Combine two popular traditional quilting techniques with this pattern, prairie points with a basic four patch quilt block, to create a prairie point pinwheel quilt pattern. The prairie points add texture and visual interest to a basic four patch block creating a pinwheel. Folded triangles come to life as the pinwheels in this quilt pattern. This is a perfect pattern for both seasoned quilters and curious beginners.
How to Make a Prairie Point Pinwheel Quilt Block
Take a traditional prairie point and match it up with a classic four-patch quilt block and you've got a pinwheel quilt block with texture! This is a perfect project for both beginner and experienced quilters.
Materials
- 4 squares each of two (2) fabrics. One of the fabrics will be for the prairie points and the other for the base four-patch block. The squares can be any size. For this how-to article, I used 3-1/2 inch squares, which makes a 6-inch finished quilt square.
- Coordinating thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
Instructions
- Start by making the prairie points. Take the four fabric squares that you want for the pinwheel. Fold them in half diagonally.
- Press this triangle.
- Fold this in half again and press. This is a finished prairie point with one edge of the triangle is raw edge of the fabric, one edge is a double fold and one is a single fold.
- Here is a pile of prairie points ready to make pinwheels!
- Lay out your background fabric patches and place the prairie points on the blocks. The raw edge of the triangle should be the edge lined up with the edge of the block that will be sewn. Try to have each of the triangles going the same direction. Example: All of the double fold of the prairie point toward the center of the block.
- Attach each of the prairie points to each patch with a 1/8-inch seam allowance. These guys wiggle around a lot with just pins to secure them. You'll be more successful with sewing them down.
- Here are all of the prairie points sewn to the background patches.
- Take two of the patches and sew them together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Since the prairie points were sewn down with a 1/8-inch seam allowance, the previous stitching should not show. Press the seam to one side. I press it so that the prairie point stays flat.
- Next, sew the two sets together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance to finish the prairie point quilt block. Press the block.
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Tips for making a prairie point pinwheel quilt pattern
When selecting your fabrics, make sure that the fabric for the prairie points will stand out on the background fabric.
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You can make this block any size you’d like! I used 3-1/2 inch squares which makes 6-inch finished quilt block size. This would be perfect to use one of the charm packs you just had-to-have. The 5-1/2 inch squares would make 10-inch finished blocks.
The prairie point quilt pattern would be perfect for a baby quilt! The 3D prairie points add texture that would be great for babies to use for tactile play.
These quilt blocks would also be great home dec projects. You could make several for a pillow cover.
Check out the traditional pinwheel quilt block and the 3D pinwheel quilt block.
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy.
This quilt block is included in our article with popular quilt patterns.
