Flutter Wheel This 9-patch pinwheel has many names. Clover Leaf, Windmill, Pin Wheels, Flutterwheels, and Flutter Wheel which is what I decided to call this one. For each pinwheel unit you need two 2 7/8 inch bright color squares and two 2 7/8 inch light color squares. You want them to contrast highly with each other, so the pinwheel shows off well. Since you are making a scrappy block, you want five different pairs of pinwheels. You will also need four 4 1/2 inch light color squares. The basic pinwheel block is simply four diagonal half squares (a.k.a. triangle squares or half square triangles) put together in a four patch block. The Flutter Wheel is five basic pinwheels and four plain squares.     Here are step by step directions to make two diagonal half squares. Carefully draw a line corner to corner, (diagonally) through the white or lightest 2 7/8 inch squares. This will be a cutting line when you are finished. Place red and white 2 7/8 inch square right sides together. If you have a true 1/4 inch foot on your machine, you can sew on either side of the drawn line. If not, you will have to draw a second line on either side, exactly 1/4 inch from the first line. Those will be your sewing lines. After you have sewn on the sewing lines (1/4 inch on either side of your corner to corner to line) you will cut this square in half on the drawn cutting line. Clip off the corners as shown. You will now have two diagonal half squares, which should measure exactly 2 1/2 inches. You need four triangle squares for one pinwheel unit, so repeat the same step twice for each pinwheel in your block. Sew them together into pairs which look like this, and then sew the two together to finish one pinwheel unit. This unit should measure 4 1/2 inches.       Repeat the same to make a total of five pinwheel units. The rest is really easy, just assemble your block in rows. I suggest you press towards the solid blocks. When your rows are done, sew the block together. It should measure 12 1/2 inches.       This pattern can be used for personal use only and can not be used commercially without the owner's permission. No copies may be made without the owner's permission. This includes the patterns as well as any graphics and/or instructions that are associated with a pattern. The content on these pages, including text and images are the sole property of the Delaware Quilts and may not be used in any manner without consent. All Rights Reserved. Flutter Wheel © Delaware Quilts June 2014 Updated October 2, 2025 |Home| Quilts| Email|