Today let’s take a look at this Broken Window quilt block from the Kansas City Star publication. Once again, there are other blocks out there called Broken Window – that’s just the way it is. This block isn’t very difficult – if you can do Half Square Triangles and Flying Geese, you’re good to go! Let’s get started.
Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Broken Window Quilt Block:
- Light/White: 4 – 3″ squares, 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 16 – 2.5″ squares
- Medium/Pink: 1 – 4.5″ square, 4 – 3″ squares, and 4 – 2.5″ squares
- Medium/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles
- Dark/Dark Blue: 8 – 2.5″ squares
Sewing Directions:
Center Unit:
Step 1:
The Center unit is a simple Square in a Square block using the Medium/Pink 4.5″ square and four Light/White 2.5″ squares as shown in the picture below. You can find the Square in a Square tutorial at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block
Flying Geese Units:
Step 2:
Using the four Medium/Blue 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles and eight Light/White 2.5″ squares, sew together four Flying Geese patches as shown below. You will find my Flying Geese tutorial at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block
Step 3:
Now you can repeat Step 2 only using the Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles and the Dark/Dark Blue 2.5″ squares as shown in the picture below.
Step 4:
Match up one Step 2 patch and one Step 3 patch and sew together as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance toward the Step 2 Flying Geese patch. Repeat for a total of four Flying Geese units.
Corner Units:
Step 5:
Using the Light/White 3″ squares and the Medium/Pink 3″ squares sew together eight Half Square Triangles as shown below. You can find the tutorial for making Half Square Triangles (HST) at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block Trim/square up the HSTs to 2.5″ square.
Step 6:
Lay out two of the Step 5 HSTs you made, a Light/White 2.5″ square, and a Medium/Pink 2.5″ square as shown in the picture below.
Step 7:
Now you can sew the patches just like a basic Four Patch block. Sew the patches into 2 rows and press the seam allowances toward the HST patches. I know this is not the normal direction for pressing but it makes a difference later on when putting the block together.
Step 8:
Sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance toward the Medium/Pink 2.5″ square as shown below.
Putting It All Together:
Step 9:
Lay out the Center unit, the Flying Geese units, and the Corner units as shown in the picture below. From here the Broken Window block goes together just like a Nine Patch block.
Step 10:
Sew the patches into three rows as shown below.
Step 11:
And press the seam allowances toward the Flying Geese units as shown below.
Step 12:
All that’s left is to sew the three rows together and…
Step 13:
Press the seam allowances toward the outside of the block as shown in the picture below. You’re done!
Layout Ideas:
