Pinwheel block
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 20
Pinwheel block
Given what is going on around the world, my question seems so ridiculous! Anyway, I thought I would ask it since I am housebound and working on a quilt for my brand new grand niece. Am I doing something wrong when I piece together the 4 1\4 inch half square triangles to form a 7 1\2 inch pinwheel block? The middle part of the four blocks is so bulky once sewn together! I don't know how to post a photo of my problem. But if you can imagine when I sew together the two half square triangle blocks, and then press the seams in opposite directions, when I sew the two halves together, the middle bit is fairly thick.
Thanks for any help you might offer.
Thanks for any help you might offer.
#2
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,423
Hi Kay,
The center bulk from the piecing is a common problem. You want to twirl those seams.
Start at about the 33 minute part of the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BuBROKIrk
A second one for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXSVFY2t8Y8
It does matter how you put the HST through the machine when you put the 4 different ones together to get the twirl. You may have to try it both ways and see which one works for you.
The center bulk from the piecing is a common problem. You want to twirl those seams.
Start at about the 33 minute part of the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BuBROKIrk
A second one for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXSVFY2t8Y8
It does matter how you put the HST through the machine when you put the 4 different ones together to get the twirl. You may have to try it both ways and see which one works for you.
Last edited by Rhonda K; 03-24-2020 at 03:50 PM.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 1,687
I try to swirl my seams, but am not always good at that.... I will soak the bulky seam with water then hold my iron on it, pressing super hard, flip the block over and press again from the other side. it works fairly okay.
#7
I keep a small hammer and a 4" block of wood with my sewing supplies. The block of wood against the carpet and then pound. I would think this is NOT something you would want to do on hardwood. So be careful. It works great.