- Background (muslin)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 38 · five-patch
Jack in the Box Quilt Block
Also known as Whirligig (Jack in the Box version)
Part of: Five Patch Quilt BlocksPinwheel Quilt BlocksFlying Geese Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt Blocks
Jack in the Box combines flying geese with diagonal bars that turn around a small center. This five-grid pinwheel is also called Whirligig in some traditional references.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Grid
- 5 × 5
- Pieces
- 33
Chart
Cutting for a 10" block
5 × 5 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 10 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 1 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 8 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 16 |
| Dark | Rectangle | 4 | 2 1/2" × 4 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 4 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Dark | Quarter-square triangle | 1 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 4 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Subcut the HST parent squares once diagonally as listed in the chart. Sew contrasting triangles along their long edges and square each small unit to 2 1/2", keeping the diagonal centered.
Step 2: Make four flying geese from the QST goose triangles and HST sky triangles in the chart. Sew a sky to each short side and trim each goose to 4 1/2" by 2 1/2".
Step 3: Sew two mirrored HSTs side by side to form each diagonal bar. Attach a bar beneath a goose to make four 4 1/2" corner units.
Step 4: Place the corner units around the background center with dark rectangles between them. Rotate each corner a quarter turn, following the diagram, and sew three rows.
Step 5: Join the sections with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, matching the marked intersections. Press and check the unfinished block measures 10 1/2" square.