I would like to try. New on here but, this sounds fun. I have never done a pinwheel. May need help along the way.

Thanks..Sounds like something I would like to do.
Dottie

sounds like fun. I will try to join you

I might try the Pinwheels also using my stash.

I love pin wheels

Where did you get the pattern for the "elephant pinwheel" I would love to make one.

Count me in, I need something to get me going. It would be good to have something to work on.

Count me in!

Woo! I've got a couple Moda "Pure" Charmpacks that I would pair with something else from my stash. Woo!

got so many scraps need to do this too. NEED to . lol

I think I'd like to do this, too. Now I need to brush up by watching the video tute.

I'm going to give it a try!

Sounds like a fun idea. I want to do it! Maybe this will get me started on sewing again. I just can't seem to work up the energy lately. Are you going to post every now and then and cheer every one on? It would be fun hearing about the progress being made. Even more fun to see pictures of all the quilts.

If I want 3.5" triangle blocks, what size square do I start with?

Thanks!

First time I have ever seen this technique. Thanks for posting it. I saved it and hope to give it a try.

WOW! That elephant pinwheel is so cool!!!

I love pinwheels! It will be a great change for our quilts for missions. Thanks, granky, for the awesome tutorial! I'm going to try that method.

I used to have a 3-D pinwheel pattern. Made them for baby quilts and they were so cute. I'll have to see if I can find it. Haven't seen it in years. It was an internet freebie so may still be floating around.

I checked out this tute--easy--I will join you in making pinwheel blocks. And use only my stash--no new material--so it will be scrappy!

What size will it be when we are finished ? So I know how much I need to buy ?

If you plan to use the sew around the edges technique then according to the link I posted on page 3 it says a 5" block will make a 3 1/2" triangle square. 4 triangle squares will then make a 6 1/2" unfinished pinwheel or a 6" finished pinwheel.
(3 1/2" + 3 1/2" - 1" = 6 inch finished)

Please remember I have not done this before so it might be a good idea to make a practice with scrap fabric.
HTH

Welcome to all of you!
I'm so glad you decided to join us.
:)

I hope everyone here keeps posting their progress or lack of it!
That's the motivation I need to keep me going sometimes!
:-D

I'm in...will use the blocks for our prayer quilt ministry at church. We normally make 45"x60". Getting fabric pulled today. Sounds fun.

The one I am thinking about doing will be about 63" x 72" not including any borders I might decide to do.
7 9" blocks across by 8 9" blocks down = 56 blocks
My pinwheels will be bold solid colors and the background a white on white.

You don't have to make it like mine! Do your own thing.
What quilt size do you like?
What block size do you like?
Are you using any scraps or all new bought fabric?

Lots of people would help if we knew more of what you would to make so let us know.
Give us some more info and we will help you plan.
(I actually do more planning than making!
:oops: )

The "magic number" for half-square triangles is 7/8". You simply add 7/8" to the required FINISHED SIZE of your half-square triangle unit.

So, for example, if you want a 4" (finished size) half-square triangle unit, you need to cut two squares that measure 4 and 7/8" each. For a 5 and 1/2" (finished size) half-square triangle unit, you need to cut squares that measure 6 and 3/8". Quite easy really!

I think I might try this. I actually made my first pinwheel last night and it turned out pretty good. I think I'll do scrappy maybe, or at least partly scrappy.

Is this an exchange or do we keep them ourselves? There is a chart for conversion to the squares you get before you put them together for pinwheels. http://www.moonlightquilters.org/tipHSTfav.htm
But it is a little off. So... I have been checking and making them to get corrrect dimensions. I have made several practise pinwheels. I love the fast method, sewing all around the edges of 2 blocks. So easy. It's just the converting to the right sizes is the hard part.

These three have been posted:
Check them out.

http://helenernst.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekYpJzHoW6E

http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltbl...heel_quilt.htm
This last does call for 4 7/8" blocks but I would use 5" blocks and trim them to 4 1/2" when done that step.

You are not limited to doing it this way if you know of another way that's fine.
:-D

Anyone have any examples of a nice scrapy pinwheel quilt? I've only seen those that use white. How scrappy can you get?

These are strictly for ourselves! No swapping.
It's mainly for encouragement to keep people working and get it done!
:-D
See the chart I posted a link to on page 3.
I have NOT made any yet so I hope to get one done soon mainly to check the chart.
A practice block is always recommended so you don't waste your good fabric!
:-D

I would like to buy charm packs. I already found some just need to know how many? My bed is queen size. I would appreciate the help.

I'd recommend doing a search (above) in the picture section for Pinwheel.
Lots of great pictures come up!
No, you don't have to do use any white!
I just have to avoid too much busy so i will be using white or maybe off white.

:-D

[quote=susiequilt]I agree with dorilou58. The cut down method makes my life so much easier. No stress. I also starch my fabric. Sometimes I only trim two edges of each 1/2 sq triangle and make sure whose are the edges I sew together. I press the block after putting four 1/2 sqs together then cut the whole thing to the correct size. Hope this idea helps those who are having a bit of trouble getting the correct size blocks.

If you find your 3-D pinwheel pattern can you post it? I'd love to do one. Thanks.
Count me in for the pinwheel blocks

Oh this is so funny, because I wanted to make one of these using some scraps for our camper bed. So I am in, but..I do not have enough scraps. So I will have to purchase some fabric to complete this project.

Whatever size you want it to be, I think.

Charms packs come in 5" size you would be doing the draw a line down the middle method.
you'd need two for each pinwheel and 2 for each background or 4 for each 9' finished block.

For a queen size I'd measure the top of the mattress and the drop from the top down both sides to however wide you want the quilt and top to bottom adding about 12" for under the pillows and how long you want it to do down the end of the bed. Beds are so different any more you should measure yours.

Anyway lets say you want it 82" x 90".
If you are making it with 9" blocks then you would need:
9 - 9" blocks across and 10 - 9" blocks down.
90 blocks total. Then you can add some borders to get it the size you want.
SO: 90 pinwheel blocks x 4 charm squares = 360 charms
180 for the wheel and 180 for the background
Figure out how many charms in a pack (I don't know) and divide into 180 to see how many packs of background and how many of pinwheel.
I hope this helps. Please ask more questions if needed.
:-D

I went and checked out Moda charm packs and they have 42 - 5" squares.
180 divided by 42 = 4.29 so 5 packs of background and 5 packs of pinwheel fabric.
You could use the leftover in a border maybe cut in half but that's a long way down the road.
If you were buying fabric and cutting it yourself I would recommend about 3 1/2 yd of each background and pinwheel and then do the sew around the block with 8" squares.
:-D

Just looked at that site. How easy is that.....Now to try and do it......I want to make a 12 in square so how big do I need to make each square for the pinwheel? Thanks for the site..... :) :thumbup:

I want to make a quilt to......How big do I make the blocks of each of the pinwheels to make a 12 inch block.......Need help, hope I wrote that right........thanks