Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate
Pinwheel Star quilt block
Four long dark points spin out from a pinwheel center, between hourglass units in the corners.
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 rectangles and 12 triangles
- A2 squares 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C4 rectangles 2⅝″ × 1⅝″then cut with template C
- B4 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 long points and 4 triangles
- D2 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 2⅝″ × 1⅝″then cut with template C
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 triangles
- A1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
8 triangles
- A1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D2 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 Pinwheel Star’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
4 rectangles and 12 triangles
- A2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C4 rectangles 3⅝″ × 2⅛″then cut with template C
- B4 rectangles 3½″ × 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 long points and 4 triangles
- D2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 3⅝″ × 2⅛″then cut with template C
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 triangles
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
8 triangles
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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 Pinwheel Star’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
4 rectangles and 12 triangles
- A2 squares 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C4 rectangles 4⅝″ × 2⅝″then cut with template C
- B4 rectangles 4½″ × 2½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 long points and 4 triangles
- D2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 4⅝″ × 2⅝″then cut with template C
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 triangles
- A1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
8 triangles
- A1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 Pinwheel Star’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.
- Make 4 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Medium A and Light A and Background A triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 1½″ × 2½″ (1″ × 2″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark D triangle to a Light D triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 4 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 4 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 4 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 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Medium A and Light A and Background A triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2″ × 3½″ (1½″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark D triangle to a Light D triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 4 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 4 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 4 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 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Medium A and Light A and Background A triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ × 4½″ (2″ × 4″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark D triangle to a Light D triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 4 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 4 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 4 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
Four WindsNine-patch · Pinwheels
The Star of the AlamoNine-patch · Stars
RosebudNine-patch · Pinwheels
Arkansas SnowflakeNine-patch · Stars
More like this: Star quilt blocks · Pinwheel quilt blocks · Nine-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 6 × 6 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 15″ 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 8 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), 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: 36 pieces in 4 different shapes and 9 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.