I have been feeling stitchy this weekend!
Turns out I damaged my shoulder somehow during Memorial Weekend.
I really can't do yard work { darn :) } and so I stayed in quite a bit yesterday.
I worked on 2 tutorials for the 4th of July decor.
I am putting the finishing touches on Idea #2 today.
Without further ado...
Patriotic Pinwheel Runner Tutorial
This little runner took me about 5 hours from start to finish.
Definitely a weekend project!
Patriotic Pinwheel Runner
8" X 42"
Supplies
{4} 5.5" red scraps
{3} 5.5" blue scraps
{7} 5.5" white on white background fabric
{2} 1.25" X 42" Moda Bella Solid white fabric for border
1/2 yard red, white and blue or flag print for binding and backing.
batting at least 10"X 43"
Instructions:
Cut the 5.5" squares for the pinwheel blocks.
Layer one colored square with a background right sides together.
Sew a 1/4" seam the perimeter of the 5.5" square as shown.
Then cut corner to opposite corner, through the stitched seams.
It's okay you can do this!!
In both directions to yield 4 sections.
press the pieces.
Trim corners and square up the blocks to about 3.5".
This technique does leave bias edges. I frequently use a walking foot and had no issue with the bias. I am a seasoned sewer though, a beginner should be careful not to stretch the seams.
Arrange and sew the pinwheel blocks
Repeat for all 7 blocks.
Block should square to 6.5" {will be 6" finished}
Arrange alternating red and blue pinwheels.
note* when working with reds...check colorfastness.
I didn't...and I discovered this from using spray starch, the red bled.
Needless to say, this won't be washed.
Also note, my 1/4 inch seams..weren't a real 1/4 inch. I used white scraps that were just under 5.5" and then cut the colors 5.5" and used the edge of the colored fabric as my guide.
I don't recommend beginner quilters do that.
Precisely cut squares will give you more precise finished blocks.
All sewn together.
Take your border strips {1.25" X 42"} and sew them to center
*note* there is no border on the short ends.
The top is done.
Layer, quilt and bind.
I quilted in the ditch of the white fabrics and used 2.25" binding strips.
Here's my runner on my fireplace. I knew that is where I would use it and therefore wanted the size to be about 8" wide. If you start with a larger set of squares...you will have a larger block.
For example {2} 10" layer cake squares would yield a 12" block.
Other views.
p.s. I am not sponsored by Craftaholics, I just like her link parties..I find tons of projects I didn't know existed. I hope you can too!
