Free Pinwheel Quilt Pattern – The Spin Cycle Quilt

Today I’m sharing a free pinwheel quilt pattern called “Spin Cycle”. This is a beginner friendly free pattern, made with half square triangles. This gorgeous quilt was made with fat quarters but it’s charm pack and scrap fabric friendly. Finished size measures 68″ x 76″. I hope you enjoy this new quilt pattern.

Now this quilt was made with leftover HSTs from another quilt project so I had to work with what was there. I’m lucky that this quilt turned out so big, it’s the perfect lap quilt. Great for hanging over the sofa, put in your car for picnics or getting cozy while watching movies. This scrap quilt has a scrappy backing too. I sewing standard fabric to cover the entire quilt top, then sliced it up to add diagonal strips. These diagonal strips were leftover from my Chevron Quilt when I quilted it up and had extra backing on all four sides. I love to make scrappy pieced quilt backs.

Color Scheme

The color scheme is completely up to you. You can change the entire look of this quilt, depending on your fabric choices. For example, you could do the entire quilt with only two fabrics and make the quilt blocks the same. One dark and one light fabric. You could make it scrappy and use fabric from the same fabric collection, pair two fabrics together and make quilt blocks. This is a controlled scrappy quilt because all the fabric will work well together since it’s from one fabric collection. Or you can go full scrappy and mix any fabric together for a colorful and fun quilt. 

Fabric Options for Pinwheel Quilt Pattern

You can use any fabric for this pattern except jelly rolls.  Here are fabric options you can use: fabric yardage, fat quarters, fabric stash or layer cake squares. All make great options but will need to be cut and sub cut prior to sewing. The easy way is to use precut charm packs. Charm packs consist of around 40 squares, all 5″. You will need 5″ charm squares to get a 4.5″ finished half square triangle. This quilt block tutorial sample quilt is made with Lori Holt Prim by Riley Blake Designs, cut into 5″ x WOF strips, then sub cut into 5″ squares. I used white blocks for the background squares, also cut into 5″ squares.

You will need the following quilting skills to complete this pattern successfully: half square triangles, nesting seams, free motion quilting OR can straight line stitch on a domestic sewing machine. So basically quilters of all skill levels should be able to complete this beautiful pattern with ease. 

Double Quilt Border

Now I added borders for this quilt to make it larger, remember that I only had leftover HSTs to make this quilt. Adding borders is a great way to make your quilt bigger. The borders also give it a classic finished look, I’m very happy with how it turned out. If you don’t have enough fabric from your quilt blocks to make the borders, my pro tip is to use two border fabrics that will play nicely with the others. Take your quilt top to your local fabric store and lay it down on the discount racks and audition border fabrics and backing fabrics. I do this for all my quilts and have slowly learned how to pair fabrics together. You need to train your eye and learn this skill. Be fearless and get creative with fabrics. Learn to shop like a pro!

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS OUT!

After you read this post, make sure you also check out Learn To Quilt for Absolute Beginners. It’s jam packed with even more information, links and resources that are so helpful when you’re first learning. It also has a section with free quilt patterns that are great for beginners. So make sure you check this out, seriously don’t forget!

Grab a copy of my Quilt Planning Journal, filled with graph paper and some note pages to help you design at least 4 quilts or sewing projects! Jot down your ideas, fabrics, sketches, websites, and patterns you want to try. I have been using mine for a little while and love it. Pin in fabric swatches, photos of your finished quilts and enjoy your creative process! Click the bar below.

Free Pinwheel Quilt Pattern – Spin Cycle

The Spin Cycle Quilt is an easy project for beginners. The basic pinwheel block is made with half square triangles, learn how to make them two at a time here. This easy pinwheel quilt pattern comes to life when you add the borders. Below is an overview of each step in creating this quilt, from cutting the fabric to assembling and finishing the quilt top.

