Dutchman's Puzzle Quilt Block Pattern

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The Dutchman's Puzzle is a popular quilt block that is made up of triangles arranged in a way that creates a swirling effect. Here are the steps to sew a Dutchman's Puzzle quilt block:

Materials:

Fabric in two contrasting colors
Ruler
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Sewing machine
Thread
Iron

Instructions:

Cut four squares of each fabric color, all the same size. For example, you could cut 4 squares of fabric A at 4 1/2 inches and 4 squares of fabric B at 4 1/2 inches.
Cut each square in half diagonally to create eight triangles of each color.
Take one triangle of each color and place them right sides together. Sew along one of the long edges with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Press the seam allowance to one side, either open or to the darker fabric.
Take another triangle of the same color as the darker fabric and place it right sides together with the pieced triangle. Sew along the opposite long edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Press the seam allowance to one side, either open or to the darker fabric.
Repeat steps 3-6 to create four identical units.
Lay out the four units in a square, with the seams of each unit pointing towards the center of the block.
Take the top two units and place them right sides together. Sew along the long edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Press the seam allowance to one side.
Repeat step 9 with the bottom two units.
Take the two pieces you just sewed and place them right sides together, making sure the seams nestle together. Sew along the long edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Press the seam allowance to one side.
Your Dutchman's Puzzle quilt block is now complete!

Repeat these steps to make as many Dutchman's Puzzle quilt blocks as you need for your quilt. When assembling your quilt top, you can rotate the blocks to create different patterns with the swirling effect.

The secret to the perfect four patch is all about ironing seams so that they butt together when the seams are joined. You may make the four patch by cutting individual squares if you want to make a scrappy quilt or only a few blocks to make with pre-joined strips. I'll take you through both methods.

Cut two A squares and two B squares in your required size. Chain piecing, join A square to a B square, right sides together, with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press towards the dark fabric.

This is your result:

This is also the result of cutting across pre-joined strips to create two units.

To make a standard four patch, the width of the unit cut from pre-joined strips is the same as the width of the original strips.

Press all the seams towards the dark fabric so that the seame butt-up.

Take the two A/B and place them right sides together, butting seams. Pin if required. Join with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance, then press.

Wider Application:

You can apply this technique to all kinds of four patch blocks. As long as a block has a 4x4 grid, no matter how many pieces, the basic principles apply. It is repeated over and over again each four patch laying adjacent to the next. As long as you keep pressing seams in pairs of opposite directions, piecing will become easy.

All of the following blocks have 4x4 grids and can be pieaced as a four patch.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks:

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on the size of your finished quilt block. You can come to a decision based on a number of factors: doubling a pattern, cutting your pattern in half, or choosing the size based on your available fabric.

NOTE: When working from a pattern’s cutting instructions, make sure you remove the seam allowance before doubling or tripling the size. For instance, if your pattern calls for 3-1/2″ squares, first you’ll subtract the sum of the seam allowances (1/2″), double the finished block size (from 3″ to 6″), and add the seam allowance back in (1/2″). So, when all is said and done, you will cut a 6-1/2″ piece of fabric.

Resizing Square Blocks:

Square blocks are the easiest to resize. Simply add to your finished block measurement. For example, if you’d like your finished block to be a 4″ square, you’ll need to cut a 4-1/2″ square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks:

Similarly to the square, for rectangle blocks, you’ll add to the length and width measurements of your finished block. If you’re doubling block that measures 3″ x 4″ in your quilt, you’ll cut a 6-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ rectangle of fabric.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks:

When you want to change the size of a Half-Square Triangle block, add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. To make a 4″ finished block, you’d cut 4-7/8″ squares.

Resizing Quarter Square Triangle:

Since there are two cut lines and two seam lines in a Quarter-Square Triangle block you’ll need to add 1-1/4″ to the desired finished block size. For a finished block that’s 4″, you’d cut your squares 5-1/4″.

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