For the past 3 QMB posts, we’ve looked at creating half and quarter square triangle units and geese, so I thought it might be a good idea to look at how we can use those units with some squares to make blocks.  Traditional style blocks often (but not always) come in one of 3 layout configurations, 4-patch, 9-patch or 16-patch, which refers to the way that the units are broken down within the block, and this month we’re going to look at 4 patch blocks.

4-patch blocks are made from a grid consisting of 4 square units, so a simple 4-Patch Block would be made up of 4 squares:

More complex 4-patch blocks are made up of a combination of unit types to create the 4 squares, so for example we have the Woven Block, where each individual unit consists of 2 squares and a rectangle:

Introducing triangle units, you have, for example, the Double Pinwheel Block, where each individual unit is made up of a combination quarter and half square triangle unit:

Adding in geese, you get this Dutchman’s Puzzle Block, where each unit is made up of 2 flying geese units.  Note that this could also be considered a 16-patch block depending on whether you consider a goose unit to be a single entity or if you think it is effectively 2 half square triangle units joined.  If you go with the latter opinion, it is a 16-patch block.

Next month we’ll look at 9-patch blocks.