Star Quilt Block of the Month Tutorial #8 - Spinning Pinwheel Star

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!

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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?

Thanks so much for reading today!  If you sew a block, or even a whole quilt using the Spinning Pinwheel Star block, please share it at the Quilters Show and Tell Facebook Group.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas