Broken Dishes quilt block
Four half-square triangles arranged so the diagonals mirror instead of rotate, producing a jagged zigzag rather than a spiral.
Also known as Broken Dish.
Broken Dishes is the pinwheel's sibling: identical pieces, different arrangement, completely different read. The name belongs to the large family of homely nineteenth-century block names drawn from kitchen and farm life, alongside Churn Dash, Monkey Wrench and Bear's Paw.
Broken Dishes cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 5⅜" × 5⅜" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 5⅜" × 5⅜" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 5⅞" × 5⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 5⅞" × 5⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 6⅞" × 6⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 6⅞" × 6⅞" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 8⅜" × 8⅜" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 8⅜" × 8⅜" | 2 | cut once on the diagonal → 4 triangles |
How it goes together
Four HSTs again, but arranged in mirrored pairs. Because the diagonals oppose each other, the block reads as broken shards rather than motion.
Tips
- Lay all four units out before sewing — the difference between this and a pinwheel is one rotated unit.
- At small scale and in scrappy fabrics it makes a superb allover filler.
- Press seams in opposite directions between the two rows so the centre nests.
How much fabric for a Broken Dishes quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Broken Dishes blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 1⅛ yd · Dark 1⅛ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 2⅝ yd · Dark 2⅝ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 6⅛ yd · Dark 6⅛ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Broken Dishes questions
What is the difference between Broken Dishes and Pinwheel?
The pieces are identical — four half-square triangles. In a pinwheel all four rotate the same direction; in Broken Dishes they mirror, which kills the spin and creates a zigzag.