Quilt block · Pinwheels · Intermediate
Comets quilt block
A five-patch: a dark center square with light squares on its sides, ringed by half-square triangles that turn like comets round it.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
20 triangles
- A20 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square and 8 triangles
- A8 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
- B1 square 1¾″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 triangles
- A8 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares
- B4 squares 1¾″then cut with template B
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 corner triangles
- A4 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Comets cuts cleanly at 5″ or 7½″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1¹⁄₅″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
20 triangles
- A20 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square and 8 triangles
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B1 square 2⅜″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 triangles
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares
- B4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 corner triangles
- A4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Comets cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 10″. At 9″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1⁴⁄₅″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
20 triangles
- A20 squares 3″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square and 8 triangles
- A8 squares 3″then cut with template A
- B1 square 3″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 triangles
- A8 squares 3″then cut with template A
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares
- B4 squares 3″then cut with template B
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 corner triangles
- A4 squares 3″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Comets cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 2²⁄₅″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to an Accent A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Accent. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Background and Medium
Sew a Background A triangle to a Medium A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Background and Dark
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to an Accent A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Accent. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Background and Medium
Sew a Background A triangle to a Medium A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Background and Dark
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to an Accent A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Accent. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Background and Medium
Sew a Background A triangle to a Medium A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Background and Dark
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
Flying SquaresFive-patch · Pinwheels
Crazy AnneFive-patch · Pinwheels
Pinwheel SquareFive-patch · Pinwheels
Follow the LeaderFive-patch · Pinwheels
More like this: Pinwheel quilt blocks · Five-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 5 × 5 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 5 sections (A, B, C, D and E), each sewn on its own paper in order and then joined with straight seams. In Quarter Inch, the Foundations tab prints its papers at true size (with Quilter).
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an intermediate block: 45 pieces in 2 different shapes and 12 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.