There is just something so satisfying about cutting up fabric and sewing it into something new that I will never get tired of! This brand new Patchwork Cakes Pinwheel Quilt Tutorial is perfect if you feel the same way!
This quilt is such a fun and quick one to sew up using the Cut it Up Cakes Template from Nancy’s Notions!
I love the patchwork feel to it and of course the pinwheels! Fun note – this windmill in the photo was my grandpa’s! He was a farmer and so I love that I have this little reminder of him. And it looks so sweet with my pinwheel quilt!
I made up this with a 10″ stacker of Vintage Keepsakes and the Nancy’s Notions template – Cut it Up Cakes. It is so fun for making up creative designs for 10″ stackers/Layer cakes! There are several projects in the book too so you have lots of inspiration for the template.
I don’t use all the squares in the 10″ stacker so you could easily make this quilt larger. Or you could make one for you and one for a friend! How fun would that be?! It goes together so quickly that you’d have a gift in no time!
So let’s get started!
Patchwork Cakes Pinwheel Quilt
Finished Quilt Size: 72″ x 72″
Materials:
- 1 Vintage Keepsakes 10″ stacker
- Cut It Up Cakes Template and Book – Nancy’s Notions
- Background Fabric – 2 1/2 yards – I used Riley Blake White
- Border Fabric – 1 1/2 yards – I used Vintage Keepsaks Main Pink Fabric
- Backing Fabric – 4 1/2 yards – I used Vintage Keepsakes White Floral
- Binding – 5/8 yard – I used Vintage Keepsakes Red Cross Stitch
- Batting – Queen size or piece 78″ x 78″ to allow extra on sides for quilting
- Optional but helpful – :)
- Rotary cutter, Mat, Binder Clips
Visit Nancy’s Notions for supplies for this project! They have special pricing on a kit so you can find your supplies all in one spot. You can also find a free printable version of the tutorial at Nancy’s Notions.
Pull out the 10″ fabric pieces that you’d like to use for the quilt. You only need 18 squares if you want to keep the patchwork squares pretty similar. I wanted some additional variety and a more “patchwork” look so I used a few more squares and reserved the ones I didn’t use in this quilt to make a second quilt for a friend.
Make a stack of two or three of your squares. Using one side of the template, cut the stackers in half, then in half again. You should have 72 5″ squares.
Sew together the 5″ squares in sets of two. Mix and match your fabrics so you have different colors together and a good variety. Press the seam towards the darker fabric.
From your background fabric, cut 18 5″ x 9 1/2″ pieces.
Place a background piece to the left of a patchwork set and sew together to make a 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ square. Press the seam towards the patchwork piece.
Once that center seam is sewn, place the Cut it Up Cakes template on top of the block, lining up the center vertical and horizontal seams of the block with the template. This is important so your pinwheel squares line up correctly.
Place your rotary blade in the opening on the template on the bottom right and cut the block apart using the groove on the template. Hold the template steady so it doesn’t shift as you cut or you’ll have wonky pinwheels and be sad.
For each large pinwheel block you’ll need four of the section of the right (with most of the patchwork squares) and for the small pinwheel block you’ll need four of the left side (mostly background and part of one print square). You’ll have extra small pinwheel sections left over as well. You could use these for a pillow or table runner!
Put together four of the large pinwheel sections to create a pinwheel block as shown. Match up seams and square points. Your block should be 12 1/2″ square.
Create nine of these large pinwheel blocks.
For the smaller pinwheel blocks, lay the edge of template over the block and cut the background corner off to create a half square triangle. Repeat for 16 of the small pinwheel blocks.
Using four of the small pinweel blocks, create a small pinwheel block. Match up seams and corners when you sew. This block should be 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″.
Create four small pinwheel blocks.
Now we can start assembling rows!!
Cut your background fabric into 12 – 8 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ pieces. Create three large pinwheel rows. For each row sew together a large pinwheel, a background piece (match the 12 1/2″ sides of the background piece with the block sides), a large pinwheel block, a background piece and a large pinwheel block. Press the seams towards the background blocks.
Sew together your small pinwheel rows next – make two of these. You will be matching the 8 1/2″ sides of the background pieces with the 8 1/2″ block sides. Sew together a background piece, a small pinwheel block, a background piece, a small pinwheel block and a background piece.Press the seams towards the background pieces.
Sew together your rows to make the quilt center in this order – a large pinwheel row, small pinwheel row, large pinwheel row, small pinwheel row and a large pinwheel row. Nest your seams together and press the row seams all one direction.
Cut your remaining background fabric into 1 1/2″ strips. Create the small background border Sew together the strips and sew these to the quilt on the two sides, then the top and bottom.
Cut your border fabric into 5″ x width of fabric strips. Sew the strips together to create your outer border. Sew the border to the left and right sides, then the top and bottom.
Quilt and bind your quilt to finish it off! Mine was quilted by Julie Williams Quilting.
I love how simple this quilt is but also how great it shows off those pretty pinwheels! I love the backing too! I used the Vintage Keepsakes floral and it gives it such a light, pretty look. So perfect for Spring and Summer!
I can’t wait to see your versions of the Patchwork Cakes Pinwheel Quilt! Make sure you tag me and Nancy’s Notions on Instagram and Facebook when you share your photos!
I’m partnering with Nancy’s Notions in a giveaway for the Patchwork Cakes Quilt Kit!!
