Classic Pinwheel blocks combine with 3-D charm for a throw size quilt sure to delight!

Featured Fabrics The Blank Quilting Corp. Vintage Summer by Leslie Trimbach

Pattern Design by Amy Simmonds of Stitched by Starlight (@stitchedbystarlight)

Sewn by Amy Simmonds of Stitched by Starlight (@stitchedbystarlight)

With the winter months still bringing short, cold days, it’s the perfect time to dream of—and sew for—summer! The Playing with Pinwheels Quilt, paired with Vintage Summer fabrics, evokes memories of warm summer afternoons, gentle breezes, and days spent with your toes in the sand. The 3-D element of the quilt adds depth and movement, as the realistic-looking pinwheels appear as if they could start whirling in the breeze at any moment.

Skill Level:  Beginner Friendly

Skills Learned:  3-D Pinwheel Block, Traditional Pinwheel Block

Finished Size: 58” (1.48m) Square

Fabric Requirements: Note:  In this diagram fabrics have been replaced with solid colors for easy identification.

Pinwheels:
Purple:  1/4 Yd. (.23m) Fabric A
Pink: 1/4 Yd. (.23m) Fabric B
Orange: 1/4 Yd. (.23m) Fabric C
Yellow: 3/8 Yd. (.34m) Fabric D
Green: 1/4 Yd. (.23m) Fabric E
Blue:  3/8 Yd. (.34m) Fabric F

Background Fabrics:
Cream: 1 1/8 Yd. (1.03m) Fabric G
Mint: 1 Yd. (.91m) Fabric H

Borders:
Tan: 1/2 Yd. (.46m) Fabric I
Blue: 1 Yd. (.91m) Fabric J

Additional Fabrics:
Binding:  1/2 Yd. (.46m)
Backing: 3 3/4 Yds. (3.43m) (Includes 4” overhang for quilting.)

Get the look using Vintage Summer by Leslie Trimbach!

Pinwheels:

Flip Flops - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4641-30 (Fabric A, represented by Purple in the diagram above)

Beach Motifs - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4643-33 (Fabric B, represented by Pink in the diagram above)

Popsicles - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4642-41  (Fabric C, represented by Orange in the diagram above)

Beachballs - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4638-41  (Fabric D, represented by Yellow in the diagram above)

Watermelon - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4639-60 (Fabric E, represented by Green in the diagram above)

Fruits & Hibiscus - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4640-70 (Fabric F, represented by Blue in the diagram above)

Background Fabrics:

Peppered Cottons (Oyster)* - SKU: E-PEPPR-E-35-SOL (Fabric G, represented by Cream in the diagram above)

Scenic Beach - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4637-41 (Fabric H, represented by Mint in the diagram above)

Borders:

Water Texture (Tan) - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4645-32 (Represented by Tan in the diagram above)

Water Texture (Slate) - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4645-70 (Represented by Light Blue in the diagram above)

Binding: 

Bias Stripe - SKU: VINTAGESUMME-B-4644-70 (Represented by Navy Blue in the diagram above)

*The Peppered Cottons fabric used as a background is a basic available from Studio E Fabrics and is not a part of the Vintage Summer collection designed by Leslie Trimbach.

Additional Supplies:
Thread
Sewing Pins or Sewing Clips
Rotary Cutter
Quilters Ruler
Cutting Surface, such as a self-healing mat
Sewing Machine with standard sewing foot (or walking foot)
Iron and Ironing Surface, such as an ironing board or wool pressing mat
Seam Ripper   *With luck you won’t need it*

Before you begin:
I highly recommend reading the instructions completely, before starting your project.

Seam Allowance:  1/4” seam allowance is used at all times, unless otherwise noted.

Abbreviations:
Sq.  = Square
RST = Right Sides Together
HST = Half Square Triangle

Tip!  Always backstitch every time you start or stop sewing, especially at corners.  This will improve the integrity and strength of your project.

Step 1:  Gather fabrics, additional supplies

Step 2:   Pre-wash (optional) and iron your fabrics

Washing:  Whether or not you prewash your fabrics won’t necessarily change the outcome of your project, however I choose to always pre-wash fabrics for 3 reasons.

To identify any possible color bleeding, to handle any possible shrinkage ahead of time, and to eliminate the manufacturer’s creases.

