Block 8: Pinwheel and Squares….Don’t Be Afraid!

pinwheel-and-squares-block-8 Pinwheels can be scary, but please, don’t be afraid. They look tricky, but they are actually very simple to do. I feel like a broken record, but as long as you make sure you are sewing accurately, you’ll be very impressed with yourself after you complete your first one. The picture of this Pinwheel and Squares block isn’t the best example of my photography skills. The lighting in the room seemed to be highlighting my mistakes. I recently read on another quilting blog that after three attempts at fixing a seam, it’ time to call it quits and say good enough. I forced myself to do that here. I could have taken some of these seams out three or four more times and probably not gotten them as exact as I’d have liked them, but I was exhausted and my patience was running very thin. Any thoughts on when to throw in the towel?

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

Green Tonal:

 Cut 2 medium squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

 Cut 20 small squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Paisley:

 Cut 8 small squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Brown Tonal:

 Cut 2 medium squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Pink Tonal:

 Cut 4 rectangles 4 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Pink Geometric:

 Cut 4 large squares 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Brown Houndstooth:

 Cut 4 small squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

 Cut 4 rectangles 4 1/2” x 2 1/2”

1. Draw a diagonal line on the back of each Green Tonal 2 7/8” square from corner to corner. With right sides together, place 1 Green Tonal square on top of 1 Brown Tonal 2 7/8” square. Stitch 1/4” on each side of the drawn line. Cut the square into two triangles by cutting on the diagonally drawn line. Press to the Brown Tonal fabric to complete a Triangle Unit. Make 4 Triangle Units.

2. Sew two Triangle Units together. Sew the remaining two Triangle Units together. Sew these two pieces together to create the Pinwheel Unit for the square.

(Use your pressed seams as a guide when pinning. If pressed in the suggested direction, the seams should nestle together and help ensure your pinwheel is pieced accurately.)

3. Draw a diagonal line on the back of eight Green Tonal 2 1/2” squares from corner to corner. With right sides together, align 1 Green Tonal square with the left side of 1 Pink Tonal rectangle. Stitch on the drawn line. Cut away excess fabric by cutting 1/4” out from the stitching line. Press to the Green Tonal fabric.

4. With right sides together, align another Green Tonal square with the right side of the same Pink Tonal rectangle. Stitch on the drawn line. Cut away excess fabric by cutting 1/4” out from the stitching line. Press to the Green Tonal fabric, to complete (Flying Geese) Unit 1. Make 4 (Flying Geese) Unit 1’s.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to make a (Flying Geese) Unit 2 using 2 Paisley squares and one 1 Brown Houndstooth rectangle. Make 4 (Flying Geese) Unit 2’s.

6. Sew a (Flying Geese) Unit 1 to a (Flying Geese) Unit 2 to complete Unit A. (Points of the Flying Geese Units should be facing away from each other.)Press to the Brown Houndstooth fabric. Make 4 Unit A’s.

7. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the remaining Green Tonal 2 1/2” square from corner to corner. With right sides together, align 1 Green Tonal square in the corner of a Pink Geometric square. Stitch on the drawn line. Cut away excess fabric by cutting 1/4” out from the stitching line. Press to the Green Tonal fabric.

8. Using the same method as in Step 7, sew a Brown Houndstooth square in the opposite corner of the same Pink Geometric square. Trim and press as in Step 7.

9. Using the same method as in Step 7, sew Green Tonal squares in the two remaining corners of the same Pink Geometric square. Trim and press as in Step 7, to complete Unit B. Make 4 Unit B’s.