Is There An Updated Method for This Pattern?
 

I love this pattern http://www.quilterscache.com/W/WheelofFortuneBlock.html, but the only directions I can find for it in all my online searches are either with templates or paper pieced, neither which I really enjoy. Does anyone know how I can make it with a strip-piecing or chain-piecing method, or even simply a fast rotary cutting methods? I know it's an old pattern, but I think an updated method would be great! I wrote to Jenny Doan from MSQC asking if she and her team could come up with something, but so far no luck.

I don't like paper piecing. What I would do is print out a few copies of the templates. I would cut apart the #1 dark blue and #4 light blue triangles first, add 1/4" seam allowance all around them, and then use some common garden-variety triangle rulers to cut those out so they finish to the template size.

I wouldn't cut the #3 light blue/#4 white and #2 dark blue/#1 white pieces apart; I would leave them together with the line running through them.

The #3 light blue and #2 dark blue are just strips, so I would add 1/4" seam allowances and cut strips of the correct width for those pieces. The #4 and #1 pieces are white odd shapes. For those, I would cut extra-wide strips of white (maybe an inch wider than the templates), and then sew a blue strip to a white strip to make a strip set. I would tape the combined paper template to a ruler and place the straight line between the two pieces on the seam. Might be able to cut all edges that way, or might need to use a combination of cutting and tracing to get the shape completely right.

For the #2 white pieces, I would probably cut over-sized rectangles, sew one blue triangle to one white rectangle, then use a ruler to extend the edges of the triangle through the white fabric. Again, I would leave two of the pieces together in the paper template (#1 dark blue and #2 white) and (#1 light blue and #3 white) and tape to a ruler. To cut, I would line up the line between the 2 pieces with the seam just sewn.

I'm sure there are other ways of breaking this block down too. Without doing a couple of blocks myself, I can't be sure which way would be the most efficient. However, it can certainly be done without paper piecing.

I think paper piecing is suggested to ensure the points match on those narrow blue strips when joining blocks. With out using paper piecing you will need to be very accurate in your cutting and piecing to make those points meet when you join blocks together. Not impossible to do, though, and, as always, the larger your blocks are the easier it will be. Good luck and have fun with it!

Kerplunk. There goes another one on the Bucket List.

Thanks for posting this and please share so we can see how yours turns out.

Watson

It's been on my bucket list since I started quilting. Last year I was gifted a quilt kit with a pattern I don't really care for, but the fabrics that came with it will be perfect in this pattern I think. Maybe I should just be daring and do paper piecing... push myself out of my comfort zone.

It is called "flying kite." and is only two pieces. The one shown has been striped sewn and cut. www.generations-quilt-patter...ilt-block.html

Unfortunately the link didn't work. But I would love to see it!

https://www.generations-quilt-patter...ilt-block.html

This looks to be the link that works. It opens for me.

being a scrappy girl, I'd use a scrappy method. I'd cut the shape from phone book paper and piece the center by eye...or a little haphazardly, following no lines, only ensuring that the right side of the blue was higher. I'd do the outer thin pieces the same way, by eye because looking at the finished block the eye will always see the circle as a circle. a fun block to play with

Thanks! I have that pattern, but the one I'm looking for is the one where there is a "ring" around the pinwheel.