
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:
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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.
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Cut each square in half diagonally to create eight triangles of each color.
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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.
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Press the seam allowance to one side, either open or to the darker fabric.
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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.
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Press the seam allowance to one side, either open or to the darker fabric.
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Repeat steps 3-6 to create four identical units.
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Lay out the four units in a square, with the seams of each unit pointing towards the center of the block.
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Take the top two units and place them right sides together. Sew along the long edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
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Press the seam allowance to one side.
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Repeat step 9 with the bottom two units.
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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.
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Press the seam allowance to one side.
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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: