Glowing Pinwheels Quilt and Pattern (not quite Amish)
Hello Dear Friends and Readers, welcome to todays post.
If you are like me and you have from time to time admired the antique and vintage quilts made by Amish women, you might have noticed how bold their designs can be even though their propensity for plainness of fabric dominated their quiltmaking. And in fact, how some of the designs seem to literally glow. Well I believe that is attributed to use of solid colours. https://www.quiltingdaily.com/this-old-quilt-unmistakably-amish-quilts/
We can also incorporate that sort of concept into our quilts by the use of plain and solid coloured fabric. This can present as a conundrum as we are literally bombarded with soo many beautiful fabrics to choose from. As scraps are what I prefer to use, there is no reason that we cannot combine the two to make some potentially striking quilt designs.
Moving forward, I was given a slection of Polka Dot scrap fabric strips by my friend Wendy. I washed them all and had them ready in rolled up strips but I really didnt know what I was going to do with them. Eventually I decided that because it is a fun design, they would look well being in a fun block like Pinwheels!
That is when I decided to create these blocks Pinwheels On Point Blocks – Made Easy. For each block I decided to use a solid background colour to make the pinwheels stand out.
Then when there was the arrival of a new baby grandson I decided between other projects to gradually make these blocks and here is the result of how I have put them together. Funnily enough I recently mentioned that I do not often use black in my quilts Scrappy Housetop Log Cabin Variation Quilt Top Vintage Inspired but there is certainly a place for it and I think this has contributed greatly to the impact of this quilt. Technically this could be called a Band Quilt or Row Quilt.
Finished quilt size 35 1/2“ x 46 1/2“
Requirements for the Glowing Pinwheels Quilt
30 of the Pinwheels on Point Blocks. All of the background fabrics must be in assorted solid fabrics to get the quilt to glow.
To make these Pinwheels on Point blocks, you will need:
30 of 5 1/2“ x 5 1/2“ assorted solid / homespun fabrics.
60 of light coloured polka dot or patterned fabrics each 3“ x 3“
60 of dark coloured polka dot or patterned fabrics each 3“ x 3“
Then to put the quilt together;
4 of dark strips I used black with white polka dots each 3“ x 30 1/2“
2 of dark strips 3“ x 46 1/2“ for the sides
Backing fabric 40“ x 50“
Batting piece same size as the backing fabric
5 of 2 1/2“ Width of Fabric strips in a stripe for the binding.
Constructing the Glowing Pinwheels Quilt
Use the 30 of Pinwheels on Points Blocks to make 3 panels each containing 10 of the blocks set into a 5 x 2 arrangement.
Alternate the colours of each block in the panel so that there is good colour distribution.
TIP
Please be careful not to stretch the bias edges until the blocks are sewn together.
Lay out the three panels as pictured below using the dour 3“ x 30 1/2“ black strip at either end and between the panels.
Sew the strips to the panels. then sew the two remaining long black 3“ x 46 1/2“ strips to the sides of the quilt top. See how the pinwheels glow!
I layered it for quilting using a cotton batting and a delightful print which has a myriad of the same colours as the front.
Now for the quilting. As the focus of the quilt was polka dot fabrics, I decided to quilt the whole quilt with little loops, using my vintage Singer 201K C1948. Vintage Singer 201K and FMQ
Trim the waste from the edge of the quilt after quilting. Prepare the striped binding strips into one long length and sew to the front of the quilt. Quick Bind Every Time – Tutorial
And here is the finished quilt.
And here is my dear little recipient. One year old.
I had lots of fun making this quilt. If you enjoyed this quilt story and pattern, you may also like some of these other baby/lap quilt and Pinwheel inspired designs.
Baby Love Quilt and Pattern Part 2
Scrappy Broken Dishes Quilt – Antique Inspired
I Spy Pinwheels Quilt and Pattern
Stars and Crosses Band Quilt Pattern
Disappearing Nine Patch Baby Quilt
Solid Bold Pinwheels Quilt Pattern
Framing Pinwheels Quilt and Pattern
Happy sewing.
Susie
© Susan Stuklis 2022