The Broken Sugar Bowl Quilt Block

The broken sugar bowl quilt block is a variation from the traditional Jacob’s Ladder quilt block. It was originally published in the Kansas City Star.

This block uses a nine patch grid with squares and half square triangles. The broken sugar bowl quilt block is an easy beginner pattern.

You can make one block for a sampler or this block creates a great complete quilt pattern all on it’s own like so many of the classic patterns do.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in three colors
(purple, red and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 2 patches 2½” square from the purple fabric.
Cut 2 patches 1½” square from the purple fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 3” from the purple fabric.
Cut 2 patches 3½” square from the red fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 6” from the red fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 3” from the red fabric.
Cut 2 patches 3½” square from the white fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 6” from the white fabric.

Step 2 - Place one 3½” square of red fabric and one 3½” square of white fabric, right sides together. Draw a line on the diagonal on the lighter fabric from one corner to the opposite corner. Stitch ¼” on each side of the marked line.

Cut on the drawn line with your rotary cutter or scissors to separate the square into triangles.

Fold open the square and press the seam allowances toward the darker fabric. Using your plastic ruler, trim the square to be 2½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

Complete 4 red/white half square triangles.

Step 3 - Using the strip piecing method, sew the red 3” strip to the purple 3” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric. Use a ruler and rotary cutter to sub-cut the strip into 1½“ patches. Make sure you align the ruler with the seam line of the strip set to be sure your cuts are straight.

Step 4 - Use the strip piecing method again and sew the red 6” strip to the white 6” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric. Sub-cut the strip into 1½” patches.

Step 5 - Sew two red/white sub-cut patches together, making sure to rotate the red and white to be opposite each other and matching the center seam.

Step 6 - Sew a red/white patch to a red/purple patch, making sure the red patches are opposite each other and again, matching the center seam.

You will need 2 red/white/purple squares.

Step 7 - To sew row one of the broken sugar bowl quilt block, sew a purple square, red/white half square triangle, red/white/purple four patch.

Step 8 - Sew row two. Red/white half square triangle, red white four patch, red/white half square triangle.

Step 9 - Sew row three. Red/white/purple four patch, red/white half square triangle, purple square.

Step 10 - Sew the rows together to complete the broken sugar bowl quilt block.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Broken Sugar Bowl Quilt Block