The Hourglass quilt block is created with only squares and half square triangles, making it easy to construct. This block is frequently used as a "connector" block to form secondary pattern designs. However, I wanted to show that the block can stand on its own in any quilt as well.

The directional nature of the block allows for those secondary patterns to emerge. In the two sample quilt layouts shown below, this technique is used to show direction and movement across the quilt. The quilt layout on the left uses side by side block settings, with 90 degree rotations of some of the blocks in groupings of four. The right quilt layout uses an on point block setting and also rotates some of the blocks in order to draw the eye either across or up and down along the quilt. The ideas are limitless.