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.

Vortex

Sample Quilt Layouts

The Vortex quilt block can be used for all sorts of interesting quilt designs due to the "optical illustion" the patches create.

The quilt layout featured on the left sets the blocks on point and separates them with sashing strips. Some of the blocks are rotated by 90 degrees to produce a different effect. Each block is finished off with large corner triangles. Careful colour placement of these larger triangles gives an extra design element to the completed quilt.

The quilt layout shown on the right also uses an on point setting of the blocks. The sashing strips offer extra interest while the outer setting triangles frame the quilt with additional colour.

Download the VORTEX free quilt block pattern

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