Delaware Quilts

Pinwheel Star

For the Pinwheel center of this block you will need:
    From your background cut one 4 1/4 inch square, which you will cut into quarters diagonally
    From your purple cut one 4 1/4 inch square, which you will cut into quarters diagonally
    From your hot pink cut two 3 7/8 inch squares, which you will cut in half diagonally

For the Star part of this block you will need:
    From a dark (purple) cut four 3 1/2 inch squares and two 3 7/8 inch squares
    From a medium (hot pink) cut four 3 1/2 inch squares
    From your background cut four 3 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch rectangles and two 3 7/8 inch squares


First we'll make the pinwheel center.
Remember that when you cut these squares, you created bias edges. Be very careful when sewing and pressing not to stretch that bias.


Place a background and purple triangle right sides together and together sew on the short side. Repeat with the remaining purple and background triangles. Be sure to sew them so all four are alike.


Sew this two color unit to a hot pink triangle. Press to the pink. Trim back to 6 1/2 inches if needed. Repeat with the remaining units.


Make two units like this.
           
Assemble like this.
            This Pinwheel center should measure 6 1/2 inches.


Next we'll make four diagonal half squares with the background and purple 3 7/8 inch squares. (You can find directions with diagrams for making diagonal half squares by following this link.) Use one background and one purple square for each pair.



Next we need four flying geese units using the background rectangles and 3 1/2 inch hot pink and purple squares. To make your job a little easier, draw a diagonal line through the hot pink and purple squares.

Lay a purple square right sides together with a background rectangle, with the diagonal line running as shown here. Sew right on that diagonal line. Trim off the excess, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press to the background.

Repeat this same step again with a hot pink square on the other side of this same unit. Press to the background. Make sure your rectangles still measure 3 1/2 by 6 1/2. This is called a flying geese unit.
   

Repeat this same step with the remaining rectangles, pink and purple squares. You need four flying geese units.

    Add a flying geese unit to opposite sides of your pinwheel unit.

Next add a purple and background diagonal half square to either side of the remaining flying geese units.    

Assemble as shown. Your finished Pinwheel Star block should measure 12 1/2 inches.
           
Here is my Pinwheel Star block


Pinwheel Star © Delaware Quilts December 2007
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Updated June 7, 2020

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