pinwheel plus

Designed and pieced by Cheryl Brickey and quilted by Johellen George

The plus signs intertwine with pinwheel shapes for a fun lap quilt.

Materials

Yardages are based on fabric that is 40˝ wide.

White: 3⅛ yards

Pink prints: 6 fat quarters (18˝ × 20˝)

Gray: ⅞ yard

Binding: ⅝ yard

Batting: 69˝ × 66˝

Backing: 3⅞ yards

You can use a larger number of pink fabrics for a scrappier-looking quilt.

Cutting

WHITE

Cut 7 strips 3⅞˝ × width of fabric (WOF).

Subcut into 72 squares 3⅞˝ × 3⅞˝; each strip yields 11 squares.

Cut 25 strips 3˝ × WOF.

Subcut 1 strip into 2 rectangles 3˝ × 20˝.

Subcut 3 strips into 12 rectangles 3˝ × 8˝; each strip yields 5 rectangles.

Subcut 5 strips into 33 rectangles 3˝ × 5½˝; each strip yields 7 rectangles.

Subcut 10 strips into 126 squares 3˝ × 3˝; each strip yields 13 squares.

PINK PRINTS

Cut each fat quarter into

3 rectangles 3˝ × 8˝ and 6 squares

3˝ × 3˝ for a total of 18 rectangles

3˝ × 8˝ and 36 squares 3˝ × 3˝.

GRAY

Cut 7 strips 3⅞˝ × WOF.

Subcut into 72 squares 3⅞˝ × 3⅞˝; each strip yields 11 squares.

BINDING

Cut 7 strips 2½˝ × WOF.

Fabric: Assorted pink prints and Cotton Couture by Michael Miller Fabrics in Coin and Bright White

instructions

Seam allowances are a scant ¼˝ unless otherwise noted. Press all seams open unless otherwise noted.

Plus Blocks

1. Sew 2 white 3˝ squares to a pink square. Repeat to make 2 units.

2. Sew 1 pink rectangle and 2 units from Step 1 together to make a Plus block measuring 8˝ × 8˝. Repeat to make a total of 18 Plus blocks.

Plus block

Use matching pink fabrics within each Plus block.

Half-Square Triangles

Sew 72 gray and 72 white 3⅞˝ squares into 144 half-square triangles measuring 3˝ × 3˝ using the directions in Making Half-Square Triangles.

Partial Pinwheel Blocks

Be sure to double-check the orientation of the half-square triangles before sewing.

1. Sew 1 white 3˝ × 5½˝ rectangle, 1 half-square triangle, and 1 white 3˝ square together to make 1 A unit.

A unit

2. Sew together 3 half-square triangles and 1 white 3˝ square to make 1 B unit. Repeat to make 2 B units.

B unit

3. Sew together 1 A unit and 2 B units to make a partial Pinwheel block measuring 8˝ × 10½˝. Repeat to make 18 partial Pinwheel blocks.

Partial Pinwheel block

The bottom B unit is rotated 180° relative to the top B unit.

Quilt Top Assembly

1. Sew together 5 white 3˝ × 5½˝ rectangles, 6 half-square triangles, and 2 white 3˝ × 8˝ rectangles to make a sashing row measuring 3˝ × 55½˝. Repeat to make 3 sashing rows.

Sashing row

2. Sew together 1 white 3˝ × 8˝ rectangle, 3 Plus blocks, and 3 partial Pinwheel blocks to make a block row measuring 8˝ × 55½˝. Repeat to make 6 block rows.

Block row

3. Arrange and rotate the 6 block rows and 3 sashing rows according to the quilt top assembly diagram.

4. Sew the block rows and sashing rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 55½˝ × 52½˝ before the borders are added.

Borders

1. Sew 1 white 3˝ × WOF strip and 1 white 3˝ × 20˝ rectangle together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 pieced side strips.

2. Measure the average height of the quilt top, and trim the 2 pieced side strips to fit (approximately 52½˝). Attach the side borders to the quilt top.

3. Sew 2 white 3˝ × WOF strips together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 pieced top/bottom strips.

4. Measure the average width of the quilt top, and trim the 2 top/bottom strips to fit (approximately 60½˝). Attach the top and bottom borders to the quilt top.

Finishing

Refer to Finishing Your Quilt as needed.

1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 69˝ × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 69˝ × 66˝.

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Pinwheel Plus was quilted in a double looping pattern.

Quilt top assembly