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Stars · Intermediate

Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center quilt block

A Friendship Star with a four-triangle pinwheel in place of the plain center square.

Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center: main, background and accent. A 6 × 6 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background2 squares1 7/8" × 1 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent2 squares1 7/8" × 1 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

9" Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Background2 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent2 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

12" Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Background2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

15" Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background4 squares5 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Background2 squares3 3/8" × 3 3/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent2 squares3 3/8" × 3 3/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

How to make a 15" Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  3. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 6 × 6 grid, and each cell finishes at 2 1/2". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  4. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"3/8 yd1 1/4 yd1/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"3/4 yd2 1/8 yd1/4 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"1 yd3 yd3/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"1 3/8 yd4 1/8 yd1/2 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"2 yd6 1/8 yd5/8 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"2 5/8 yd8 1/4 yd1 yd2 1/8 yd10 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 15" Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side1666" × 66"–
With sashing1255" × 72"Sashing 3/4 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks8 pieced + 8 plain66" × 66"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1369 3/4" × 69 3/4"Setting triangles 1 3/4 yd

See Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center block need?

Three: main, background and accent. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 15 inch Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center?

2 main squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8"; 2 background squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8"; 4 background squares at 5 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 2 background squares at 3 3/8" × 3 3/8"; 2 accent squares at 3 3/8" × 3 3/8".

How many Friendship Star with Pinwheel Center blocks for a lap quilt?

12 blocks at 15", set 3 by 4 with a 3" border, make a 51" × 66" quilt.

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