Enter in the section below to win the following:
- A Vintage Keepsakes 10″ Stacker
- A copy of the Cut It Up Cakes Template and book
- An Olfa Splash Rotary Cutter
- Set of Binder Clips
Giveaway is open to US entries only.
Such a fun take on this quilt pattern.
This would make a wonderful easy charity quilt. Thanks for the tutorial. Love the fabrics.
So cute and so easy! I love the quilting on your quilt.
Love the quilt and the fabric. The kit would be really nice to win. Would make a nice charity quilt. Thanks for the giveaway
This is an interesting tool to use to make this quilt. I would love to be able to use it and see how it works. I can have some trouble making pinwheels and I wonder if this would help me. Thanks so much for the chance to win it!
Love this Quilt- thanks for the giveaway!
Love pinwheels. They are so happy!
What a bright and cheery quilt and looks like it would be fun to make. Thanks for the opportunity to win this cool package of goodies!
So pretty!! Thanks for the clear instructions….have a lovely day!
Beautiful and looks east to make! Thanks so much!
I just made a6 quilts using layer cakes and have lots left over. This would be great to use them on!
I would love to make this quilt and win the supplies
What a great pattern, I can see all sorts of possibilities.
What a cute quilt! Looks easy and fun to do! I always love working with layer cakes, would love to win this one! Thanks for a chance to win!
Carmen
This quilt is sooo cute! And seems very doable too!
Really interesting how this block is cut & sewn – some people are just so imaginative!
HAPY SPRING …Love this pattern .. thank you for the contest
I love it! Can’t wait to get the kit.
Love the quilt pattern and your quilt. Would make a very lovely summer quilt.
I just love love the fabric and the quilt pattern. It is BEAUTIFUL!
What a lovely, fresh quilt! Will look great draped on a wicker chair on the porch. Also a cheery charity quilt!
Your idea of making a quilt to keep and one to share for a friend is a a great one!
Just Beautiful! Love the pattern and the fabric!
You make the pinwheel quilt look so easy! Thanks!
Pinwheels are one of my favorite quilt blocks. Your quilt is lovely.
Love the quilt and the fabric is absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful giveaway.
Such a fun and beautiful quilt and I love the fabric you chose.
Great pattern , l love pinwheels And love your fabric,
Thank you for this pattern. It will be perfect for the quilt I will be entering in the State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Competition this year.
Thank you for the tutorial on this quilt…….love it. Also, thank you for having a terrific give-a-way.
Beautifully done! Your photography is fabulous. I want to make this quilt right now!
I’d love to win this to make that beautiful quilt
Love Love Love this quilt! Thanks for the Great Tutorial and Thanks for the contest.
This is a beautiful quilt! Thanks for the chance.
Nothing better thank a Easy Beautiful Quilt, Thanks Bev
Thanks for the lovely pattern – can’t wait to try it.
So summery and sweet! Thanks for the pattern. I hope I win!
What a fun project !!
I love your quilts! Thank you so much for a chance with your giveaway!
Lovely quilt–would be fun to make this one!
Both quilts are so incredible. love them. would love the cakes kit, wow would I ever. Would be so proud to have either one of these quilts If I can successfully make them. It is so generous of you to share these with us. Thank you so much Beverly. I wrote you. we a comment on the doilies quilt but then lost it. too much going on around here with our new dog, an almost 6 months old full blooded border collie. We had to have our older dog pit to sleep on Dec. 23rd.. we’d had him for 9 yrs. he turned 10 in Nov. He was border collie, black lab and such a sweet heart.I cried the whole time after vet gave him shot to put him to sleep, was like losing one of my kids. Still makes me cry when I just think about him. Not right that animals have to die that way. His liver was shutting down and had blood in his abdominal cavity. also had a tumor. Dogs get cancer from the junk put in dog food, fillers. Stinking dog food companies don’t care. All they care about is money they make.
Will be working on making a quilt this Summer so you’re sharing these patterns now is such perfect timing. again, thanks so much Beverly.
Have great weekend.
I love this quilt pattern! I love the colors in your fabric line! It is the perfect little quilt! I think I will have to make it!!❤️❤️❤️
Pinwheels are one of my favorite blocks.
I definitely love love love this quilt.
Such a cute take on this block! Thanks for this giveaway offer. Happy and Blessed Easter!
This looks so fun!
Pretty quilt — handy dandy ruler, too!
Love the quilt and the Template for easy cutting.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Beautiful pattern!
Such a fun and easy quilt!
What a pretty quilt! I also love that you could photograph it with your grandpa’s windmill. I will have to take a look at that template and book. Thank you for the tutorial
Oh how neat that is. Thank you for the giveaway.
Great pattern! I wonder if I could use charm squares instead of a layer cake?
What a lovely quilt! There is something so appealing about white, red, turquoise combination. Wonderful!
This looks like such an easy quilt to make – I want to start on one right now. I’m not familiar with the template or book so would be great to win the raffle!! Thanks for the great tutorial.
I really like this pattern, looks fairly simple to make, which is a win win. Lovely fabrics too.
I love this pattern. Great idea. I have been looking for a quilt pattern to make my friend. This might be it. Thanks for sharing Bev. Miss your jewelry sites.
Very pretty! Thanks for sharing with us at the Snickerdoodle link party!
Very interesting technique.
great pattern thanks!
Can not find Cut it up Cakes Templates anywhere. If I click site in this article it comes back site note found. If I go to Missouri Star not found. Help!!
Hi Christiana – I’m sorry about that! I’ve emailed them to see if they’ll be carrying the template – I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back!