Okay so this is my first attempt ( well honestly second..first time didn't go great ) at making a Pinwheel block...No matter what I do I can't seem to get my points in the center to line up exactly. I'm using as accurate of a 1/4 inch seam as I humanly possibly can, so I don't think it is that...any other suggestions?

My sister pins them at the place where they meet and they go much better.

Can you post a picture?
Sometimes as we sew the very last few stitches, the fabric tends to veer to one side. Could that be it?

I also glue baste my intersections, for me, pinning sometimes distorts the seams and I get better results this way.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29275-1.htm

http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/pinwheel.htm

This website helped my pinwheels along. The top is now done and looks pretty good. I just can't seem to get to quilting it.

If you sew from the middle out, then middle out again it will help. Kind of a pain to do, but it works.

Make sure that when you are sewing the first two blocks together they are a good match. Other wise when you sew them into the units you are showing, the centers will be off. :wink:

I stick a pin through both points, lining them up together, then I pin on both sides of the points. By doing this I end up with perfect points about 98% of the time. (The other 2% is operator error, lol.)

I pin, pin, pin. That way you know your seems and points will come together. After you have your squares done then you square them up before you go on.

HST are tricky to get perfect. What helped me the most was having the dog ears cut off before I sewed the triangles together. If one block is off the whole pinwheel will be off.

What are your measurements for cutting as well? as your points on the side are not where they are supposed to be either.

When you finish the two halves of the block, then you need to press your center seams. One side going one way and then the other side in the opposite direction, then there are opposing seams that nestle together when you place them together to sew them. This makes sewing them much easier. Put the seam on top that will push the other one into the seam line. The one seam is pushed into the other while sewing and it is almost fool-proof.

Great advice!

This is all great advice thank you....Maybe it has something to do with the way I am cutting it, I am simply cutting it corner to corner....

I read somewhere a forked pin was good for were seams meet. it pins in on both sides of seam/lump. I think it was in the new issue of BH&G quilting magazine.

Good luck,

I'm galloping by on that horse...looks great! Actually, I'm glad you posted. I love the look of pinwheels, but haven't used them yet. They look simple, but I guess that's decieving. Isn't that always the way with quilts? I'll be following this thread for all the suggestions. Best of luck with your quilt and can't wait to see it all done.

I just went back and noticed that you put them together a bit off, it is a double pinwheel that you did and the two that make up the other half is all over the place, one side is the same and the other is all over the place.

I never thought of doing them that way, but it makes sense. I'm going to try that.

I'm sorry, but I looked at the pic and can't really see such a big problem. If you try reducing the bulk in the center by changing the way you press, they will lay so much flatter and I think you'll be happy about them. I mean, they aren't even 1/16th off- or am I missing something?

They always say practice practice practice

i agree with red nestle works great

I had problems also with points. I use a brass stelleto now and hold the points until they go under the needle and have no more problems.

That happened to me and I put buttons over the ones that were really bad.

Thanks Loretta...thank goodness I have lots of colorful buttons :) I don't think I am doing horrible at my first try, but to be honest I am so jealous of how brilliant you all are, I feel like my blocks are poop! It's supose to be an easy starters block, so I can't figure out why none of it is turning up perfect.

you can sew 1/2 of the block and press seams to one side, then make the other half and press to side. then place together and pin on either side of the center seam and sew. press the center seam open if necessary.
or you could press all seams open and sew 1/2 and the other. either way the center seam should be perfect. just takes a bit of practice. good luck.

I sometimes have problems too.

I'm not certain but i think your 1/4 triagles need to go in the same pattern to make your pinwheel look right.

I've only done one pinwheel quilt but I found if I put my blocks togethr left 1/2 to right 1/2 instead of top 1/2 and bottom 1/2 they lined up much better. Don't understand why but that's how it worked for me.
I'm usually not a pinner but found that I had to with pinwheels. I pinned each seam, both sides where they met, and then just a hair to the left of the seam.
Hope this helps.

Lots of great info. Thanks everyone. :thumbup:

I place one pin staight in (at 90 degrees) through both blocks at the exact place of the points. Keep that pin at that 90 degree angle - don't make the 2nd entry into the fabric. Then I place one pin on either side of the first pin - very close to the first pin. Those two pins are inserted perpendicular to the fabric, coming in at a very flat angle - insert completely. Then I remove that first pin. If you insert a pin at a 90 angle, then flatten/tip it to make the 2nd stick, you immediately shift that top fabric, and your points will not line up. Hope can follow this verbal-picture.

I place one pin staight in (at 90 degrees) through both blocks at the exact place of the points. Keep that pin at that 90 degree angle - don't make the 2nd entry into the fabric. Then I place one pin on either side of the first pin - very close to the first pin. Those two pins are inserted perpendicular to the fabric, coming in at a very flat angle - insert completely. Then I remove that first pin. If you insert a pin at a 90 angle, then flatten/tip it to make the 2nd stick, you immediately shift that top fabric, and your points will not line up. Hope can follow this verbal-picture.

Personally I think your blocks look great.Relax! but that's just me :-)

I don't think they look all that bad. Keep trying.

Love your attitude. And a very interesting detail, I'm sure.

I had the same problem and found it was somewhat better when I bought very fine pins. I stuck a pin straight down (not on an angle) through one fabric's ideal spot and then straight down through the other one. Then carefully bring the pin up to secure it. This kept the pieces from shifting.

Also, I'd use a very long basting stitch to sew about a two-inch seam at the center (i.e., not all the way across the block) ...checked it out and if okay, sewed the whole seam with a regular length stitch. After a while it seemed to get easier and I could even omit the basting...

Good luck with this! So far it has been my biggest challenge.

I Do my seams that way and it is almost foolproof. That is, I press the seams in oppisite directions and then fit them together as I sew.

I know people talk about pressing to the 'dark side' in most cases but I've found when trying to match points, pressing 'open' works best for me. I get almost perfect points that way!

I know people talk about pressing to the 'dark side' in most cases but I've found when trying to match points, pressing 'open' works best for me. I get almost perfect points that way!

It's possible to I wasn't leaving 1/4 inch of fabric at the ends to help make the points, I was trimming down the fabric before sewing it together, then trying to line the seams up.

I like your blocks!!