Welcome to the Steam Engine Whistle Stop Tour! All this week my fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors and I are introducing the new Steam Engine line of batiks from Island Batik, coming soon to a quilt shop near you. Aren’t these fabrics cool?
Each of us are presenting one or two blocks from this sampler quilt during the week of September 9 through the 15th. Then, on September 16th, the finishing instructions will be available from Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design. Follow us on the Whistle Stop Tour and create this great sampler quilt, named Union Station!
Here on the Thursday stop of the Tour, we’ll be working on the Twisted Pinwheel block, made with Sidekick Units, High/Low Units, and a Four Patch block.
First, gather what you’ll need to make this block: Your V Block tool, the V Block instructions, and the Sidekick & High/Low Technique Sheet. Please review the V Block Instructions and Technique Sheet to remind yourself of how to make each of the units.
Then, start pulling your fabrics. In the Twisted Pinwheel block, I’m using four of the batiks from the new Steam Engine line from Island Batik: a dark blue, a light purple, a medium blue and a light beige.
Once you’ve pulled your fabrics, follow the Unit Summary and Cutting Instructions (download here) to cut all the pieces for this block.
Follow the instructions on the Sidekick & High/Low Technique Sheet to make each unit. According to the Unit Summary, you will make one Four Patch Block and two of each of the following blocks:
High/Low Left 1
High/Low Left 2
Sidekick Right 1
Sidekick Right 2
But before you start cutting, here are some tips and tricks to help you create a square and accurate Twisted Pinwheel block. 🙂
1. When cutting the side triangles and trimming the base squares, make sure that the fabric is in the correct orientation. When making the High/Low unit with the “High” on the left, place your fabrics RIGHT SIDE UP before cutting. When making the Sidekick with the “High” on the right, place your fabrics WRONG SIDE UP before cutting. It’s not always easy to tell which is right side or wrong side with batiks, so it is important that you pay attention when cutting. The pieces must be on the correct side and in the correct orientation in order for the pieces to fit together properly later.
2. When cutting the base units (the beige squares), make sure that you line up the DASHED line of the tool on the left side of the square, and line up the 2″ Finished Unit line on the bottom of the square. Don’t use the solid line on the left.
3. When cutting the side triangles (the light purple or a blue), make sure that you line up the SOLID line of the tool on the left side of the strip, and line up the 2″ Finished Unit line on the bottom of the strip. Don’t use the dashed line.
4. When piecing the units, place a triangle and a base unit right sides together and align the diagonal edges. Scoot the triangle down just a bit so that the notches (at pencil points) are approximately 1/4″ from the aligned side. This will help you keep the block kinda square once you’ve sewn the 1/4″ seam.
5. It is important that you sew an accurate 1/4″ seam. I always use some sort of seam guide on the bed of my sewing machine to get an accurate and consistent 1/4″ seam.
6. When adding the 1 3/4″ square to the High/Low units, do not sew right on the line. Stitch just to the right of the line. This photo is a little blurry, but you can see that I have stitched right next to the black line instead of on top of the line. When sewn this way, the fabric will be folded *at* the line and should align with the corner.
7. Make sure to spin the seams on the back of the Four Patch block to eliminate bulk at the intersection.
8. Lastly, when putting all the pieces together, make sure to match all the points and intersections.
Have fun making your Twisted Pinwheel block, and I’m glad you could join me on the Steam Engine Whistle Stop Tour!
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As a “Thank You” for hanging out with me today, I’ll be giving away a set of my patterns: Around the Pond, Stella, and my new pattern Gemma! Leave a comment below and tell me which of my patterns (on the “Classes” or “Shop” page) is your favorite.
Around the Pond
Stella
Gemma
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Don’t miss any of the other stops on the Tour!
Monday, September 9
Karen Overton – The Quilt Rambler
Tuesday, September 10
Michelle Renee Hiatt – Sew On The Go
Marie McKay – Ribbon Star Studio
Wednesday, September 11
Sarah Furrer – Studio 180 Design
Thursday, September 12
Kathie Beltz – You are here!
Gail Renna – Quilt Haven Threads
Friday, September 13
Jackie O’Brien – If These Threads Could Talk
Saturday, September 14
Tammy Silvers – Tamarinis
Carolyn Ratola – CaTs Quilting
Sunday, September 15
Tina Dillard – Quilting Affection
Bonny Peters – Cat Den Mountain Quilts
Monday, September 16
Sarah Furrer – Studio 180 Design
Hi Kathie! I like the Gemma pattern. I love those quilts that you build the whole quilt around one centered block. Simply eye candy. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by!
Spring Sparkle! I just found you through this blog hop and love your web site! Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by!
I love your around the pond the quilt in the quilting
Thanks! I actually quilted that one myself. 😁
I love the twisted pinwheel! Thank you for demonstrating it so clearly- Linda
😁
I love all of your patterns, but Gemma is my favorite.
😁
I like your Stella quilt. The fabric selection is grand – the green glows against the pinks and periwinkle blues. I have never tried the Shaded Nine Patch!
And I made it with scraps from my stash!
Gemma seems very challenging!
Actually, Gemma is a beginner level project, made with Shaded 4-Patch blocks.
Hi Kathie,
I love your Stella pattern, too. I will of course build up my skills to it. Love your other patterns.
You’ll be making Migrating Geese in no time!
It wasn’t this late when I responded , more like 10.30 or so.
I like the Stella quilt
🙂
I like Gemma the best
🙂
I like around the pond. It has a little bit more of a modern feel, minimal but beautiful!
🙂
I like your “Around the pond” pattern – it appears it could be a great practice for the “Migrating geese” technique sheet?! I have the techniques sheet but have not got a chance to play with it:).
Yes, with two different sizes of Migrating Geese, the Around the Pond pattern will give you plenty of practice!
Hi Kathie
I love Gemma. Thanks so much for the tour.
Thanks for joining us!
It is so hard to choose, I like Around the Pond, Stella, Rangely Star, Wish Upon, and Spring Sparkle among the best. Would take a class for any of them.
O.k., you’re allowed to have 5 favorites. 🤣🤣
Im loving Stella. but it may be because I love those colors!
Just some fun colors I pulled from my stash!
I love Around the Pond pattern
🙂 🙂
I like stella
🙂 🙂
Thanks for this Kathie! It was fun following along for the Whistle Stop Tour. I love Around the Pond.
Thanks for joining us!
I love Flying Geese, so “Around the Pond” is perfect for me 😉
LG Brigitte
🙂 🙂 🙂