Janet's Quilting Blog

Pinwheels are among the most popular patchwork quilt blocks, so you'll find several pinwheel patterns on this Web site. The Pinwheel in a Square illustrated here is one of my favorites, and when you look at the pattern you'll find instructions for two sizes, an 8" block and a 12" block. The Mosaic Pinwheel is another fun design, and one you can make by itself or combine with Pinwheel in a Square to make an entire quilt.

More Pinwheel Patterns

• Dutchman's Puzzle, also called Windmill
• Framed Pinwheels
• Double Pinwheels
• Can't Stop Spinnin'
• Traditional Pinwheel Block
• Rosebud Quilt Block

_{© Janet Wickell}

The traditional Rosebud quilt block has been called many names over the years, including Hummingbird, Crow's Foot and Bright Star. It's a delicate looking block that's part pinwheel, with barbed tips that give you the opportunity for more color play. Try it with a white or neutral background as shown, or sew brightly colored "flowers" on a rich black background. The block finishes at 12-inches square -- in other words, it will measure 12.5" x 12.5" before you sew it to other quilt components.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell}

Patchwork quilt blocks don't get much easier than the Friendship Star. But simple doesn't mean boring when you choose a deep, black background and sew a bunch of stars in vibrantly colored solid or tone-on-tone fabrics. I've included directions for two finished quilt block sizes -- 12-inch and 6-inch, and yardages for one block and thirty blocks.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell}

Happy Mother's Day to all of the quilting moms out there. I'm away from home, taking a series of workshops in hot and sunny Phoenix, so there's no sewing in my future for today. My Mother's Day will be spent in a classroom, but I'm hoping to have a little time to browse quilt shops before heading home tomorrow. If you plan to sew today, you'll find plenty of quilt patterns and quilt block patterns to get you started right here on About.com Quilting . And if you don't want to sew, but do need a quilt-fix, take a walk through some of the galleries in the Online Quilt Show. Have a wonderful day.

POLL: What Are Your Mother's Day Plans?

1. I'll relax and let my family pamper me.
2. We'll take a fun family outing.
3. I'm going to sew all day.
4. I'm not a mom myself, but I'll spend it with my mother.
5. I'm off to do something fun on my own.
6. It's just another day.
7. Other (leave a comment)

View Results

_{© Janet Wickell}

Sewing a sleeve on the back of your quilt makes it easy to hang the quilt for display at home or in a quilt show. The quilt sleeve can be permanent or temporary and it can be sewn on after or at the same time you apply binding. Quilters use different techniques to sew sleeves to their quilts, but try this easy method if you're just starting out, and then make variations to suit your needs once you're familiar with the basics.

When you receive fabric gifts from your quilting friends, the yardage will probably be made from 100-percent cotton. Gifts from family and friends might be cotton polyester blends or woven from other fibers. Or you might find a box full of unknown fabrics at an estate sale or flea market. It's important to know what you're sewing with so that you can care for your quilts correctly. This little burn test can help.

The Sarah's Choice quilt block can be assembled in several ways. We'll put it together quickly using half-square triangle units at its center and simple flying geese units (along with square corners) for the block's outer rows. I've included cutting instructions for four different sizes: 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch blocks. You can also preview mock-ups of the blocks set into two different quilts, one on-point and another with blocks arranged horizontally.

_{© Janet Wickell}

Our Quilting Forums are a fun place to visit when you want to talk to lots of other quilters. Put out a question or idea and I guarantee you'll get lots of opinions. Quilt swaps are one popular component of the forums, and swaps are becoming more active now that fall is almost here. If you've never participated in a quilt swap, but think you might want to give it a try, jump right in. But take a few minutes to read about swapping basics before you get started.

This traditional quilt block sometimes has slightly different components, and there are other blocks that use the same name or similar names, even though they have a completely different appearance. That's confusing, but not at all uncommon in the world of quilting. No matter what you call it, Steps to the Altar is a lovely block, and looks good with either an orderly or scrappy layout.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell, created in EQ v6}

Here's My Heart is a 64" x 84" quilt that's a combination of patchwork and appliqué. Alternate Snowball blocks are adorned with Sunbonnet Sue and Overalls Sam -- two traditional characters that quilters seem to either love or hate. The appliqué blocks are separated by "chain-type" patchwork that helps create diagonal flow across the surface of the quilt. Increase the quilt's size by adding blocks or altering the borders, or make a quick wallhanging from fewer blocks.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell, designed in EQ v6}