Double Dutch Random Sampler - a dutch windmill block tutorial

Hi everyone, It is my turn to show you a block you could add to your double dutch random sampler! This is the third block we are doing.

If this is new to you we will start with some introductions:
- you can find the announcement of the Double Dutch Random Sampler QAL here at Lotjes blog.
- you can find the tutorial for the first block here on her blog.
- you can find the tutorial for the second block on Muriel's blog here
- you can find our dutch modern quilting group "double dutch" on Flickr here
- and you can join the QAL on Flickr here

Pfff, that was a lot of information I'm sure, but it's nice to have it summed up in one place.

Now for my journey on choosing a block. I am not good at making blocks up, I almost never do it and if I do, explaining how to make it to someone else who is not sitting next to me is even more difficult. So I decided to keep it simple. Like Nigella Lawson says in everyone of her cooking books: Please don't make a new and complex recipe when you are getting company. Instead make something simple that you did before, so you can still enjoy the evening.

We agreed on varying the sizes of the blocks within the boundaries of 3-6-9-12 inch. The first 2 blocks measure six inch. So I made the blocks in a nine inch size, but I have added the measurements for making it 6 inch (finished) or 12 inch (finished). So you can make it a size you like, or multiple sizes, which will have a nice effect in the sampler I think.

My inspiration was a block I made in the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along called Box. Like a lot of blocks in this quilt I really don't get this name. What has this block got to do with a box? It reminds me of a dutch windmill, so I thought it appropriate for this quilt-along.

You will need two contrasting fabrics. And cut them up:

• For a nine inch finished block cut (this is the one I made): 
• color 1: 4 squares of 3 7/8 (you can cut them 4 inch too and trim later if you prefer) and 1 of  3 1/2 inch.
• color 2 (background): 4 squares of 3 7/8 (you can cut them 4 inch too and trim later if you prefer)
• For a six inch finished block cut: 
• color 1: 4 squares of 3 3/8 (you can cut them 3,5 inch too and trim later if you prefer) and 1 of  2 1/2 inch.
• color 2 (background): 4 squares of 3 3/8 (you can cut them 3,5 inch too and trim later if you prefer)
• For a twelve inch finished block cut: 
• color 1: 4 squares of 5 3/8 (you can cut them 5,5 inch too and trim later if you prefer) and 1 of  4 1/2 inch.
• color 2 (background): 4 squares of 5 3/8 (you can cut them 5,5 inch too and trim later if you prefer)

Step 1:

Match the 4 squares of both fabrics in sets of two (right sides together) and make HST's (half square triangles) of them. For less experienced sewers; there are lots of lovely tutorials out there. I will try to give a comprehensible explanation and show some pictures: 

You draw a diagonal line on the squares and sew a scant 1/4 inch of each side of the line. When  finished, cut along the line to seperate two triangles. Fold them open, press open and cut it to size (when you are making the nine inch block: 3 1/2 inch). A lovely "cutting to size" tutorial for HST's, you can find here. 

Some pictures to show what I mean:

Step 2:

Lay out your squares to form the block:

Sew the squares into rows and the rows into a block!

But just to inspire you can choose other layouts as well:

I hope you like it! If you have any questions please let me know!

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