Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

How To Make A Perfect Pinwheel Block

IMG_1721

The quilt I have been working on recently has a lot of pinwheel blocks.  (And yes, I did fix that one that was turned wrong).  A friend reminded me that when I made a pinwheel quilt about six years ago I announced that I would never make another pinwheel block in my life.  I thought they were fussy and fiddly and I must have unsewed half of the ones I made.  What happened to change my mind?

I got a tip that was a complete game changer for me as far as pinwheel blocks are concerned.

I took a class with Carrie Nelson (Moda Rosie, Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, LaVie en Rosie) and learned from her how to make a perfect, flat pinwheel.  A few people commented that they didn't have good luck with pinwheel blocks, so I just have to share what Carrie taught me.  It only takes seconds and makes all the difference.

IMG_1714

First, arrange your half square triangles in the correct pinwheel pattern for your project.

IMG_1715

Sew the top two units together.  Sew the bottom two units together.

IMG_1716

RIght sides together, place a pin at the exact point where the four half square triangles intersect.  Get that pin right on the point on both the top and bottom sections.  Sew the two sections together, carefully removing the pin as you get to it.

So, here is the secret:

IMG_1717

See where my seam ripper is aimed?  Remove those three or four little stitches that are at the top of the vertical seam leading up to the raw edge.  Insert your seam ripper and gently tug them out.  They come out easily.

IMG_1718

Now flip the block over and do the exact same thing on the other side.  Obviously, be careful and don't remove any stitches below that horizontal seam line.

IMG_1719

Fiddle with the seam with your fingers, pressing the seams in opposing directions.  Look what happens!  The center seams flop apart and form a mini pinwheel.  

The significance of this, is that now your pinwheel block center is going to lie as flat as a pancake and all your points will come together perfectly.

IMG_1720

Trust me, this took five times longer to describe than to actually do it.  If you haven't heard of this method for pinwheel blocks, give it a try.  I think you will be pleased with the results.

45 responses to “How To Make A Perfect Pinwheel Block”

  1. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I twirl my seams on four patches … So why not with pinwheels? Thanks for sharing this!

  2. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I twirl my seams on four patches … So why not with pinwheels? Thanks for sharing this!

  3. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I twirl my seams on four patches … So why not with pinwheels? Thanks for sharing this!

  7. I usually do this and always regret it when I don’t. Good tip.
    Am cleaning out/clearing out my wee sewing room. Send for the guys in the little white coats, please.
    Hugs!

  8. I usually do this and always regret it when I don’t. Good tip.
    Am cleaning out/clearing out my wee sewing room. Send for the guys in the little white coats, please.
    Hugs!

  9. I usually do this and always regret it when I don’t. Good tip.
    Am cleaning out/clearing out my wee sewing room. Send for the guys in the little white coats, please.
    Hugs!

  13. Oh…thanks for the tip and will try it out. It does look easy and always looking for things to perfect my blocks…especially pinwheels. Thanks

  14. Oh…thanks for the tip and will try it out. It does look easy and always looking for things to perfect my blocks…especially pinwheels. Thanks

  15. Oh…thanks for the tip and will try it out. It does look easy and always looking for things to perfect my blocks…especially pinwheels. Thanks

  16. Thanks to you & to Carrie for showing us that trick! That method makes pinwheels & a lot of other blocks turn out nice & flat!! I like to add a fork pin (thanks to you for that tip a few years ago!) to hold the intersection securely when joining the four HST’s.

  17. Thanks to you & to Carrie for showing us that trick! That method makes pinwheels & a lot of other blocks turn out nice & flat!! I like to add a fork pin (thanks to you for that tip a few years ago!) to hold the intersection securely when joining the four HST’s.

  18. Thanks to you & to Carrie for showing us that trick! That method makes pinwheels & a lot of other blocks turn out nice & flat!! I like to add a fork pin (thanks to you for that tip a few years ago!) to hold the intersection securely when joining the four HST’s.

  22. Thanks for this great tip, Nicole. I just bought a fat quarter bundle of Mimosa and have been thinking of using it for pinwheel blocks, but I decided they were to fiddly. Your tip has changed my mind.

  23. Thanks for this great tip, Nicole. I just bought a fat quarter bundle of Mimosa and have been thinking of using it for pinwheel blocks, but I decided they were to fiddly. Your tip has changed my mind.

  24. Thanks for this great tip, Nicole. I just bought a fat quarter bundle of Mimosa and have been thinking of using it for pinwheel blocks, but I decided they were to fiddly. Your tip has changed my mind.

  28. Thanks for sharing this. I’ve seen it done but could never quite get it. Your visual really helps 🙂

  29. Thanks for sharing this. I’ve seen it done but could never quite get it. Your visual really helps 🙂

  30. Thanks for sharing this. I’ve seen it done but could never quite get it. Your visual really helps 🙂

  31. This is a pretty foolproof technique. I find that usually I don’t even need to “pop” those few stitches. They generally will come out as I twirl that center.

  32. This is a pretty foolproof technique. I find that usually I don’t even need to “pop” those few stitches. They generally will come out as I twirl that center.

  33. This is a pretty foolproof technique. I find that usually I don’t even need to “pop” those few stitches. They generally will come out as I twirl that center.

  34. LOL I’m a genius.
    :::coughing fit:::
    I don’t remember where I learned this but it comes from hand-piecing. Go figure.
    The one thing to add is that it doesn’t matter which direction the seams are pointing – toward the needle or away from it – as the units are assembled, so long as they are all going the same direction. That way, they all turn out with seams going in the same direction.
    I’m loving your quilt – it’s gorgeous.

  35. LOL I’m a genius.
    :::coughing fit:::
    I don’t remember where I learned this but it comes from hand-piecing. Go figure.
    The one thing to add is that it doesn’t matter which direction the seams are pointing – toward the needle or away from it – as the units are assembled, so long as they are all going the same direction. That way, they all turn out with seams going in the same direction.
    I’m loving your quilt – it’s gorgeous.

  36. LOL I’m a genius.
    :::coughing fit:::
    I don’t remember where I learned this but it comes from hand-piecing. Go figure.
    The one thing to add is that it doesn’t matter which direction the seams are pointing – toward the needle or away from it – as the units are assembled, so long as they are all going the same direction. That way, they all turn out with seams going in the same direction.
    I’m loving your quilt – it’s gorgeous.

  37. i’m a coward. i saw carrie post this a long time ago and i thought she was crazy. ;p like a said, i’m a coward! ;p

  38. i’m a coward. i saw carrie post this a long time ago and i thought she was crazy. ;p like a said, i’m a coward! ;p

  39. i’m a coward. i saw carrie post this a long time ago and i thought she was crazy. ;p like a said, i’m a coward! ;p

  40. Thank you for sharing this great tutorial! I am definitely going to try this. HUGS… and stitches

  41. Thank you for sharing this great tutorial! I am definitely going to try this. HUGS… and stitches

  42. Thank you for sharing this great tutorial! I am definitely going to try this. HUGS… and stitches