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Old Maid's Puzzle Quilt Block
From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library
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Skill Level: Beginner
The Old Maid's Puzzle quilt block is a two fabric block built on a 3x3 grid.
All it takes are half square triangles and cut squares, which makes it a good block for bee and guild block exchanges.
You may know it by one of it's other common names (with its attribution in parentheses):
- Double X (Ladies Art Company)
- Jacks on Six (Ohio Farmer)
- Three and Six (Nancy Cabot)
- Cat's Cradle (Click here for another version of this block)
- Kindergarten Block (Needle Craft Supply)
There are a couple of variations that involve changes to the fabric placement that are shown further down on this page, as are additional cutting instructions for a total of 6 different block sizes.
General Instructions
These abbreviations are used on this page:
- SA - seam allowance
- RST - right sides together
- HST - half square triangle
SA are 1/4".
When you are instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open the patch, pressing from the front. Seam allowances are pressed to the dark fabric unless otherwise noted.
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Step 1: Cut patches for an Old Maid's Puzzle
Old Maid's Puzzle designSample Block: 6"(6-1/2" unfinished)
Grid: 3x3
Attributed to: American Farmer 1895
AKA: Jacks on Six (Ohio Farmer), Double X #1 (Ladies Art Company), Three and Six (Nancy Cabot), Kindergarten Block (Needlecraft Supply)
Design Type: Even 9-patch
I like to cut larger patches for making half square triangles and then trim the units to the exact size after stitching. I have done just that in this example.
A chart is provided where you need it in the instructions to trim those HST to the perfect size.
All the number in the chart represent squares. For example, for our 6" finished sample, Patch #1 is cut 2-7/8" x 2-7/8".
 | Cutting Chart for an~Traditional Piecing ~ | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | |||||
| 3" | 4½" | 6" | 7½" | 9" | 12" | |||
| 1** | BAC | 3 | 1⅞" | 2⅜" | 2⅞" | 3⅜" | 3⅞" | 4⅞" |
| 2** | A | 3 | 1⅞" | 2⅜" | 2⅞" | 3⅜" | 3⅞" | 4⅞" |
| 3 | BAC | 3 | 1½" | 2" | 2½" | 3" | 3½" | 4½" |
| Unfinished Block Size | 3½" | 5" | 6½" | 8" | 9½" | 12½" | ||
| Grid Size | 1" | 1½" | 2" | 2½" | 3" | 4" | ||
| **I prefer to cut my patches extra large for HST, stitch, and then trim them to size. If you prefer to do the same, add a bit extra to the measurements for Patches #1 and #2 above. There is a chart further down in these instructions where you need it for trimming them to size. | ||||||||
These are our cut patches.
Step 2: Assemble the units for an Old Maid's Puzzle
HSTs
Make 6
We use the Quick Pieced method for making our HSTs.
If you plan to make many blocks, you may want to use another HST method like 8-at-a-time or triangle paper.
On the back of each light #1 square, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. I've used pen for this tutorial simply to make the lines easier to see. In 'real life' I prefer to my trusty Bohin mechanical chalk pencil, marking only as dark as needed to see the line.
With RST, align the edges of a #1 and a #2 patch. Stitch a quarter inch away from both sides of the line. Repeat for the remaining two pairs.
These units can be chain piecedCut the sewn units in two along the drawn line for a total of 6.
Press them flat and then open with the SA towards the dark fabric.
The six HS triangles are ready for trimming.
Use the chart below to check that your sewing was accurate. Trim as needed.
HST Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Finished Block Size | Trim HST to… |
| 3" | 1-1/2" |
| 4½" | 2" |
| 6" | 2-1/2" |
| 7½" | 3" |
| 9" | 3-1/2" |
| 12" | 4-1/2" |
For our 6" sample Old Maid's Puzzle, trim the HST to 2-1/2" x 2-1/2".
These HSTs are ready to be trimmed to perfectionClick here for more detailed instructions on the Quick Pieced Method for making these.
Step 3: Assemble your Old Maid's Puzzle
Lay out your HSTs and cut patches.
Stitch the units in each row together, pressing the SA as indicated by the arrows.
Your seam allowances will nest making it easier to match your seams. Stitch the rows together, pinning if needed.
Your finished Old Maid's Puzzle quilt block looks like this.
Our Old Maid's Puzzle is ready to be sewn into a quilt.Variations on an Old Maid's Puzzle
Cat's Cradle
In this version of the Old Maid's Puzzle quilt block, the light and dark fabrics are simply switched.
Tennessee
We've kept the light patches from Cat's Cradle, and substituted scrappy squares for the dark fabrics. A nice way to play with value and use up scraps at the same time!
This block is also called 'Jack and Six'.
There's More Where this Came From!
You've finished your blocks...
...now what?
We have quilt blocks galore in multiple sizes in our Free Quilt Block Patterns library just waiting to inspire you for your next quilt.
What about a different quilt block?
For a list of all the 215+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.
If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:
Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.
Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.
And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:
By Julie Baird
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