It's Day 2 of the Winter's Walk Quilt-Along and today we're making Pinwheel Blocks!
Day 2: Pinwheel Blocks
As we did with our half-square triangles on Day 1, we'll make the split quarter-square triangles a little big and then trim them down to size. To do so, you'll need your trusty ruler with the 45° line again. Align the 45° line with the unit's longer diagonal seam. We're trimming the split QSTs to measure 2" square, so make sure that the 1" lines of the ruler intersect at the center of the unit, namely the intersection of the two diagonal seams.
Here's the link to today's pattern sheet.
Trim the right and top sides of the split QST, then turn the split QST 180°, realign the ruler as described above and trim the remaining two sides of the split QST.
Once you've trimmed all of your split QSTs it's time to sew them into pinwheel blocks. The concern with pinwheel blocks is the bulk that results from all of the seam allowances converging in the center of the block. The best way to reduce the bulk is to press all of the seam allowances in the same direction around the block. Easy enough to do for your first two seams, but a little trickier when sewing the rows together with the final seam. After sewing the last seam, you'll need to remove a couple of stitches from within the seam allowance on both sides of the block where indicated below by the point of the seam ripper.
Next open the block up, lay it on its right side and gently press on the center to open up the seam allowances. What you're looking for is a mini pinwheel in the center of the seam allowances as shown below. Once the little pinwheel is visible, you can press all of the seam allowances in the same direction, in this case clockwise. Press well and then step back and admire your work!
That's it for today! Have fun making your pinwheel blocks and I'll see you back here Friday for Day 3!
—jen
