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.

Old Maid's Puzzle

Sample Quilt Layouts

By using the Old Maid's Puzzle quilt block in groups of four, and rotating the blocks within those groups of four, you create a new, larger quilt block. Several different variations of this four block grouping can be achieved.

Following the process described above, I have created two very different quilt layouts. One takes the four block group and separates with sashing. The second illustration shows the quilt blocks on point, with the setting triangles in different colourations. The different border pairs enhance this "dark and light" quilt.

Download the OLD MAID'S PUZZLE free quilt block pattern

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