At last, it’s time to begin the first official block of the Haven Quilt-Along. Block 1 is a Dutchman’s Puzzle, a classic quilt block that feels both traditional and playful—especially when it’s made entirely from flying geese.
If you’ve been following along from the beginning of the quilt-along, this block will feel very approachable. The construction builds directly on the flying geese units we made earlier, with just a small twist that creates a pinwheel effect in the center of the block.
Units to Make
- Exterior Flying Geese units – 4 units
- Interior Flying Geese units – 4 units
All units are constructed the same way; only fabric placement differs.
Construction Method
The Dutchman’s Puzzle block is essentially a four-patch made from pairs of flying geese.
The four interior flying geese units feature a contrast square on the right corner, creating a pinwheel effect in the center of the block.
The four exterior flying geese units are identical to one another.
Construct all flying geese units following last week’s instructions.
Important: All flying geese with the contrasting corner must have the contrast square in the same corner.
What makes this block especially satisfying is its efficiency. Although the finished design looks complex, most of the flying geese units are identical. Once those are made, the block comes together as a simple four-patch. The contrasting inner corners do all the visual work, creating movement and energy right at the center of the quilt.
Because this is the only Dutchman’s Puzzle block in the Haven quilt, there’s also room for flexibility. Whether your pinwheel spins clockwise or counterclockwise doesn’t matter—either version works beautifully and won’t affect the overall design.
This block finishes at 12½ inches unfinished and sits at the very center of the quilt. For now, it may look a little lonely on the design wall, but each week it will be joined by new blocks until the full Haven quilt comes together.
If you’d like to sew along, the Haven Quilt-Along is completely free and self-paced. You can download the quilt-along guide from my website, follow the video tutorials on YouTube, or join the Haven email list to receive weekly PDF instructions.
Kits available from Vintage Pink & Green (in store or online).