Quilt block · Pinwheels · Beginner
Maltese Cross quilt block
A light square on point holds an octagon of long wedges that alternate light and dark round the center.
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
8 triangles
- B1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- D4 squares 2½″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 2⅞″ × 2⅜″then cut with template C
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Maltese Cross’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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
8 triangles
- B1 square 4⅝″cut twice on the diagonals
- D4 squares 3½″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 triangles
- A2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 4″ × 3⅜″then cut with template C
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Maltese Cross’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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
8 triangles
- B1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- D4 squares 4⅜″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 triangles
- A2 squares 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 5⅛″ × 4¼″then cut with template C
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Maltese Cross’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add the last corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the last corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add the last corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the last corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add the last corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the last corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 16 × 16 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″, 8″, 10″, 14″, 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 4 sections (A, B, C and D), 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: 16 pieces in 4 different shapes and 9 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.