Three-Color Pinwheels

Inspired by "Just Ducky" from designer Bonnie Sullivan of All Through the Night

Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke

• 1/4 yard total assorted white-and-black prints (blocks)
• 5-8" square assorted red prints (blocks)
• 1/4 yard total assorted black prints (blocks, inner border)
• 1/3 yard white-and-black floral (blocks, inner border)
• 1/3 yard white-and-black toile (setting squares, inner border)
• 1/8 yard red floral (middle border)
• 2/3 yard black floral (outer border, binding)
• 1-1/8 yards backing fabric
• 40" square batting

Finished quilt: 33-1/2" square

Finished block: 8" square

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics.

Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order.

From assorted white-and-black prints, cut:

• 20--2-7/8" squares (five sets of four matching squares)

From each assorted red print, cut:

• 4--2-7/8" squares

From assorted black prints, cut:

• 32--2-1/2" squares

From white-and-black floral, cut:

• 4--2-1/2x8-1/2" rectangles
• 24--2-1/2x4-1/2" rectangles

From white-and-black toile, cut:

• 4--8-1/2" setting squares
• 4--2-1/2x8-1/2" rectangles

From red floral, cut:

• 2--1x29-1/2" middle border strips
• 2--1x28-1/2" middle border strips

From black floral, cut:

• 5--2-1/2x42" binding strips
• 2--2-1/2x33-1/2" outer border strips
• 2--2-1/2x29-1/2" outer border strips

1. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each white-and-black print 2-7/8" square.

2. Layer a marked white-and-black print 2-7/8" square atop an assorted red print 2-7/8" square. Sew together with two seams, stitching 1/4" on each side of drawn line (Diagram 1). Cut pair apart on drawn line to make two triangle units. Open triangle units and press seams toward red print to make two triangle-squares. Each triangle-square should be 2-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four matching triangle-squares total.

3. Sew together triangle-squares in pairs (Diagram 2). Press seams in opposite directions. Join pairs to make a Pinwheel unit. Press seam in one direction. The Pinwheel unit should be 4-1/2" square including seam allowances.

4. Referring to Diagram 3, lay out Pinwheel unit, four black print 2-1/2" squares, and four white-and-black floral 2-1/2x4-1/2" rectangles in three rows. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams toward rectangles. Join rows to make a pieced block. Press seams away from center row. The block should be 8-1/2" square including seam allowances.

5. Repeat steps 2–4 to make five pieced blocks total.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out pieced blocks and white-and-black toile setting squares in three rows, alternating setting squares and blocks. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams toward setting squares.

2. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams toward squares. The quilt center should be 24-1/2" square including seam allowances.

1. Referring to the Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together one white-and-black floral 2-1/2x4-1/2" rectangle, two assorted black print 2-1/2" squares, and two white-and-black toile 2-1/2x8-1/2" rectangles to make a short inner border strip. Press seams toward rectangles. The short inner border strip should be 2-1/2x24-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second short inner border strip.

2. Sew together a white-and-black floral 2-1/2x4-1/2" rectangle, four assorted black print 2-1/2" squares, and two white-and-black floral 2-1/2x8-1/2" rectangles to make a long inner border strip. Press seams toward rectangles. The long inner border strip should be 2-1/2x28-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second long inner border strip.

3. Sew short inner border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Join long inner border strips to remaining quilt center edges. Press all seams toward border.

1. Sew short red floral middle border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Join long red floral middle border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward middle border.

2. Sew short black floral outer border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Join long black floral outer border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward outer border.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2. Bind with black floral binding strips.