Quilt block · Pinwheels · Beginner
Double Pinwheel quilt block
A pinwheel in a pinwheel: four quarters turned round the center, each a big accent triangle and two smaller triangles. Also called Old Windmill.
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
4 triangles
- B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 small blades
- B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 large blades
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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
4 triangles
- B1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 small blades
- B1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 large blades
- A2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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
4 triangles
- B1 square 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 small blades
- B1 square 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 large blades
- A2 squares 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 three-triangle units
Sew the two small triangles together along a short edge, then sew them to the large triangle, matching the point to the middle of its long edge. Press toward the large triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 three-triangle units
Sew the two small triangles together along a short edge, then sew them to the large triangle, matching the point to the middle of its long edge. Press toward the large triangle. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 three-triangle units
Sew the two small triangles together along a short edge, then sew them to the large triangle, matching the point to the middle of its long edge. Press toward the large triangle. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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
LouisianaFour-patch · Pinwheels
Paper PinwheelsFour-patch · Pinwheels
FlyfootFour-patch · Pinwheels
WindmillFour-patch · Pinwheels
More like this: Pinwheel quilt blocks · Four-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is Double Pinwheel the same block as Old Windmill?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Old Windmill as other name for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
What size should I make it?
Its 4 × 4 grid lands on the ⅛″ marks at 6″, 9″ and 12″, so every piece measures with a ruler at all three. It also cuts cleanly at 4″, 7″, 8″, 10″, 14″, 15″, 16″ and 18″. In Quarter Inch you can make it any size, and it says when a cut falls between the lines.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 2 sections (A and B), 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 a good block for a beginner: 12 pieces in 2 different shapes and 5 points to match. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.