Busy Bee Quilts - Beginner's Block of the Month









Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 AM-5 PM Phone: 505-281-0195

Never quilted? Learn to make a quilt by making a new block each month with our Beginner's Block of the Month.

Block #8 - Dutchman's Puzzle
12-1/2" unfinished

This block is made with a pattern called Flying Geese or sometimes Witches' Hats. Our sample will be made with three colors: one for the background, and two to make the flying geese, which we'll call light and dark again.

You will need to cut:

16 - 3½ squares out of your background fabric.
4 - 6½ x 3½ rectangles out of light fabric.
4 - 6½ x 3½ rectangles out of dark fabric.

We'll start by making one flying geese unit. Draw a diagonal line on two of the 3½ background squares. Place the square on one of the rectangles RST so that the diagonal line goes from the center of the block towads the bottom left. Stitch on the line. Trim off the material leaving a ¼" seam. Open your fabric and press your seam towards the background fabric.
Repeat for the other side by placing the diagonal line from the middle tgowards the bottom right trim again at ¼" seam between the top of the fabric and the top of the triangle.
Check to make sure that the piece measures 6½" and 3½". Trim if necessary. Repeat the procedure to make seven more flying geese patterns. Sew two of the units RST using a ¼" seam. The "point" of the triangle should be right at the seam line. Sometimes it's easier to pin this area first, then sew. Repeat for the other pieces.
Lay out the units so that the first one is pointing up and the second to the right. The second row should have the triangle pointing to the left, then the second one pointing towards the bottom.	Row 1
Your second row is as follows: One QST with the dark sides up and down, the solid dark square, the another QST with the dark sides once again up and down.	Row 2
Match your seams and sew across. Wonderful! Another new design for you to experiment with. I hope your having fun. Until next time, happy quilting.