Paper Pinwheel Quilt Block

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Several common abbreviations are used in this tutorial:

• RST - right sides together

• SA - seam allowance

• HST - half square triangles

All seams are 1/4".

When instructed to press, first press the seam flat before opening the patches. This is to set the seam, melding the thread fibers into the fabric.

Then open the patch and press again. I prefer to press from the right side so that no tucks are accidentally created at the SA.

SA are pressed to the dark unless otherwise instructed.

Step 1: Cutting patches for a Paper Pinwheel block

Paper Pinwheel design

Sample Block Size: 6" finished / 6½" unfinished

Grid: 4x4

Attributed to: Nancy Page

AKA: Pinwheel (Ruth Finley)

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, small center, Pinwheel

Our Paper Pinwheel takes three fabrics: light, medium and dark.

Though my two reds are relatively close in value, the difference in pattern helps.

You may want to skip to the bottom of the page to see what all the 'secret' fuss about this Paper Pinwheel is about before choosing your colors.

			Cutting Chart for a Paper Pinwheels Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
			4''	6''	8''	12''
1**	Med	2	1⅞'' x 1⅞''	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
2**	Light	2	1⅞'' x 1⅞''	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
3	Med	4	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
4	Dark	4	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
5	Light	1	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	6½'' x 6½''
Unfinished Block Size			4½"	6½"	8½"	12½"
Grid Size			1''	1½"	2''	3''
**I prefer to cut my patches extra large for HST, stitch, and then trim them to size. If you prefer to do the same, add a bit extra to the measurements for Patches #1 and #2 above (I added 3/8" to each dimension for the sample block). There is a chart further down in these instructions where you need it for trimming them to size. If you have a perfectly reliable 1/4" seam allowance use the dimensions in the cutting charts for these patches.

Step 2: Assemble the Paper Pinwheel units

Make 4

Using the quick pieced method to make our HST, draw a diagonal on the backside of either the #1 or the #2 patches. Which one depends on the marking tool you use.

The chalk line I get with my Bohin Mechanical Chalk pencil (below) is bright enough to show equally well on either the dark or light fabric.

With RST, layer a #1 and #2. Stitch a 1/4" away from both sides of the line for both pairs of patches.

The white arrow points to the 'spider' that I use. It's a scrap piece of fabric that I sew onto first and then onto my patches. Less chance of my machine chewing up the point.

Step 3: Assemble your Paper Pinwheel quilt block

Arrange the units and cut patch into rows. Double check that the lightest triangle is pointed out, away from the center.

I promised you a reveal!

Electric Quilt 8
Design Software

Frequently I write about how much I love the EQ quilting software program (available for both PC and Mac - I use it on both, too.)

Seriously. It's Da-Bomb. 

I make all the images and patterns on this site with it.

The Paper Pinwheel looked to be a good skill builder block—some HSTs for the newer quilter to practice on without having to drown in them to get a quilt finished.

What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 220+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:

• 4"

• 4-1/2"

• 5"

• 6"

• 8"

• 9"

• 10"

• 12"

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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