Dutchman's Puzzle quilt block
Eight flying-geese units in four rotating pairs, producing a pinwheel of large triangles that seems to turn as you look at it.
Also known as Dutchmans Puzzle, Windmill variant.
Dutchman's Puzzle is the classic showcase for the flying-geese unit: nothing else in the block, just eight geese arranged so the whole thing spins. It has been printed under that name since at least the early twentieth century and remains one of the best blocks for practising geese at scale.
Dutchman's Puzzle cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
How it goes together
Eight geese, joined in pairs, then the four pairs joined as a four patch. Each pair must point the same direction and each quadrant must rotate consistently, which is where most errors happen.
Tips
- Make all eight geese at once with the four-at-a-time method — two batches gives you exactly eight with no waste.
- Lay out all four quadrants before sewing and check the rotation. It is very easy to build a mirrored quadrant.
- Keep a quarter inch of clearance above every goose tip so the points survive assembly.
How much fabric for a Dutchman's Puzzle quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Dutchman's Puzzle blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 1¼ yd · Dark 1¼ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 2⅞ yd · Dark 2⅞ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 6⅞ yd · Dark 6⅞ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Dutchman's Puzzle questions
How many flying geese are in Dutchman's Puzzle?
Eight, arranged as four pairs. In a 12 inch block each goose finishes 3 by 6 inches.