Tip!  A Color Catcher will help save your fabrics if any bleeding does occur.

Ironing:  Always Iron your fabrics prior to beginning.  Eliminating creases in the fabric will improve cutting and piecing accuracy.

Step 3:  Cut Fabrics 

From each fabric, cut the following:

Pinwheels:

Fabric A:
(4) 4 7/8” Sq.
(4) 3” Sq.

Fabric B:
(6) 4 7/8” Sq.
(4) 3” Sq.

Fabric C:
(4) 4 7/8” Sq.
(4) 3” Sq.

Fabric D:
(6) 4 7/8” Sq.
(8) 3” Sq.

Fabric E:
(6) 4 7/8” Sq.
(4) 3” Sq.

Fabric F:
(6) 4 7/8” Sq.
(12) 3” Sq.

Background Fabrics:

Fabric G:
(32) 4 7/8” Sq.
(36) 3” Sq.

Fabric H:
(24) 5 ½” x 8 ½”  (For directional prints, cut 12 horizontally and 12 vertically as shown below.)

Borders: 

Fabric I:
(4) 24” x 2”
(4) 25 ½” x 2”

Fabric J:
(4) 25 ½” x 4 ½”
(4) 29 ½” x 4 ½”

Additional Fabrics:

Binding:
(7) 2 ½” x WOF

Backing:
(2) 66” x WOF

Step 4:  Creating Traditional Pinwheels

Marking Squares:  Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of all (32) 4 7/8” Fabric G background squares.

Sewing:  Place (1) 4 7/8” Fabric G square, RST, with (1) 4 7/8” Pinwheel square (Fabrics A-F).

Sew ¼” away from both sides of the marked line

Cut and Press:  Cut along the marked line, press seams open.

Trimming:  Trim the HST to 4 ½”.   You now have finished 2 HST units.  (Before and after trimming shown)

Tip!  For perfect trimming, align the diagonal seam with the 45° marking on your ruler.  Before trimming, ensure that the block extends past 0” vertically and horizontally, and extends past the 4 ½” measurements vertically and horizontally.  Once confirmed, then trim any excess from the two exposed edges.  After trimming the first two edges, reposition your block so that the two trimmed sides are lined up precisely at the 4 ½” measurements (horizontally and vertically) and confirm the block is still aligned with the 45° marking, then trim the remaining two exposed edges.

Repeat this process using all (32) 4 7/8” Pinwheel squares (Fabrics A-F), and all (32) 4 7/8 Fabric G squares.

You will now have:
8 HST with Fabric A
12 HST with Fabric B
8 HST with Fabric C
12 HST with Fabric D
12 HST with Fabric E
12 HST with Fabric F

Sewing and Pressing:  Using 4 matching HST units; sew HST units, RST, into pairs as shown.  Press seams away from the background fabric.

Using the 2 HST pairs; place RST, nesting seams, and sew into a completed block as shown.

Pressing:  Spin the seam to prevent excess bulk in the block’s center.

Tip!  When joining block sections and two seams are nested, the resulting new seam will naturally want to fall in two different directions  (the direction in which the two original seams were pressed).  To accommodate these natural pressing directions, you may need to unpick a stitch or two from the first two seams allowances (the two seams that were nested).  Once those stitches are removed, the fabrics can separate as needed to be pressed in opposite directions.   

Repeat this process, using all 64 HST units to make the following (16) Pinwheel blocks.
(Pinwheel blocks should measure 8 ½’ x 8 ½’)
2 Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric A
3 Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric B
2 Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric C
3 Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric D
3 Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric E
3 Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric F

Step 5:  Creating 3-D Pinwheels

Pressing:  Fold all 3” Pinwheel square pieces (Fabrics A-F) in half, diagonally, wrong sides together.  Press to set the fold.  (Before and after folding and pressing shown.)

Sewing:  Align (1) folded Pinwheel triangle piece in the bottom right corner of (1) 3” Fabric G square with it’s right side facing up.

Stitch close to the edge along the right side of the unit to secure in place.

Fold the loose left-corner of the Pinwheel triangle towards the right side of the unit, as shown.  Stitch close to the bottom edge of the unit to secure Pinwheel in place.  This is a partial 3-D Pinwheel unit, one of four needed per 3-D Pinwheel block.

Repeat this process using all (36) 3” Pinwheel pieces  (Fabrics A-F) and (36) 3” Fabric G squares to make the following partial 3-D Pinwheel units:
4 partial 3-D Pinwheel units with Fabric A
4 partial 3-D Pinwheel units with Fabric B
4 partial 3-D Pinwheel units with Fabric C
8 partial 3-D Pinwheel units with Fabric D
4 partial 3-D Pinwheel units with Fabric E
12 partial 3-D Pinwheel units with Fabric F

Using 4 matching partial 3-D Pinwheel units; sew units RST into pairs as shown.  Press seam toward the side with the long edge of the pinwheel.

Using the (2) 3-D Pinwheel pairs; place RST, nesting seams, and sew into a completed block as shown.

Pressing:  When pressing the seam, spin the seam to prevent excess bulk in the block’s center.

Tip!  After pressing a bulky seam, place something heavy on top of the seam as it cools.  This will help ensure the seam stays nice and flat!

Repeat this process, using all 36 partial 3-D Pinwheel units to make the following 3-D Pinwheel blocks.
(3-D Pinwheel Blocks should measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”)
(1) 3-D Pinwheel Block with Fabric A
(1)  3-D Pinwheel Block with Fabric B
(1)  3-D Pinwheel Block with Fabric C
(2)  3-D Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric D
(1)  3-D Pinwheel Block with Fabric E
(3)  3-D Pinwheel Blocks with Fabric F

Step 6:  Assemble The Quilt Top

Sewing Rows:  Using all (24) 5 ½” x 8 ½” Fabric H pieces, (16) 8 ½” square Pinwheel blocks and (9) 5 ½” square 3-D Pinwheel blocks, combine blocks into rows by sewing RST and pressing towards the Fabric H pieces.  Refer to the diagram below for block placement.

Joining Rows:  Sew rows into pairs, RST and nesting seams where applicable.  Press towards the row without 3-D pinwheel blocks.
Row 1 + Row 2
Row 3 + Row 4
Row 5 + Row 6
Row 7 will be left alone for now.

Sew row pairs, RST and nesting seams where applicable, to create two halves of the quilt top.  Press towards the row without 3-D pinwheel blocks.
Row 1/2 + Row 3/4
Row 5/6 + Row 7

Sew the quilt top halves, RST and nesting seams where possible, to create the quilt top.  Press towards the row without 3-D Pinwheel blocks.

Rows 1/2/3/4 + Rows 5/6/7.

Step 7:  Adding Borders

Sewing and Pressing:  Each border unit is made from (2) pieces which need to be sewn together before being added to the quit top.  Join the following border pieces by sewing the short ends together and pressing seams open.

Fabric I:
Sew (2) 24” x 2” pieces, RST, press seam open.  Repeat a second time. (Border 1 - Sides)
Sew (2) 25 ½” x 2” pieces, RST, press seam open.  Repeat a second time.  (Border 1 - Top and Bottom)

Fabric J:
Sew (2) 25 ½” x 4 ½” pieces, RST, press seam open.  Repeat a second time.  (Border 2 - Sides)
Sew (2) 29 ½” x 4 ½” pieces, RST, press seam open.  Repeat a second time.  (Border 2 - Top and Bottom)

Sew Border 1 Sides RST to the right and left sides of quit top.  Press towards Border 1.

Sew Border 1 Top and Bottom to the Quilt top.  Press towards Border 1.

Sew Border 2 Sides to the right and left sides of the quilt top.  Press towards Border 2.

Sew Border 2 Top and Bottom to the quilt top.  Press toward Border 2.

Step 8:  Finishing

Sandwich the finished quilt top with batting and backing fabric, using your preferred basting method.

Quilt and bind as desired.

A Note About Quilting:  Avoid quilting over the 3-D Pinwheels as in doing so you will eliminate the 3-D effect.

Congratulations!  Your Playing with Pinwheels Quilt is Complete!

Washing and Care Instructions: 

Machine wash sparingly, using the Gentle Cycle and cold water.  Tumble dry on low heat, press with a warm iron if desired.

Fabric Details:

To view the complete The Blank Quilting Corp. Vintage Summer by Leslie Trimbach & more click here.

Learn more about Amy here.