And the fun continues with Dutchman's Puzzle
This block is made up completely of triangles but with the no waste method of making flying geese units, it goes together pretty easily.
Always makes me think of windmills and I wonder if that is how it got it's name...
Cutting
Squares are all you need to make this block. I will show you a super fun and easy way to make flying geese units.
A) 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" square
Cut 8 squares of gold (background)
Draw a line from corner to corner on each of the A squares on the diagonal.
B) 7 1/4" x 7 1/4" square
Cut 1 square red print (scraps)
Cut 1 square of green print (scraps)
Construction
Using the no waste method of making flying geese lay two squares of background on one square of scrap fabric. The line you drew on the background fabric should intersect where the squares overlap. Pin.
Sew a 1/4" seam on both sides of the drawn line. Pay attention the the drawn line and sew as accurately as you can, if you are off just a bit your geese will not turn out the correct size. After sewing it is a good idea to double check your seam and make adjustments or re-sew if necessary.
Cut along the drawn line. Press the small triangles (may or may not be the dark) away from the larger triangle.
Lay another background square on top of the unit you just completed.
Get a little extra help holding it down if you need it. Spencer is always up to the task. Pin in place.
Take to sewing machine and while carefully balancing 12# of cat on your lap sew on both sides of the drawn line as you did above. Place cat on desk and get up and check to be certain your seam measures exactly 1/4".
Cut on drawn line. Press away from the large triangle (it may or may not be to the dark).
You will end up with 4 flying geese units and you never had to cut a triangle! ☺
You will repeat the process with the other large square and remaining background squares. Trim the ears before the next step.
I like to layout all the units that make up the block before I sew them together. This is a good time to make any adjustments for directional fabrics. You can see that both of my fabrics are directional. I played around with the layout until I got them going the same way.
Sew two flying geese units together following the layout above. You will make 4 two pair units.
Pay close attention to the intersection at the top of the big triangle....don't cut that point off!
After pressing each unit I then lay them out again making sure I have them going the way I want them to.
Sew together in pairs again.
Press the seam in opposite directions so when you put the final seam in they nest nicely together.
Pin the two halves together making sure to align the center exactly. Sew, taking care with the intersections of the triangles.
Give the block a good press and pat yourself on the back. ☺
Ta Dah! Block #8 Dutchman's Puzzle is complete!!!
I get questions. Lots of questions.
This BOM was created as a benefit for the members of Just Us Quilters. JUQ is a quilt group on facebook created by my friend Joie Holcomb. If you are a quilter, it is open to you to join. I designed the quilt to be perfect for using our scraps.
The BOM is also open to everyone - you don't even have to be a member of the group to take part. Each month two more blocks will be posted here on my blog so it is pretty easy to keep up with. In about a year you will have a queen size quilt top done. The premise is to use fabric in your stash (if you have one) and scrappy is the word of the day! ☺
Here are the blocks so far.
This block is the connector/cornerstone for the sashing and was given as a bonus block.
All the blocks finish to 12" and the quilt will be a queen size when completed.
You can find all
of the blocks posted here on my blog, all you have to do is search
older posts. Also the fabric requirements and examples of my fabrics
are here as well.
Hope that answers some of the questions you may have about the BOM and who can join or participate. Come join the fun!!!
Kind regards,
Linda T.
Love the block, the name, well not so much ~ Old Maid's Puzzle.
Wouldn't it be fun to know how this nice block got it's name? Was it only made by Old Maid's? Or if you got it right were you sure to never become one? I don't know. But what I do know is it makes a pretty nice addition to our BOM!
More triangles and squares in this block. Nice and scrappy too!
Finished size of the block is 12"
Cutting
A) Cut 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" square (do not cut on the diagonal)
Cut 5 squares gold print (background). Two of these squares WILL be cut in half on the diagonal before sewing. The other three will be made into half square triangles - see below.
Cut 3 squares of tan print (scraps)
Pair one of each of three tan squares (A) with the gold squares, right sides together. Sew 1/4" on both sides of the diagonal line to yield 6 half square triangles once they are cut apart. Please refer to earlier posts for instructions if you are not sure how to do this. Cut the remaining background squares in half on the diagonal.
B) Cut 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square
Cut 2 squares of brown print (scraps)
Cut 2 squares of gold print (background)
C) Cut 6 7/8" x 6 7/8" square (cut on the diagonal)
Cut 1 square of red print (scraps). Cut on the diagonal and follow above diagram for piecing.
Make the half square triangle units.
Press to the dark.
Lay out all the units and pieces for the block and pay attentional to any directional fabric you are using. My red fabric had an obvious diagonal stripe and I wanted both pieces to be going the same direction.
Sew a background triangle to the half square unit you made. Press to the dark/background. Pay close attention to the layout as it is easy to sew to the wrong side.
Next lay another background triangle on top of the pieced unit and sew a 1/4" seam. Take care to orient the triangle the correct way.
