3x3 Path and Wall

This is an ordinary 3x3 snake-type pattern adapted to the Rubik's Mirror Blocks puzzle (widely known as the Bump Cube). I arranged the heights so it looks like a continuous path from one side, and a wall from the other.

5x5 Parallels

This string pattern wraps around 4 sides of the cube, leaving the top & bottom blank. The string rises and descends on alternate sides. On the 3x3 there's one string, but on the 4x4 there are two parallel strings, and on the 5x5 there are three parallel strings.

The picture at right shows the reverse sides.

Triskelion

Geometrically speaking, a triskelion is a three-armed spiral form. In heraldry (flags that is) it instead refers to a three-legged spiral such as the flag of the Isle of Man.

The pattern extends neatly to any higher-order puzzle cube in case you just happen to have a 9x9x9 cube lying around. Here's the opposite-side view:

Cube-in-Cube

The Cube-in-Cube is one of the few patterns that can be adapted to all orders of puzzle cubes: Rubik's Cube, Rubik's Revenge, Meffert's Master Cube, Rubik's Wahn, et cetera.

In fact, there are a variety of options for the higher order cubes. Should the smaller cube be 2x2 or 3x3? Or even 4x4 (on the 5x5)? Take your pick.

I used Eastsheen cubes for the 2x2x2, 4x4x4, and 5x5x5 in the illustration and a Famwealth 3x3x3 that had a similar color scheme on the red-yellow-blue faces. The colors on the 3x3 don't quite match on the reverse side, as shown below.

3x3 Snake

Sometimes called the Worm, the 3x3 Snake is a fairly common pattern for longtime Rubik's Cube enthusiasts. The colored stripe winds around each side of the cube, making a right-angle turn on each.

Many patterns on the higher-order cubes are derived from this basic 3x3 pattern.

3x3 Illusion Pinwheel

The Illusion Pinwheel is a rather subtle pattern. At first it can be difficult to see, hence the 'illusion' part. The picture shows two views of the same cube so you can see all sides.

This pattern demonstrates that the 3x3 cube can conjure more interesting patterns than just the typical checkboards and squares you see so often.

Edge cubies are face-agnostic, meaning the edge piece serves different functions on two adjacent faces. For example, the green-yellow piece represents the background on the green face and part of the pinwheel on the blue face.

The cube itself is a cheap, shoddy Magic Keychain cube that retails for less than a dollar. The pieces are riddled with defects and it has one of the worst color combinations I've ever seen with pink, yellow, and two shades of orange. Yuck!