Short & Tall Pinwheels
Baffle everyone with this unusual block pattern that creates two different pinwheels when stitched together. This is the perfect scrap buster!
MATERIALS
• 1 yard orange tonal • 1 yard dark pink tonal • 11/ 8 yards multicolored floral • 11/4 yards green tonal • 11/ 3 yards yellow stripe • 41/4 yards butter yellow tonal • Backing to size • Batting to size • Thread • Basic sewing tools and supplies
CUTTING
From orange tonal: • Cut 1 (91/4" by fabric width) strip. Subcut strip into 4 (91/4") squares. Cut each square on both diagonals to make 16 D triangles. Set aside 1 triangle for another project. • Cut 3 (47/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 17 (47/ 8") J squares and 3 (41/2" x 81/2") O rectangles. Cut each J square in half on 1 diagonal to make 34 J triangles. • Cut 2 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips. From dark pink tonal: • Cut 1 (91/4" by fabric width) strip. Subcut strip into 4 (91/4") squares. Cut each square on both diagonals to make 16 B triangles. • Cut 1 (41/2" by fabric width) strip.
Subcut strip into 4 (41/2" x 81/2") M rectangles. • Cut 3 (47/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 18 (47/ 8") squares. Cut each square in half on 1 diagonal to make 36 H triangles. • Cut 1 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strip.
Although I like to have extra fabric just like the next quilter, I don’t like having more than will fit in my small sewing room. It was time to look for a scrap-busting project, and this block and configuration will work well especially if made in a smaller size.” —Angie Buckles
From multicolored floral:
• Cut 1 (91/4" by fabric width) strip. Subcut strip into 4 (91/4") squares. Cut each square on both diagonals to make 16 F triangles. Set aside 1 triangle for another project. • Cut 3 (47/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 20 (47/ 8") L squares and 1 (41/2" x 81/2") Q rectangle. Cut each L square in half on 1 diagonal to make 40 L triangles. • Cut 1 (41/2" by fabric width) strip. Subcut strip into 4 (41/2" x 81/2")
Q rectangles (5 total). • Cut 2 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips.
From green tonal:
• Cut 2 (91/4" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 5 (91/4") E squares and 3 (41/2" x 81/2") P rectangles. Cut each E square on both diagonals to make 20 E triangles. Set aside 3 triangles for another project. • Cut 2 (47/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 16 (47/ 8") squares. Cut each square in half on 1 diagonal to make 32 K triangles. • Cut 2 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips.
From yellow stripe:
• Cut 2 (91/4" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 5 (91/4") C squares and 3 (41/2" x 81/2") N rectangles. Cut each C square on both diagonals to make 20 C triangles. Set aside 3 triangles for another project. • Cut 3 (47/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 18 (47/ 8") squares. Cut each square in half on 1 diagonal to make 36 I triangles. • Cut 2 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strips.
From butter yellow tonal:
• Cut 5 (91/4" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 20 (91/4") squares. Cut each square on both diagonals to make 80 A triangles. • Cut 12 (47/ 8" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 89 (47/ 8") G squares and 2 (41/2") R squares. Cut each G square on 1 diagonal to make 178 G triangles. • Cut 7 (41/2" by fabric width) strips. Subcut strips into 56 (41/2") R squares (58 total).
COMPLETING THE PIECED UNITS
1. Sew G to L to make a G-L unit as shown in Figure 1; press. Repeat to make a total of 25 G-L units.
2. Repeat step 1, sewing G to H, I, J and K triangles to make units as shown in Figure 2.
3. Sew A to B to make an A-B unit as shown in Figure 3; press. Repeat to make a total of 16 A-B units.
4. Repeat step 3 with A and C, D, E and F triangles to make units as shown in Figure 4.
COMPLETING THE BLOCKS
1. To make one Block 1, select and join one each A-D and G-L unit and one each G and H triangle to make a block quarter as shown in Figure 5.
2. Repeat step 1 with one each A-B and G-L unit and one each G and I triangle to make a second block quarter, again referring to Figure 5.
3. Repeat step 1 with one each A-E and G-L unit and one each G and J triangle to make a third block quarter, again referring to Figure 5.
4. Repeat step 1 with one each A-C and G-L unit and one each G and K triangle to make a fourth block quarter, again referring to Figure 5.
5. Arrange and join the four different block quarters to complete Block 1 as shown in Figure 6; press.
6. Repeat steps 1–5 to make a total of four Block 1s.
7. Repeat steps 1–4 to complete the block quarters to join for Blocks 2–7 as shown in Figure 7.
8. Join the block quarters to make four each Blocks 2 and 3, three each Blocks 4 and 5 and one each Blocks 6 and 7.
COMPLETING THE QUILT
Refer to the Assembly Diagram as needed for placement of colors.
1. Arrange and join the blocks in five rows of four blocks each referring to Figure 8 for block number placement.
2. Join the rows to complete the pieced center.
3. To complete one green border unit, select one P rectangle, two R squares and one G-K unit.
4. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each R square.
5. Referring to Figure 9, place an R square right sides together on one end of the P rectangle and stitch on the marked line. Trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press R to the right side.
6. Repeat step 5 with a second R square on the pieced unit to complete one P-R unit as shown in Figure 10.
7. Sew the G-K unit to the P-R unit as shown in Figure 11 to complete one green border unit; press.
8. Repeat steps 3–7 to complete a total of three each green, orange and yellow, four pink and five multicolored border units referring to Figure 12.
9. Arrange the border units around the outer edge of the pieced center, referring to the Assembly Diagram to match the color of each border unit to the color of the adjacent block.
10. Insert R squares between the units and join to make two side strips and a top and bottom strip; press.
11. Sew an R square to the top of the left strip, bottom of the right strip and each end of the top and bottom strips; press. Add a second R square to the right end of the top strip and left end of the bottom strip; press.
12. Sew the side strips to opposite sides and add the top and bottom strips to complete the quilt top; press.
13. Create a quilt sandwich referring to Quilting Basics on page 94. 14. Quilt as desired. 15. Bind edges referring to Quilting Basics on page 94 to finish. QW