6" Dutchman's Puzzle Quilt Block

Right now Riley Blake Designs is hosting the From Our House Quilt Sew Along. This is a free sew along (including a free quilt pattern!) to celebrate the release of Riley Blake Designs’ next low volume collection, Hush Hush 4. As part of that Sew Along, I'm sharing a tutorial for a 6" x 6" Dutchman's Puzzle quilt block. Directions below!

The Hush Hush 4 fabric collection by Riley Blake Designs features a curated selection of low-volume prints, perfect for blending into a wide range of quilting projects.

The collection includes subtle patterns such as ditsy florals, darling motifs such as tiny books, peaches, birds and gummy bears, all in neutral tones, creating a versatile palette. These prints are perfect for backgrounds or adding subtle detail, and complement bold colors and intricate designs without overpowering them.

Each of the prints in Hush Hush 4 is designed by a different Riley Blake Designer and once again, the variety and whimsey of the designs is SO good.

My print this round is this leafy branch.

The From Our House quilt was designed to show off these fun fabrics and is made up of log cabin blocks with different 6″ blocks in the centers.

The light strips and backgrounds are made up of the Hush 4 prints and the dark strips in the log cabin blocks are pieced using new Shades Basics colors in: Granite, Silver, Hint of Mint, Coral, Honey, Peaches n Cream and Light Teal.

Here's the layout for the finished quilt.

You can find the free-downloadable PDF pattern here.

Each week of the sew along, the RBD designers will be sharing optional blocks for the 6″ centers. This week it’s my turn to share my optional block and I have a free pattern for a 6" x 6" Dutchman's Puzzle block.

This is one of my favorite traditional quilt blocks. And it's supper quick and simple to make using the 4-in-1 Flying Geese Method.

6" x 6" Dutchman's Puzzle Quilt Block Tutorial

Unfinished the block will measure 6 ½" x 6 ½"

Fabric requirements for 1 Block:

• 2 colored 4¼″ x 4¼″ squares (I used one Coral and one Honey)
• 8 cream 2 ½" x 2 ½" squares (I used assorted Hush Hush prints)

To make one set of 4 Flying Geese blocks at a time, draw a diagonal line on the back of 4 cream 3" x 3" squares.

With the 4¼″ x 4¼″ colored square right sides up, place two 2 ½" x 2 ½" cream squares face down right sides together in opposite corners, lining up the diagonal lines. The two squares will overlap corners in the middle. This is good.

Pin the squares to hold them in place and sew a scant ¼″ seam on both sides of the drawn diagonal line.

Cut these units in half right on the drawn diagonal line. Press the seam allowance toward the smaller triangles. You will have two units that look like the one at the top.

Place another background square right-sides-together in the corner of each colored unit and sew scant ¼″ seams again on both sides of the drawn line. Cut on the line and press seams toward the smaller triangles.

Repeat the process with the remaining large colored square and the 4 background 2½" squares.

Square up all blocks to 2" x 3½".  Don't skip this step or your block will be wonky.

If you like specialty rulers, this Flying Geese Specialty Ruler from Creative Grids is useful for squaring up multiple sizes of Flying Geese blocks.

You will now have 2 sets of 4 matching Flying Geese blocks.

(You don’t have to use a specialty ruler – just make sure the point is centered and that there is ¼″ of seam allowance at the top of the point so that the point doesn't get cut off when you sew the blocks together.)

As I mentioned - if you want to see this Flying Geese Tutorial more in depth, see this post.

Also, if you want to use this method to make Flying Geese blocks in lots of different sizes, click here for a free printable Flying Geese size chart with cutting instructions.

Sew two different colored Flying Geese units together to create 4 identical 3½" x 3½" blocks.  Rotate the direction of the double Flying Geese blocks to create pinwheel effect. 

Sew blocks together in to 2 rows of 2 blocks. For an unfinished 6½" x 6½" Dutchman Puzzle Block!

If you're sewing along with the From Our House challenge, add the outside log cabin strips.

Or just make as many fun Dutchman's puzzle blocks as you want!

As I mentioned, you can find the free PDF pattern for the From Our House Quilt Along here.

And you can see details about the other designers contributing quilt blocks here!

Hush Hush fabric is arriving in stores late October 2024. Check your local quilt shop or you can find it online from various Etsy Shops as well as the Fat Quarter Shop.

Kits for this quilt will also be available from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Happy sewing!