Perpetual Motion For one Perpetual Motion block you need:       From red, cut two 4 7/8 inch squares       From blue, cut four 4 7/8 inch squares       From white, cut two 4 7/8 inch squares and one 4 1/2 inch square for your center square.               Let's make the blue and white diagonal half squares first. Carefully draw a line corner to corner, (diagonally) through the white 4 7/8 inch squares. This will be a cutting line when you are finished. Place blue and white 4 7/8 inch square right sides together. If you have a true 1/4 inch foot on your machine, you can sew on either side of the drawn line. If not, you will have to draw a second line on either side, exactly 1/4 inch from the first line. They will be your sewing lines. After you have sewn on your sewing lines, 1/4 inch on either side of your corner to corner to line, you will cut this square in half on the drawn cutting line. Clip off the corners as shown. You will now have two diagonal half squares, which should measure exactly 4 1/2 inches. For this block you need four each of red/blue and blue/white diagonal half squares. Use the same method to make them all. Sew two rows like this, paying close attention to the direction your diagonal half squares are going. Make one row like this, again, pay attention to the way your diagonal half squares are going. And finally, put your block together. It should measure 12 1/2 inches.             Here are the cuts needed to make Perpetual Motion blocks in many different sizes (smaller & larger):       Cutting your squares 1 1/2 inches (1 7/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 3 inches.       Cutting your squares 2 inches (2 3/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 4 1/2 inches.       Cutting your squares 2 1/2 inches (2 7/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 6 inches.       Cutting your squares 3 inches (3 3/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 7 1/2 inches.       Cutting your squares 3 1/2 inches (3 7/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 9 inches.       Cutting your squares 4 inches (4 3/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 10 1/2 inches.       Cutting your squares 4 1/2 inches (4 7/8 for DHS) will give you a finished block of 12 inches. Finished means after the block is sewn into a quilt. This pattern can be used for personal use only and can not be used commercially without the owner's permission. No copies may be made without the owner's permission. This includes the patterns as well as any graphics and/or instructions that are associated with a pattern. The content on these pages, including text and images are the sole property of the Delaware Quilts and may not be used in any manner without consent. All Rights Reserved. Perpetual Motion © Delaware Quilts August 2001 Updated November 16, 2025 |Home| Quilts| Email|