disappearing pinwheel

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt – free tutorials

Free pattern: Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt

This sampler has 12 blocks in it, all of them made from a pinwheel block cut into a 9-patch block an rearranged to obtain 11 different blocks. More variations are possible.

Quilt size

56 inches x 42 inches

Block size

The block is 10 1/4 inch square.

How to make a disappearing pinwheel block

Learn how to make a disappearing pinwheel block and its many variations in less than 2 minutes:

Materials for one disappearing pinwheel block

  • Two 9 3/8 inch squares in contrasting fabrics

Notes

The initial 4 half square triangles (HST) obtained need to be trimmed to 6 inch squares.

Block tutorials

Make 12 blocks:

Block 1 - Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 1

Block 2 - Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 2

Block 3 - Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 3

Block 4: Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 4

Block 5: Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 5

Block 6: Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 6

Disappearing pinwheel variation 7 - video tutorial

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 7

Block 8: Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 8

Block 9: Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 9

Block 10: Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 10

Block 11: Disappearing pinwheel quilt sampler

Disappearing pinwheel block – variation 11 – make 2 blocks in different colours.

Finish the blocks

Add a border to each block.

For each block cut in white fabric:

  • 2 strips 10 1/4 x 2 1/2 inch
  • 2 strips 14 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch

And sew as shown on the picture below.

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt - free pattern

Free motion quilting

Each block is quilted individually with free motion quilting.

Learn how to do free motion quilting tutorial in just over 2 minutes:

How to do Quilt-as-you-go (QAYG)

This quilt is put together with quilt-as-you-go (QAYG).

The finished sashing width for this project is 1/2 inch. Learn the  technique in under 3 minutes:

Materials

For the one block sandwich

  • A piece of backing fabric the same size as the block  (I used half square triangles for some blocks to make a star)
  • A piece of batting 1 inch larger than the block
  • One finished block

For the sashing

  • One strip of sashing fabric 1 1/8 inch x the length of the block side
  • 1 strip of sashing fabric 1 3/4 inch x the length of the block side

Flange binding

The binding length is 170 inches.

The quilt is finished with machine binding and a flange.

This is how you add faux piping to your quilt:

Machine binding

And finally, sew the binding by machine.

Learn in 3 minute how to sew the binding to the quilt:

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt - free pattern

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt - free pattern

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt - free pattern

Disappearing pinwheel sampler quilt - free pattern

26 comments

  1. Accidently found this site and I just love it. So much information for us beginners! Thanks, keep up the good work.

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  2. I stumbled across your site last night, and as soon as I could I’ve started making this amazing looking quilt. However I’m stuck. Your pinwheel before you cut it looks to be 12″ and then you cut it at 4″. However, my 6″ squares only sewed together to make a 11.5″ pinwheel block. I’m going to try 2 things – remaking the pinwheel with 6 1/4″ squares, and trying to figure out how to cut my 11.5″ block into three even pieces.

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    1. Hi Megan, you have to bear in mind that with this type of slicing technique the measurements may be a bit imprecise. The best way to make this disappearing pinwheel is not to focus too much on the final size but to (1) make sure all half square triangles are the same size, (2) when they’re the same size, sew them into a pinwheel (3) divide the sides of the pinwheel int0 3 equal parts on both directions and (4) trim all 9 pieces to the same size again and sew together

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  3. I love watching your tutorials but I do best with written instructions. Are your books for sale and how would I get the books especially the 9 patch made into different shapes. 4 patch. Jan Schiltz

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  4. Your piece cutting instructions have really made a difference in my fascination with top making. Its so much easier to do a top with minimal sewing of small pieces I think you have taught me the most when it comes to top making. I would say quilt making but I rarely make a quilt with the tops. imagine the stack of finished tops I have, they sit on the couch my husband just shakes his head when he looks at the stack, LOL

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