Let’s make a pinwheel block! Pinwheels are such a classic quilt block, and they’re perfect for beginner quilters!
Pinwheels are made with half-square triangles (HSTs), probably the most versatile unit in quilting. HSTs are notoriously hard to sew perfectly, so we’re going to make them a little bigger than we need and then trim them down. That adds an extra step, but increases the accuracy so much that it's definitely worth the effort. If you have a specialty ruler for trimming HSTs (like a Bloc Loc), you can use that, but I’m also going to share two ways to trim HSTs without a specialty ruler.
In this tutorial, we’re going to make a 6” finished pinwheel block (6 ½” unfinished), so all the cutting and trimming sizes are for the 6” block. At the bottom of this post, there’s a chart with the cutting and trimming sizes for other common pinwheel block sizes. Just follow the same steps to make any size!
What you’ll need
(2) 4” squares cut from Fabric Color 1 (I'm using white)
(2) 4” squares cut from Fabric Color 2 (I'm using purple)
Ruler
Pencil or fabric marking pen (like this air erasable one!)
Square ruler the same size as or larger than your unfinished HST OR a ruler longer than your unfinished HST
Cutting mat and rotary cutter
Pins
Make the HSTs
1. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of 2 squares. Normally I would draw the lines on the white squares, but I knew the white thread would show better on the purple squares in the next steps, so I drew my lines on them.
2. Pin the white and purple squares together, right sides together.
3. Stitch ¼” away from both sides of the drawn line. (Be sure to remove the pins when you get close to them! Do not sew over the pins!)
4. Cut apart on the drawn line. You can use scissors or a rotary cutter to do this.
5. Press the seam. I like to press mine towards the darker fabric. Repeat with the second pair of squares to give you four HSTs.
Trimming the HSTs with a square ruler
If you have a square ruler large enough, you can use it to trim your HSTs. We’re going to trim our HSTs to 3 ½” for our 6” finished pinwheel. If you’re making a different size pinwheel, trim your HSTs to the size indicated in the chart at the bottom of the blog post.
1. Align the 45° line of your ruler with the seam of the HST. Check that the HST extends past the 3 ½” lines on the left side and the bottom.
2. Holding the ruler securely, trim the right side and the top of the HST. As you can see, we’re not trimming a lot, but these little slivers make a big difference!
3. Turn the HST so the untrimmed sides are on the right and the top. Line up the 45° line of the ruler with the seam again, this time with the 3 ½” lines exactly on the bottom and left sides of the HST.
4. Holding the ruler securely, trim the right side and the top of the HST.
5. Repeat these steps to trim all four HSTs.
Trimming without a square ruler
If you don’t have a square ruler large enough, you can use a rectangular ruler and the lines of your cutting mat to trim your HSTs. We’re going to trim our HSTs to 3 ½” for our 6” finished pinwheel. If you’re making a different size pinwheel, trim your HSTs to the size indicated in the chart at the bottom of the blog post.
I like to set up either on a mat small enough I can turn it, or at the corner of a table so I can work from two sides. That way I can trim all four sides of the HST without needing to move the HST.
1. Position your HST on the cutting mat so the right side and the top are both just past a line. Check that the left side and the bottom are both at least ½” past the line as well. Notice the diagonal line on my cutting mat. I'm lining up the top right corner with that line as well as the bottom left corner.
2. Place your ruler on the line of the right side and trim.
3. Place the ruler on the left side so you are trimming at the ½” line. Trim that side.
4. Without moving the HST, turn the cutting mat clockwise OR move around the table, so what was the top of the HST becomes the right side.
5. Place your ruler on the line on the right side and trim.
6. Place the ruler on the left side so you are trimming at the ½” line. Trim that side.
7. Repeat these steps to trim all four HSTs.
Assemble the pinwheel
1. Arrange the four trimmed HSTs as shown. Pay attention to the orientation of the HSTs because that is what creates the pinwheel effect!
2. Sew the HSTs into pairs. Press these seams open.
3. Pin the pairs together, matching the seams at the center.
4. Sew the pairs together. Press the seam open.
That’s it! You’ve made a pinwheel block!
Here is the chart so you can make pinwheel blocks in many different sizes!
Pin this tutorial for later!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for visiting and for your comments! I try to reply to comments via email, so if you're expecting a response and don't hear from me, check if you're a no-reply blogger. Happy sewing!