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.

Rocket Star Quilt Block

This post contains affiliate links.  I may earn a small commission if you purchase but it will not change the price you pay in any way.  Thank you!

The Fat Quarter Shop is continuing their Classic & Vintage series with a Quilt Along today featuring the Rocket Star Block.

While visiting a local quilt shop, I saw Tula Pink's new fabric line, Pinkerville and decided to use Fairy Dust in Cotton Candy for the Rocket Star background. I did have to do a good bit of fussy cutting to only use the blues, purples and pinks.  

Aurifil 2000 Light Sand matched the background perfectly for piecing. 

Included in the free PDF Rocket Star Block pattern here is the paper Starburst template for making the Rocket Star Units.  Or, the units can be made using the Starburst 30 Degree Triangle Ruler.  

For the star points, I used an Alison Glass print Ink in Electric from Sun Print 2015.

In all my years of quilting, this was the first time for me making sew and flip Diamond Units. 

I wanted a good contrast with the busier background, so I used a solid, Kona Cotton in Noble Purple.  

Give the Rocket Star Block a try.  Piecing is easier since there are not points to match.

  

You and find the Rocket Star Quilt Kit and complete pattern here made from the Nova fabric collection by Moda.

Head on over to the Jolly Jabber to see more Rocket Star blocks.  And, you can find the video tutorial here on YouTube.

Teenage I Spy Quilt ➕ Block Tutorial

I have a quilt to share that I hope will make a teenage girl very happy who is living in foster care at the Miracle Hill Children's Home in the upstate of South Carolina. 

This photo was taken about three weeks ago when there were still leaves on the trees and some pretty colors.

I assembled the top while I was at the Quilters of South Carolina retreat back in October and my friend, Mona, took some photos for me.  

The retreat took place at the White Oak Baptist Conference Center for the last time as we will be trying out a new venue next year. 

Here, the wind did not want to corporate but I wanted to show the grounds with the lake in the background.   

A friend in my guild, Michael Sullivan, quilted it for me using and all-over design, Moonflower.  I was very pleased how it turned out.  

7  x 6 block layout
Finished quilt size, 56" x 72"

Thank yous go out to all of my Bee Inspired bee mates who generously made blocks for me.  I had to make less than 10 of the 42 blocks.

I asked them to choose any novelty print and frame them with solids in pink, purple, blue, aqua or gray.  Their fabric combinations were thoughtfully chosen.  There's a bunny watching out in the top left corner along with some feathers and flowers.  

And, some coffee cups...  The leaves are full of color.  

There are even sock monkeys, cat faces and more flowers.  

And, bicycles, pencils and Mini  Pearl bracelets.

And, even some numbers and math equations.  

And much, much more.

This photo is after the quilt was blocked and trimmed.

For the binding, I chose a gray with a little pattern in it.  I sewed it entirely by machine. 

I chose a Tula Pink print, Clear Skies, for the backing.

I even did some pattern matching.  The seam runs horizontal through the chartreuse circles.  Can you find it?  

  

Here's what the backing looks like on the whole quilt.  

Well I did promise an I Spy block tutorial, so let's get to it!

I Spy Block Tutorial {Teenage Version}

Finished block size 8 x 12, (unfinished 8 1/2" x 12 1/2")

Fabrics - Block Center

For the block center anything goes.  You could use novelty prints, low volume prints, or anything that inspires you.

Fabrics - Framing Fabric

For the frames or borders, I asked my bee makes to please use solids in the following colors: Pink, Purple, Blue, Aqua, and Gray - Feel free to use lights, mediums and darks in any shades or tones.

My only prerequisite was that I would like for the fabrics to be prewashed.  Prewashing is easy if you follow my tutorial for prewashing a small amount of fabric.

Cutting the Fabric

From the novelty fabric used for the center of the block, cut:

(1) rectangle 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" 

From the framing fabric, cut:

 (4) rectangles 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" 

Piecing

1)  Sew (1) framing rectangle to each of the long sides of the central rectangle.  Press seams towards the framing fabric.

Tip:  When sewing the framing rectangles onto the central rectangle, sew with the framing rectangles on the bottom.  That way, if the central rectangle was cut on the lengthwise grain, the framing rectangles will have less opportunity to stretch as you are piecing.

 

2)  Sew the remaining (2) rectangles to the top and bottom of the block and press the seams, again, toward the framing fabric.

And, ta-da, you are done!  Here are some I Spy blocks I made.

 

If you make some I Spy blocks, please share them on Instagram using the hashtag #TeenageISpyBlock and tag me @QuiltedBlooms.

This I Spy block tutorial was originally posted by me on the Bee Inspired blog in March 2018. This rectangle block is used by permission from a fellow Greenville MQG member, Didi at DidiQuilts.com.

I'll be linking to final Finish It Up Friday as Amanda Jean from Crazy Mom Quilts made the announcement earlier this week that she is no longer going to run her inspiring blog as a business.  Thanks Amanda Jean and I wish you all the best in whatever is next for you!