For those quilters wanting a little more of a challenge, five inch quilt blocks might be the answer -- smaller blocks usually means more blocks to make. Another reason for using five inch blocks is to create a secondary pattern. By using 4 blocks and rotating each of them, you get a different larger quilt block. These larger blocks can then be laid out in variety of ways to make some very interesting original designs.

Sandy Dunes

Sample Quilt Layouts

I played around with the Sandy Dunes block when making the sample quilt layouts illustrated. As you can see, the quilt shown on the left uses a simple straight set with sashing. Changing up the sashing colours produces a visual secondary pattern forming a sort of "staircase" effect in the design.

By adding extra blank blocks to the quilt illustrated on the right with blocks set on point, the focus becomes the pinwheel shapes and gives a different geometric look to that quilt. What can you come up with?

More Sun and Surf blocks
~ By the Sea
~ Lady of the Lake
~ Little Boat
~ Saltwater Taffy

Download the SANDY DUNES free quilt block pattern

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