby Star Society fabrics.  The center square is Soft Blue Unicorn from Crescent and blue print is Spark in Bright Blue.  The solid is Kona in Bone.

The Fat Quarter Shop kindly sent each participant the Creative Grid ruler Square on Square 8" Trim Tool as well as the 2" HST Triangle on a Roll paper.

I was able to fussy cut the center square with ease using the bonus Trim 4 1/2" Pieced Square. 

And, the ruler made piecing the Square in a Square block a breeze.  The triangles were over-sized, sewn onto the center square and then trimmed down using, first, the Block B-1 reference on the ruler.

Then, when you add the next round of triangles you use the Block B-2 reference on the ruler.  And the result is a smart looking Square in a Square quilt block.

Next, triangles were pieced using the 2" Triangles on a Roll paper and added to the Square in a Square block along with some squares and rectangles.

You'll have a vintage and classic Broken Dishes quilt block.

You can sew along with the Fat Quarter Shop and make your own Broken Dishes block using the free instructions found at the Jolly Jabber in this post.

Row Addition in Ruby Star Society Fabrics

Have you ever made a quilt by picking out the backing fabric first?  That's what I did in this case.  I wanted to use this new print, Crescent in Soft Blue from the collection by the same name designed by Sarah Watts of Ruby Star Society for Moda Fabrics.

The substrate is a natural unbleached lighter weight quilting cotton which you can read about in this post on Moda's Cutting Table.  To me. it feels almost like a silky lawn fabric.

Now to pick out fabrics for the quilt top.  I decided to make Row Addition in two background fabrics rather than five like in the the original quilt made by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs for the our book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts.

I chose Soda Pop in Tangerine Dream by Rashida Coleman Hale and Spark in Bright Blue by Melody Miller.  Hawthorne Supply has a great selection of Ruby Star Society fabrics.

For the plus signs and binding I chose Brushed in Peacock by Sarah Watts also from the Crescent collection.

I just love a striped binding and this print has a subtle striped feel.

Here's the quilt top on my design wall after it's all pieced.  It measures 40" x 45".

I was hoping to get by with using only one width of fabric for the backing but it wasn't quite wide enough so I ended up piecing a strip of the bright blue Spark along the edge.  I was surprised I was able to keep strip fairly even through the layering process and quilting.  The little strip finishes around 2".

I was super pleased with how it turned out.  I haven't had a chance to take a overall shot of the finished quilt.  For now, I'll show you the rendering in EQ8.  So, if you want to make Row Addition and not sure about picking out five different background fabrics, just pick out two.

If you can't find the book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts, in your local quilt shop, you can find it here:
(Some of the links are affiliate links where I will receive a small commission and does not change the price you pay.)

• Amazon
• C&T Publishing 
• Signed copy from the Quilted Blooms Designs Etsy Shop
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Blocking and Binding: July One Monthly Goal

Now that this version of the Modern Plus Sampler has been professionally quilted by Johellen, it's time to finally finish it.  You can see the quilt fresh off her frame here in this post.

Modern Plus Sampler in Fandangle

I have been procrastinating because I'm a little nervous about blocking the quilt since I don't have much experience using wool batting.  Before I block it, I plan to trim the edges, leaving about one inch all the way around.

I had so much fun using Christa Watson's fabric line, Fandangle, which was generously provided by Benartex.  I've decided to bind it in the green colorway of Paper Cuts which I found at a local quilt shop, Viking Sew'n Quilt.

The quilting for the most of the background was inspired by the Paper Cuts fabric design.  Johellen quilted several quilts for our book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts, (affiliate link) co-authored with Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs. 

I hope to report back at the end of the month with a freshly bound Modern Plus Sampler.  And, it needs a title and label too.  Any ideas on a title?

You can see the July One Monthly Goals of others over at Elm Street Quilts hosted by Patty!  Good luck with you July goals.