Welcome to Star Block of the Month #8 - Spinning Pinwheel Star. We really flexed our quilting muscles last month with Evening Star, so we're going to relax a little with this quick and easy block for March. Remember that all seam allowances are 1/4", and all the blocks in this series are finished size 12".
This is the Spinning Pinwheel Star block. It makes a nice secondary pattern when you put them together. I'll show an example quilt top at the end of the tutorial.
These brilliant fabrics are from
Robert Kaufman. I used a Light Pink, and Brown from the Artisan Batik collection, and the Dark Pink fabric is from Jennifer Sampou's Studio Stash line.
Cutting Instructions:
Light Pink: Cut 4 ea. 4-7/8" squares A
Brown: Cut 2 ea. 4-7/8" squares A
Pink: Cut 2 ea. 4-7/8" squares A
Cut 1 ea. 4-1/2" square B
Sewing the Block:
Step 1: Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the reverse side of all the Light Pink 4-7/8" squares A.
Pair them right sides together with the two Brown 4-7/8" squares A and the two Pink 4-7/8" squares A. Sew 1/4" away from the line on both sides.
Cut on the drawn lines.
Open out, and press. You should have four each Light Pink/Brown half square triangle units and four each Light Pink/Pink half square triangle units. Each unit should measure 4-1/2" square.
Step 2: Lay out the block, with the Pink 4-1/2" square B in the center. Arrange the half square triangle units as shown.
Sew the units into three rows.
Sew the rows together to complete the block.
Smile!
\
Here's a quilt top sample showing what the Spinning Pinwheel blocks look like together in a quilt top. See the secondary Pinwheel that pops out?
Get Creative!
Jennifer Schifano Thomas
