Pinwheel Star Quilt Tutorial

A little while ago I had a quilt idea pop into my head. It’s a pretty fun and easy quilt to make. So, I thought I’d write up a quick tutorial….

I will post more pictures of it when it is quilted.  Life got in the way and it’ll be awhile before I can finish it; but I decided to write the tutorial sooner rather than later.

QUILT STATS

Each block measures 20 inches square.  The finished quilt is 3 blocks wide by 4 blocks long or 60x80.  I have written the fabric requirements and cutting instructions for individual blocks or for the entire quilt.  That way, you can easily figure yardage if you want to change the size of your quilt. I hope it’s not confusing!

FABRIC  REQUIREMENTS (for individual blocks or 60x80 quilt)

Background fabric – 1/3 yard for each block or 3 1/2 yards total

Fabric 1 (star points) – 1/3 yard each or 4 yards total.

Fabric 2 (center pinwheels and corner triangles) – 1/4 yard each or 3 yards total.

Because I was not planning on doing a tutorial when I made this quilt, I neglected to take pictures.  So, I made another block using different fabrics for this tutorial.

Cutting Instructions

Background Fabric – cut (4) or (48) 6 in. squares and (4) or (48)  5.5 x 10.5 in. rectangles

Fabric 1 (star points)– cut (8) 5.5 in. squares

Fabric 2 – (pinwheel and corner triangles) – cut (4) 6 in. squares

Step 1

Draw a diagonal line across the back of all the Fabric 1 and Fabric 2 squares.

Step 2

Layer background fabric squares with Fabric 2 squares RST (right sides together) and sew 1/4 in. away from drawn line.  Then, turn and sew 1/4 in. down the other side.

Step 2b

Cut on drawn line to separate into 2 HST (half square triangles).

Step 2c

Press open and trim to 5.5 in. square.

Step 3

Lay out HST into pinwheel pattern.

Step 4

Sew rows together using 1/4 in. seam allowance.  Press towards darker fabric.

Step 5

Sew rows together.  (Press the seam open to help with the bulkiness in the center of the pinwheel.)

Step 6

Align Fabric 1 square with Background Fabric rectangle RST.  Sew along line.

Step 7

Trim off excess fabric by cutting 1/4 in. away from sewn line. Press open.

Step 8

Align second Fabric 1 square along the opposite side of Background Fabric rectangle.  Sew along drawn line.

Step 9

Trim excess fabric 1/4 in. away from drawn line.

Step 10

Press open to form Flying Geese block.

Step 11

Make row 1 and 3 by laying out HST’s with Flying Geese block.  Sew together and press toward the center block.

Step 12

Make center row by sewing Flying Geese blocks to center pinwheel.  Press towards the Flying Geese blocks.

Step 12b

Helpful hint – When sewing Flying Geese blocks onto pinwheel, make sure your stitches pass barely above the crossed stitches that make the point of the cream triangle.  That way, you will always get a perfect point.

Step 13

Lay out rows and sew together making sure to pin the corners and also matching the center of the pinwheel to the center of the flying geese block. Sew rows together. Press.

Finished Block

Now make 11 more and sew together row by row and your quilt top is finished!

I think I’ll make this block into a pillow for my daughter’s bed!

Stormy

Pinwheel Block of the Month–Week 1–Friendship Star

**Update – A few notes on yardage.  For this quilt, I bought a fat quarter bundle (which consisted of 40 fat quarters) to get a large variety of fabrics.  I used about half of the fabric.  I don’t have an exact amount for this project, but I would recommend buying about 3 yards of various prints and 2 yards of solid.  The finished quilt measures 60 inches square.**

For the first month of the Block of the Month quilt, we are going to start with the easiest block  – the Friendship Star. 

Fabric Requirements

*Note – When making half square triangles, I like to cut my squares 1/8 inch larger. Then, I trim down after sewing.  It is easier to measure and  I can make sure my half square triangle is the exact size.  Example – For this block the square measurement would be 4 7/8 inch, but I round up to 5 inches.

Fabric 1 – center square  (1)  4 1/2 inch square

Fabric 2 – star  (2) 5 inch squares

Fabric 3 – background (2)  5 inch squares and (4) 4 1/2 inch squares

Step 1

Draw a line diagonally across fabric 2 squares.

Step 2

Stack your background fabric and fabric 2 squares RST (right sides together).  Sew 1/4 inch down the right side of the drawn line.  Turn and sew along the other side of the line.  Repeat for second square.

Step 3

Cut squares diagonally along drawn line.

Step 4

Press open and trim HST (half square triangle) to 4 1/2 inches.

Step 5

Arrange squares and sew together block by block, pressing away from the HST.  Then sew row by row.  Press.  Make a second block from different fabrics. 

Hope you enjoyed this block!  The second block will be posted the first week of March.

Stormy