Pinwheels - discouraged
 

I am not new to piecing or sewing. However, as many times as I practice HST to put into a pinwheel, I can never get them to meet exactly in the center. I have got the construction of HST down. (I oversize them and trim to desired size.) Everyone here is so helpful, I am turning to the QB for some advice or maybe a tutorial or directions.

I can only give moral support! I have done them before several years ago and had fun doing them, but I think it was just luck. So I am passing on good luck to you too!

Since you are making them oversize and trimming down, just be sure that your seams are centered in the corners of your HST's before you trim. Also be sure your seams are pressed so that they lock together when you get ready to sew them in pairs and also when the pairs are joined to make the pinwheels.

One other suggestion is to sew your first pair from the outer edge to the pinwheel center and butt the next pair up starting with the pinwheel center and sewing to the outer edge. Leave the two sets attached. When you line them up to sew the final seam, the thread will keep the center together as if they were pinned.

I hope this all makes sense! I'm sure your will get lots of other helpful hints as well.

Good luck!

When you trim them down, make sure that the seam is exactly in the corners of the patch, not just that the HST is the correct size. Also, make sure that the seams are all pressed the same way (i.e. all to the dark). When you match the first two hst, nest the seams to make sure that the first half of the unit is correct. If the seams from the 2 patches don't match up at this point, your pinwheel won't either. Press the seams from the 2 half units in opposite directions. when you pin the pinwheel together, use a pin straight up and down to match the points from the 2 half units. When you pin the units together to sew, make sure you aren't moving the fabric as you pin. Might be a good time to try a tiny drop of glue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O18wxk9BZk4 This video really helped me out when I made the pinwheels. Her method worked for me. Hugs! Debbie

I agree with laurlync. But there is a lot of bulk in that center and that might be where you are having problem. If you can't get the fabric to lay flat, it will be distorted. Eleanor Burns had a method for getting those centers to lay flat. No expert on the internet but I would go to her web page and search for pinwheels. She undoes a few stitches and the center does lay much flatter. Pinwheels are NOT my favorite block either !! :)

I have the same issue and I have decided that I do not like pinwheels...I am not in love with the looks of them so I am going to finish my table runner and be done with them.

Ditto what she said. She undoes those stitches and smushes til they just kind of fall into the perfect point.

Ditto to all of the above, and then: When I need to match up points I put a pin through the intersection of the point of each block to make sure they are in the same place. Then, holding the block together with this pin sticking through it, I pin the rest of the seam. This usually works for me.

I've also read a lot on this board about folks using Elmer's washable school glue to match up seams before sewing.

I'll tell you what has worked best for me: I was making HST out of 5" charm pack and I was going to make a lot of them. I knew that my finished size was going to be 4". I went to a glass shop and had them cut me a 4" square out of plexiglass. When I got it home, I took a Sharpie and drew a line diagonally corner to corner on the back. I then put on InvisiGrip to keep it from slipping and to keep from wearing the Sharpie line off. I placed the plexiglass template on each HST, lining up the drawn line to the seam line. I then trimmed the squares; sometimes I had to trim a little off each side, sometimes a little off one side only. When I put the squares together to make my blocks, the centers came out perfect. I have since gone back to the glass shop and had several different sizes made to trim up different size HST. My shop charged a couple of bucks for each. Just make sure you take a ruler or tape measure to measure the plexiglass templates before you leave the shop so you know they are the right size when you get home.

MSQC has a tutorial about making pinwheels. I think it is slick and works well.

I, too, make my HST's oversize and then trim. I use the 45 deg. line on my ruler on the seam line of the block and then measure/trim. I also press my seams open which I find helps tremendously lining up the centers.

What she said.. sew from center of Pinwheel to end and make sure they nest..

I am working on a pinwheel quilt now. I do it like Jenny from the MQSC. Using two 10" squares, sew 1/4" seam all around, cut on diagonal both ways, arrange into a pinwheel and sew together in a row. Do one block at a time. Makes big pretty pinwheels. I have made smaller ones too.

Just remember with Jenny,s method you end up with bias edges.
Much better to draw an x and sew down both sides of lines, cut in half then on lines to get 8 HSTs.
Also the best investment I made was Quilt In A Days triangle sq up ruler. One cut to sq up.

My last quilt had 192 HST! I used the Elmer's glue to match my seams and have never had my seams/points match up so well. Takes a while, but well worth it. Want to try the E. Burns method for the center bulk, but I'm afraid my seams will come undone.

I have nothing to contribute except a BIG thanks for all the great info. Everyone is the best on this board, and I will use your tips when I do a quilt with HST's!

Use a Bloc-Loc ruler to trim down. It makes sure your diagonal is right on corners. Little pricey-but worth it if you like working with HST's.

I love makiing pinwheels. Not only do I iron the seams, lock them, I also pin them on the sewing line. Then you have every based covered and you can do nothing less than a home run!!!!!! You could also do larger blocks like 12-16-18" blocks and work downward as you get better. I love the 12" blocks, have them pretty much, not perfect by any means, but pretty much locked in and after a few more quilts my next objective will be the Farmer's Wife quilt. I believe those are 6" blocks, lots of pinwheels. Edie

I have found that a washable glue stick works wonders. Just put the tiniest dab of the glue stick on the seam line where the seams meet, press down with you thumb or finger, and voila! it holds the fabric in place while you sew. I learned this trick from someone on the board. Thanks to the person that posted it.

