Quilt block · Pinwheels · Intermediate

Spinning Four Patch quilt block

Sixteen half-square triangles in four four-patches turn so that dark pinwheels spin across the block.

FamilyFour-patch
Grid4 × 4
Units16 half-square triangles
Pieces32

What to cut for one block

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

16 triangles

  • A8 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
¼ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

16 triangles

  • A8 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
¼ yd

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 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

  1. Make 16 half-square triangle units

    Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).

  2. Sew the units into 4 rows

    Lay out the units 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.

  3. 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

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

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 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 an intermediate block: 32 pieces in 1 shape and 5 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.

Design with Spinning Four Patch, free

Open it in Quarter Inch at any size, in a layout of your own and in your own colors.

Start designing free