Quilt Pattern: Whirlwind

"Whirlwind" and "Pinwheel" often mean the same thing in quilt vernacular, although we'll admit there is considerable difference in real life!

This is a very simple design with small triangles sewing into a larger one which joins with a large print triangle to form a square - one fourth of the finished block. If scrap material is being used, make each block of one print with white or a plaint tint. Keep the prints all about the same light or dark value; variety in hues is charming but some light with some dark blocks makes an ugly quilt.

Cardboard patterns are made matching the triangles here given, and these are used to mark around onto cloth. Then cut a bit larger as these do not allow for seams. The finished blocks are about 8 inches square, and may be set together with strips or plain blocks as desired. However, with plain blocks set diagonally on the quilt, which finishes with half squares of course, is really the approved plan for whirlwind.

Material Estimate: If you set your pieced blocks together with plain white blocks on the diagonal using 7 blocks across and 8 blocks long, your quilt will finish about 78 by 90 inches. It will take 56 pieced blocks, 42 plain whole blocks, 26 plain half blocks (cut on diagonal), and four plain quarter blocks for the corners. This will require 1 3/4 yards print and 7 yards of white, a total of 8 3/4 yards. The Cherry Basket perforated pattern would fit the plain blocks for quilting.