BLOCK 5: DOUBLE PINWHEEL BLOCK SQUARE!

 I don't know about you but when I look at this block, I feel happy. I feel like everything's right with the world. 

It is surprising how quickly it goes together. You cut squares, then cut them in half to make triangles, mix them up, and sew them back together to make squares again. Doesn't that sound like fun? You also can sew them using a method called chain piecing. It saves time and thread. I usually don't worry about either since I am retired and my machine cuts the thread, but I have friends who like to sew quilt pieces together using this method.

The finished 12" block uses three colors. I chose one print in two different colors and then a print that had all the colors in it.

HOW TO MAKE A DOUBLE PINWHEEL BLOCK SQUARE

(1/4" SEAMS AND THREE PRINTS)

CUT one 7" square from prints #1 & #3 and then cut each diagonally

CUT four 4" squares from prints #1 & #2 and then cut each diagonally

PAIR up the two colors of the smaller rectangles with right sides facing and pair up the larger rectangles with right sides facing.

The next step is to SEW down the diagonal sides to make a square. The difference with chain piecing is you will not stop and cut the thread after sewing the each one. Instead you will feed the next one through leaving several stitches in between. You can sew all ten of the triangle pairs together and then cut the thread. You will have a connected "chain" with your triangle pairs. CUT the connecting thread with scissors.

PRESS each pair open first on the underside (wrong side) and then on the top side (right side).TRIM or square up the large half-square triangles (HST) down to 6.5" square using the diagonal line on your square ruler as a guide. TRIM or square up the smaller HST to 3.5" square. This is an important step which is made easy because you cut the original square a full inch bigger.

PLACE the pieces on your design wall or table in the arrangement for the pattern.

Since the large HSTs are finished, begin sewing the smaller HSTs together to make the pinwheels. Once again you will use the chain piecing method. SEW two HSTs together by sewing down one side making sure you match up the diagonal seam. You won't cut the thread until you have sewn all of four of them. It is very important to make sure you are sewing using a 1/4" seam.

When you have the chain made only CUT between the second and third ones. This will keep the two that you will sew together to make the pinwheel together.

When you PRESS the seams, it is important to press them alternate directions.

This will allow you to "nest" the seams together when you sew these two halves of the pinwheel. The thread you didn't cut helps keep the two halves together.

Another tip you might find helpful...you want the seam two cross the center triangle seam to the points will meet evening on the top side, stick a pin in the point on one side and

see if it comes out on the other piece at the same point. (When I zoom in on the last two pictures, I can see the pin, but realize it is hard to see on my laptop.) 

PRESS the seam going in either direction. It doesn't match up with any other seam so it doesn't matter and I didn't take a picture of mine.

Return the four pieces to the design wall or table in the arrangement of the pattern so you can make sure you have done everything correctly so far. You are almost finished.

SEW each pinwheel block with one of the HSTs. Once again you can use the chain piecing method. (Oops! Didn't mean to confuse you. In my haste, I arranged them the opposite directions. It's okay.)

PRESS the seams in the opposite direction on the underside and the topside.

One more seam and the block is finished. Once again match the center points and you are finished. Just as when you finished each pinwheel, sew slowly and carefully. If you are not happy with the way your points looks on the topside, you can unsew (rip out) a small area and rematch and resew.

BLOCK 4: 

TIME IN THE GARDEN 

on the left and Block 5 on the right.