Thanks again to everyone answering my question. It has been so interesting to read all the replies, theories and possible names for this type of quilt. I'm pretty sure the step-by-step photos on the German web site are showing a quilt technique that will produe a simalr quilt to my photos. I am also wondering about joining the completed squares - i might hand stich (like you do with hexagons), but a fancy stitch, as you say, would also be pretty. Cheers, Jan.

I agree the basic block is an oldie -- I have seen it called an hour glass, but I agree I would make the blocks individually and assemble like a normal quilt. But then the 10 minute block takes me an hour (sigh).