Pinwheels were the first thing I learned when I began learning about quilting in earnest.

I figured out that some of that bulk in the center can be trimmed out as you go. When you've made the first HST's, trim out the dog ears and maybe a little more, Then when you make the second seam, sewing two HST's together, there is already less bulk in the center.
When I sew the last seam, I match up the seam lines from each HST and nest those seam allowances. If you pin that on both sides of the seam, they will hold. Then I start sewing from one end. When I'm about half way to the center, I take out the pins and take a little peak under to see if the diagonal seams from the HST's are nesting. The pieces can be moved a smidgeon at this point so that they are perfect. Then continue sewing, making sure the needle goes in right at the spot where the seams lines cross. If the seam allowance is covering that seam crossing, you can put a pin in to show you where it is. When it is finished, it's best to open that last seam to further reduce bulk.

I have enjoyed making pinwheels this way, and have made the Disappearing Pinwheel also. (Actually it is a Diminished Pinwheel, as it doesn't go away, it just gets smaller. LOL)

Thanks for sharing ... I'm going to have to try the glue method! I usually baste the center seam (like 2") to make sure the seam matches then sew the whole seam. That way if it doesn't match I only have to unpick a couple inches.

Careful cutting, pressing, and sewing....

Elmers R my bestest quilting friend.

Here's more than enough help to keep you busy for a while. <G> I hope these links are live, but if not, just copy and paste to your browser. I copied them from the actual site, so they are complete as written.

The last few are about using a grid, which may be your answer. You don't need to buy expensive gadgets or templates - it's so easy to make your own grid. Have fun!

From Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilt Company: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5_Y5aanFwM

From Quilt in a Day (Eleanor Burns): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekYpJzHoW6E

Pt. 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A3sIre7cg0

Pt. 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A3sIre7cg0

From Kay Wood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhI87BtR-M

From Nancy Ziemann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIN4IOKGvEo

From Penny Halgren: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpP7qMt-2AI (caveat: she's selling a ruler here)

From Janet Wickell at about.com: http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...uaretria_2.htm

http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...squaretria.htm

http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi..._squares_2.htm

http://quilting.about.com/od/piecing...riangles_3.htm

http://quilting.about.com/od/piecing..._triangles.htm

http://quilting.about.com/od/rotaryc...g_shapes_2.htm

Quarter square triangles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKYhj76t-ho

Quilting 101: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU9glgof_ec

QSTs from charm pack squares: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZf4Zh7ZZJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1E3YkVxRSA

Making HSTs on a grid: http://quiltsbyjen.ca/how-to-make-ha...s-with-a-grid/

Melanie: http://quiltsbyjen.ca/how-to-make-ha...s-with-a-grid/

Pt. 1: http://melaniedramatic.com/half-squa...angles-part-1/

Pt. 2: http://melaniedramatic.com/half-squa...angles-part-2/

Pt 3: http://melaniedramatic.com/half-squa...angles-part-3/

Pt. 4: http://melaniedramatic.com/half-squa...angles-part-4/

Pt 5: http://melaniedramatic.com/half-squa...angles-part-5/

Free grid forms available online (there are many other sources besides these):

http://www.quiltingandwhatnot.ca/Hal...-Triangle.html

http://www.blockcentral.com/a-halfsq...glepaper.shtml

I have the best luck with Missouri quilt company tutorial.

My pinwheel making isn't hard, but it can be time consuming! It starts with careful cutting of the fabric, adding that extra 8th inch to start: If I'm wanting 4" finished sizes, I add the 7/8" plus the 1/8" and cut a 5" square. I sew a scant 1/4 from the diagonal center line. Press well. Sew two together, twice. Now - I pin that middle seam very carefully at the center, where all four come together. I first pin it horizontally along the seam line, checking the front to be sure the points match. Then I pin vertically close to the center and draw a short horizontal line, which is the sewing line. I slow my sewing speed when I approach the center seam so that I can carefully remove that first pin just as I get to it and I can sew along the line I drew. I prefer pinning because I can remove them if I need to adjust.

It takes practice, but it can be done! Hang in there!

Anne P in Seattle

I don't need to do the line, or even some of the pinning now because I've gotten better, well except when I'm tired or am trying to hurry!

If you like pinwheels, the MSQC has an easy pattern for a disappearing pinwheel. Not sure if you are making the pinwheels for something else but this one is easy and fun you end up with a 12" block.
Ricky Tims also has a very easy way to make HST's to use for pinwheels.

I was making HST's for a quilt and thought the method showing was not what I wanted; I could just cut corner to corner. Well I found out that to do like the pattern really was the best way; it is shown in the "Road to California" pattern in quilter's cache; cut the length given, then stitch as shown in that pattern.
Far be it from me to know what is different about the cutting corner-corner and the method shown, but the latter works much the best. All I could figure out was that there is a fraction of an inch lost cutting corner-corner. So now I won't be improving on some method shown in the pattern!!! Mariah.

pinwheels
 

Thanks for posting this video. It looks like it will line up better than the methods I have in the past.

Here is my tutorial on keeping points - [h=3]My tips for making HST's and not losing [/h]
and my shortcut way to make HSTS -
[h=3]Really Easy Half Square Triangle Blocks[/h]