Delaware Quilts

Pinwheel Star

For a 12 inch finished Pinwheel Star you need:
          From the yellow cut two 5 1/4 inch squares
          From light blue cut one 5 1/4 inch square
          From dark blue cut two 2 7/8 inch squares
          From a background cut one 5 1/4 inch square, four 4 1/2 inch squares and two 2 7/8 inch squares.


You will start with the 5 1/4 inch squares, and cut them twice on each diagonal.

Sew these together in units as diagramed below. Be very careful when handling these pieces, as you are dealing with bias edges. Bias will stretch if handled roughly. I suggest that you pin carefully to avoid stretching.
Make four sets like this and four like this.                               From them make four sets like this. They should measure 4 1/2 inches.

Next make the center square, the pinwheel, which is made of four triangle squares.

Take the 2 7/8 inch squares of blue and background, place them right sides together. Carefully draw a line down the center, corner to corner, diagonally across the block. (This will be a cutting line when you are finished.) Now if you have a true 1/4 inch foot on your machine, you can sew on either side of this drawn line. If not, you will have to draw a second line on either side, exactly 1/4 inch from the first line. These will be your sewing lines. After you have sewn on your sewing lines, you will cut this square in half on your cutting line.

Press to the darker fabric. Don't forget to trim your dog ears. Your finished diagonal half-squares should measure exactly 2 1/2 inches.


Now put them together into the pinwheel which should measure 4 1/2 inches.

                    Now you can put your block together as shown here

Your completed Pinwheel Star should measure 12 1/2 inches which will be 12 inches in the quilt.

Here are other size squares needed to make different size blocks.
          For a 3 inch block cut your squares 1 1/2 inches, 2 3/8 inches and 1 3/8 for the pinwheel.
          For a 6 inch block cut your squares 2 1/2 inches, 3 3/8 inches and 1 7/8 for the pinwheel.
          For a 9 inch block cut your squares 3 1/2 inches, 4 3/8 inches and 2 3/8 for the pinwheel.
          For a 10 inch block cut your squares 3 7/8 inches, 4 5/8 inch and 2 1/2 for the pinwheel.
Remember these are all finished sizes, in the quilt.


Pinwheel Star © Delaware Quilts December 2014
The content on these pages, including text and images are the sole property of the Delaware Quilts and may not be used or reproduced in any manner without consent. All Rights Reserved.

Updated June 7, 2020

|Home| Quilts| Blocks| Retreat| Email|