Quilt Block Patterns: Broken Wheel
Like every other patchwork quilt block, Broken Wheel can appear very different when you alter the placement of fabrics within its layout. The two Broken Wheel quilt blocks above are similar, but one has square red patches that help four areas of the block grab a little more attention.Broken Wheel is the second quilt block pattern published for the Backwards Medallion Sampler quilt pattern, but use the pattern for any quilt you would like to make.
Finished Block Size: 6" x 6"
You'll find cutting instructions for a 12" (finished) quilt block at the bottom of the page. That size is not used in the sampler but may come in handy for your other quilting projects.
Quilting Fabrics
Vary print sizes to create more interest, but avoid large prints, since patch areas in 6" blocks are small. Work in a few tone on tone fabrics in order to add visual texture without overwhelming the design. Avoid directional fabrics for small squares that will become triangles at the corners of square-in-a-square units.Quilting fabrics recommended below reflect the quilt block shown in the upper right of the image above -- your choice may be very different.
The block is constructed with strip pieced segments and 2" (quick pieced) square-in-a-square quilt blocks.
For square-in-a-square blocks used in quilt block corners:
- Dark gold print: (12) 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" squares
- Very light print: (4) 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" squares
- Red print: (4) 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
For block center:
- Red print: (1) 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" square
For strip-pieced units used at block's outer midpoints:
- Green print: (1) 1-1/2" x 10-1/2" strip
- Black or very dark brown print: (1) 1-1/2" x 10-1/2" strip
Optional for scrappy units at midpoints: (4) light and (4) dark strips, each 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" (scrappy strips replace the 10-1/2" long strips)
Cutting for a 12" (finished size) Broken Wheel Quilt Block
For square-in-a-square blocks used in quilt block corners:
- Dark gold print: (12) 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
- Very light print: (4) 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
- Red print: (4) 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" squares
For block center:
- Red print: (1) 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" square
For strip-pieced units used at block's outer midpoints:
- Green print: (1) 2-1/2" x 19-1/2" strip
- Black or very dark brown print: (1) 2-1/2" x 19-1/2" strip
For the 12" block, you will cut 4-1/2" segments from the strip pieced unit. The 12" block should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2" when complete.
