Many quiltmakers like to make six inch quilt blocks in order to use a greater variety of blocks in a sampler style quilt. Another reason might be to test out the look of a block in a smaller size in order to save on the fabrics (just in case the block looks very different than in your imagination).

Whatever your reason for creating six inch blocks, the pieces are all just smaller versions of larger sized quilt blocks -- such as the most popular size, the 12" quilt block. This is what makes quiltmaking so exciting -- you are the designer and get to choose all the components.

Cockney Star

Free Quilt Block Pattern

I decided to simplify the Cockney Star quilt block and at the same time reduce the bulk of (in my opinion) unnecessary extra seams. I created the large "pinwheel" patches using flying geese units rather than the original half square triangles. Likewise I replaced groupings of two squares with one rectangle. This makes for less sewing and a flatter block as there are fewer seams.

So, because of these changes, I think this is a very easy four patch block to construct. The extra interest in this block is provided by the quarter square triangles which then produce a second smaller pinwheel in the centre of the block. As you can imagine, I like to have fun with the blocks, and what is more fun than making things easier?

NEXT - Sample quilt layouts for COCKNEY STAR quilt block