Hi friends!
Today in the Exploring Quilting Basics series, Tammy and I are chatting about the pinwheel block!
The Pinwheel Block
The pinwheel block is a simple but very effective block that just uses Half Square Triangle (HST) units! We already have chatted on how to make HST units – click here for my post on making them.
There are many other blocks that are called Pinwheel; we are referring to the block that is a simple 4 patch block.
For this block though, you normally would make 4 HST units that all look the same. Sew the HST units together making sure you rotate the colors around the center of the block.
It is super easy to turn one unit the wrong way!
Other ways to use the block!
In this variation, instead a a simple HST unit, we swapped it out for a partial QST unit.
How about this one where we added a square to one side of the HST unit?
You could turn the block into a nine patch and add a center square and then rotate the HST units around the center.
You might call this one a Pinwheel Star! Of course, it has many other names… so many quilt blocks do!
In this variation the pinwheel becomes the center of a star block.
There are many ways to take the basic pinwheel and make it into something new! Head on over to Tammy’s post to see her tips on the Pinwheel Block!
Next week in the A Quilter’s Alphabet series, Tammy and I are up to the letter L!
happy quilting!
Kate
Have you seen the latest block challenge Tammy and I are doing on Instagram? We teamed up with a bunch of other designers and are doing a Snowball block challenge and posting every Monday in February on IG! Plus, there is a GREAT giveaway going on until Monday Feb 8th. Go look for the post with this image!
