Block 2: Old Maid’s Puzzle

Cutting Instruction

  • Cut 1 piece of 6 7/8 squares (C), then crosscut diagonally.

  • Cut 5 pieces of 4 1/8 inch squares (A1)

    Cut 4 pieces of 3.5 inch squares (B)

  • Cut 3 pieces of 4 1/8 inch squares (A)

  • 14 inch square (backing)

  • 14 inch square

Sewing Instruction

  • Join together with 1 x A square right sides together. Pin to hold in place and then sew along drawn lines.

    Once sewn, cut from corner to corner and open to form a half square triangle. Press the seams to one side – preferably the dark fabric. Trim your square back to 3.5 inch blocks.

    Refer to my Beginners Quilt’s Back to Basic tutorial on Half Square Triangles – if you need help on this.

    Repeat this whole step again 2 more times – making 6 x half square triangles. These will be called unit 1.

  • Take 1 x B square and sew to one of unit 1.

    Repeat 3 times – these will be known as Unit 2.

Step 1

Take 1 x A1 square, using Pauline Rogers Half and Quarter Square

Triangle Ruler, line up corner diagonally and mark a line diagonally each side of the tool.

Step 4

Take 2 of these unit 2 and sew together as per diagram shown on the right.

Repeat 1 more time – to make 2 of these Unit 3.

  • Next attached 1 x C triangles to your unit and press (note: be careful when sewing on bias of fabric – do not stretch as it will effect the squareness of your block). Repeat 1 more time to give you 2 of unit 4. Trim back to 6 1⁄2” blocks.

  • Now you have made all of your small blocks, it’s time to join all of these blocks to make form your Old Maids Puzzle Block.

    Checking your colour diagram above Line 1 – 1 x Unit 4 + 1 x Unit 3

    Line 2 – 1 x Unit 3 + 1 x Unit 4

  • Iron your centre seams in different directions to give you good points on your triangles.

  • Once you have sewn the above 2 lines together, sew line 1 to line 2 to form your Old Maid’s Puzzle Block

Step 5

Take other remaining 2 x A1 squares and cut them in half diagonally. Join 2 of these triangles to either side of the 2 remaining Unit 1 as per diagram on the right.

First you have to join 1 of the A1 triangles to the right hand side of one of the Unit 1. Line the corner of A1 triangle as per diagram below. There will be an overlap of fabric at the top of Unit 1.

Press that A1 triangle out, and then join the second A1 triangle to the left hand side of Unit 1 – once again lining the corners up as per diagram on the right and press out.

When attaching the 2 x A1 triangle to either side of Unit 1 - line the corner of the triangle up here.

There will be excess fabric at the top of the triangle – which is correct.

Step 10

Now you have to quilt your block. I use Monopoly thread in both top of machine and bobbin. This gives you a lot of room for errors, as it is not as noticeable then if you used a coloured thread.

Sandwich your top together with wadding and backing. The wadding and backing should be at least 2-3” bigger than your block. I have quilted my block with straight lines and cross hatching – check the photo below for quilting grid lines that I used for this particular block.