What is your favorite 5"-ish block? Any technique!
 

I am making 5" square coasters for the family Christmas gifts this year. I have completed the first batch just using embroidery designs, but I was thinking about piecing the last of them. I just can't decide on which blocks to use, so I thought I would ask you guys for your favorite blocks! Any technique is fine... regular old piecing, appliqué, paper pieced, pieced in the hoop...

(and if you have a link to a pattern that would be extra awesome)

Well a 5" finished pieced block is hard to come by because 5.5 doesn't divide evenly by much. Went to Quilter's Cache blocks by size and they had zero pieced blocks. I would pick some drawings & just do some applique. Or go with a 4" block and add 1/2" borders:
http://www.quilterscache.com/BlocksbySizeA.html

How about a block you don't have to divide evenly into like a string block, or wonky cut block?

One of my favorite coaster patterns is to take 5 five inch squares.....use one for the bottom (putting the right side up)- fold the other 4 in half, putting the raw edges on the raw edge. arrange the top folded pieces like you would closing the flaps on a box. Pin well and sew along the edges. Turn the piece right side out.

I really like 6 in. square in a square blocks.

http://videos.hgtv.com/video/super-f...-cutting-62245


Here is another block that works with any size.

http://www.equilters.com/library/qui...quilttops.html

My most favorite block is Log Cabin. If I were making many, many coasters, I would probably simplify it a bit and make Quarter Log Cabins. Like this:

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By using 1.5" cut strips, it would make a 5.5" unfinished block.

Hmmm - think I just discovered a Christmas gift for my sister who has Fiesta Dinnerware.

I would make a disappearing 4 patch with 5" squares but it would not finish 5" and I guess that's what you are asking right? I just love the D4P!

I have used this technique often. You can also fold the square into a triangle (instead of a rectangle) and do the same and the end result looks different. I have also used this technique using a hexi shape and six pieces for the back each folded in half. Once I have it turned I usually tack the center with a few stitches for security. The nice thing about this is other than my few tacking stitches there is no hand work or binding needed. I usually do a pieced front and this on the back. I also fussy cut fronts instead of patchwork. There are a lot of cute prints out there that can be fussy cut into 5" squares.

The bow-tie block can easily be done in a 5" size.

I like to use a square in a square block for coasters. I fussy cut the center square so something special to the person is in it. I usually make it a little bigger, then cut it down to the size I need. I also find that doing such a small block is easier if I use the "stitch and flip" method...or at least that's what I think it's called.