Press all seams to the dark (background) as this will ensure that you can see the intersection of the seam which will be important in the next step. No points get cut off if you can see this and sew it correctly.
Check the layout with the supervisor and make sure you have the approval to proceed. Once you do, you can start sewing the block together.
Be aware if you don't have the full buy in of the supervisor there may be consequences.
Pair the unit you just completed with one of the large triangles and sew along the seam making sure that the pieced unit is on top so you can see that intersection.
I like to pin. I am all about accuracy!
Take care when you come to that intersection that you don't cross over that line and cut the points off. This is why it is important to make sure the pieced unit is facing up.
Press to the triangle - this may not be the dark. There are exceptions to the rule.
Next up sew two more of the half square triangle units to the squares. It's basically a four patch.
Press after each step and then once you have the 4 units made you can lay out the block.
Chain sew the units together on one of the seams.
Press so you will be able to see the intersection I talk about so much. You will have two seams that are alternating which will make is super easy to nest them together and sew the final seam.
Pin, taking care to match the center seams so the block is aligned properly. Sew and press again!
Ta Dah!!! Block #7 Old Maid's Puzzle is complete!
All that sewing wore Winston (aka Winnie) right out!!!
Hope you enjoy this block - see you next month!!!
Hugs ~ Linda T.
Next up: #6 - Road to California
This is a pretty easy block. Just some 4-patch units and some half-square triangle units.
Cutting (note colors are from pic above)
A) Cut 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square
Cut 10 squares of red print (scraps)
Cut 10 squares of gold print (background)
B) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" square (do not cut on diagonal)
Cut 2 squares gold print (background)
Cut 2 squares green print (scraps)
Half square triangle units. Take one each of background and scrap print and draw a line down the middle, sew a 1/4" seam on either side. (or use any method you prefer - I show how to make them using other methods in the early blocks of the BOM) Do this with both sets of squares you cut.
Cut on the line to make 4 half square units and press to the dark.
4-Patch units
Sew a background square to a scrap square along one edge. These are perfect for chain piecing. If you alternate the fabric on the top as you piece they will be perfectly set up for sewing the next step. Keep them together in pairs and press to the dark.
Still chained together.
Lay out the half square units and the 4-patch units following the block picture. Make sure you orient the 4 patch units the correct direction. What you basically have here is a 9 patch block.
I like to take the center row and lay them on top of the left - put a pin in to hold them together in the correct way and take them to the machine. Take time to make sure the edges are aligned. Sew along the right hand edge.
I like to press the seam before I add the other row but that is up to you. I find it easier to get the pressing going the correct way without having to fight with the other seam.
This intersection is the one you want to see - pay attention to the pressing so this is not covered up. This really helps when you sew the rows together and is what helps keep you from cutting off the points when you sew that next seam.
Keeping the same layout, I repeat the process. Lay the right hand row on top of the middle row and pin. At this point the first blocks are chained together. I don't cut them apart. Take to the machine and sew along that right hand edge.
Pressing is key here. Make sure you can see that intersection marked by my pencils - very important. You will note that I have alternated the seams when pressing. This makes it very easy to nest them together nicely which makes your piecing more precise.
Closer view. When you go to join the rows you will want to be able to see this so you don't cross the intersecting line. This is shown in great detail in the early blocks here on my blog.
Ta Dah! Road to California block is done!!!
Cut 2 squares of gold print (background) and then cut on the diagonal twice.
I start with the triangles. This one is a bit tricky to keep organized the correct way as it is easy to sew on the wrong side and end up with the color placement messed up. Piece all of the triangle units at this point. They should look like the top unit in the photo. (Keep in mind that there is a left version and and a right version.)
When adding the triangle unit to the squares make sure that the edges of the triangle unit are aligned to two sides of the square. It is easy to not align them correctly and it will create problems going forward. I make sure that the edges are perfect and then I pin! Sew and press - don't skip the pressing part!
The same steps are used to add the other triangle unit to the opposite side of the square. Be sure to align both edges of the triangle unit with both edges of the square. Pin and sew a scant 1/4" seam. Press to the dark.
This is what your triangle units will look like from the wrong side. Notice you can see the intersections on the perimeter of the unit along two edges. 
If I would have pressed to the light you would see the intersecting seam along the bottom but then the two on the other edges of the triangle would have been hidden. I always go for the most visible option and in this case it came from pressing to the dark. 
Lay the triangle unit on top of the large triangles and sew a scant 1/4" seam. Take care to "feel" where the seam intersection is along that edge and do your best not to sew the point off. ☺ You can also peek as you come to that part in the seam to make sure you are on the seam side as opposed to the point side as you sew. If you are not clear about this there are plenty of pics in the early block posts about that intersection and how to sew so you don't cut the points off.
Sew a rectangle to two of the pieced triangle/squares as shown. Press to the dark. Repeat.
