Pinwheels and Squares
Size:  12" Finished

October 2003 Quilt Block of the Month
Free from BlockCentral.com

 


Cutting Instructions:

  • From dark blue fabric, cut four 3-7/8" squares.
  • From white fabric, cut eight 3-7/8" squares.
  • From yellow fabric, cut four3-7/8" squares.

Sewing Instructions:

Step 1:  Using a ruler and a water soluble marker, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all the white 3-7/8" squares and two yellow 3-7/8" squares.  

Step 2:  With right sides together, layer a white 3-7/8" square on another white 3-7/8" square and sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal line that you drew in Step 1.  Repeat once more and cut apart on the diagonal lines. Press seams.  Four white/white half-square triangles made for corners.  (I know that it would be easier to use a white 3-1/2" square for each corner, but this step allows a nice diagonal seam to form corner to corner.)

Step 3:  With right sides together, layer a white 3-7/8" square on a dark blue 3-7/8" square and sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal line that you drew in Step 1.  Repeat once more and cut apart on the diagonal lines. Press seams toward darker fabric.  Four dark blue/white half-square triangles made.

Step 4:  With right sides together, layer a white 3-7/8" square on an unmarked yellow 3-7/8" square and sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal line that you drew in Step 1.  Repeat once more and cut apart on the diagonal lines. Press seams toward darker fabric.  Four yellow/white half-square triangles made.

Step 5:  With right sides together, layer a marked yellow 3-7/8" square on a dark blue 3-7/8" square and sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal line that you drew in Step 1.  Repeat once more and cut apart on the diagonal lines. Press seams toward darker fabric.  Four dark blue/yellow half-square triangles made.

Step 6:  Using the block above as your guide, place the half-square triangle units in order, making sure that the corner unit seams flow to the center of the block.  Using a scant 1/4" seam, sew the half-square triangle units together to form rows and sew rows together to finish the block.