Materials Needed

• Print and Background fabric: Choose a variety of colors and patterns that complement each other. Fat quarters are a great option for a diverse selection without buying large cuts. Precut charm packs or layer cakes are another excellent choice. Great stash buster for 5″ squares. See fabric requirements below for 5″ square quantities. 
• Cutting mat, rotary cutter, and quilting ruler: These tools will help you cut your fabric pieces accurately.
• Sewing machine and coordinating thread: A basic sewing machine will do wonders for your quilting journey.
• Iron and ironing board: Essential for achieving crisp, polished seams.
• Pins and safety pins: These will help keep your fabric pieces in place during sewing and quilting.

Cutting Measurements

Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

I make these with the two at a time method, but use whatever method works best for you so you get a finished unit that is 4.5″ squared. First thing you need to do is cut your fabric to the measurements above. Now it’s time to make the half square triangles. Take 5″ squares from two different fabrics and place right sides together.

Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner using a pencil, pen or fabric marker. Sew a quarter inch seam down both sides of the diagonal line. Using your rotary cutter, quilting ruler and cutting mat you will cut the square in half by cutting on the diagonal line you drew. Press with iron, then square up to 4.5″ squared. Use a square quilting ruler, the 4.5″ ruler or whatever larger size square ruler you have. 

Pinwheel Quilt Blocks

Now take four units and sew them together, using the sample picture above as a reference to unit placement and direction. The finished block size should measure 8.5″ x 8.5. Square up each quilt block if needed to ensure they are all the same size using a square quilt ruler that is 9″ or larger. If you are brand new to quilting and don’t know how to make half square triangles (HSTs), check out my tutorial How to Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs) – Easy Formula Chart.

Arrange your half-square triangles into a pinwheel pattern (as shown below), with the contrasting fabrics forming a pinwheel design in the center. Sew the top half square triangles together by placing the square on the right facing down on the square on the left. Nest the seams and pin in place then sew together using a quarter inch seam allowance.

Now repeat this step for the squares on the bottom. Pro Tip: Nesting your seams before you sew is the key to sewing these blocks. Finally, take the two rows and sew together using a quarter inch seam allowance to form the block. Press the seams open for a flat and neat finish.

Arranging Pinwheel Pattern

Arrange the pinwheel blocks into six rows of seven blocks each (refer to sample picture above). Sew the blocks together to form rows, then sew the rows together to form quilt top. Using a quarter inch seam allowance.

Border

First border is 4.5″ x WOF sewn into strips large enough to cover the sides and then the top and bottom. Press with iron.

Second border is 6″ x WOF sewn into strips large enough to cover sides and then the top and bottom, Press with iron when done. Quilt top is complete. For more information on sashing, check out How to Make Quilt With Sashing and Cornerstones.

Finishing Touches

After adding the borders, your quilt top is ready to be finished. It’s time to assemble the quilt sandwich and start quilting! Layer your quilt top, batting, and backing, then baste the layers together using quilt basting spray or pins. 

Now, it’s time to quilt as desired – whether you prefer simple straight-line quilting or intricate free-motion designs, the choice is yours! Finally, finish with binding and your done.

This sample was done with diagonal straight line machine quilting on my home sewing machine. If you are a new quilter and need to machine quilt with straight lines, check out these straight line machine quilting designs for ideas and inspiration.

Last step is to attach the binding. Not sure how to join the binding ends? Click that link for the full tutorial.

Free Pinwheel Quilt Pattern – BEGINNER QUILTING SUPPLIES

Here are some quilting tools and supplies I recommend. I make a small commission if you purchase through the links, this helps to support this free content. For more info, check out Supplies for Beginners (Best Tools To Start).

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ABOUT SEW NIKKI

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! My name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! My blog has How-To’s, Free Patterns and Pattern Reviews. Read more about me here.

This beautiful quilt was fun to make, perfect project for beginner quilters or the seasoned experienced quilter. I love a good classic quilt pattern, you can make the block in different sizes. This block looks great on table runners, pillows, or for a wall quilt. Pinwheel patterns can get a little bulky in the center of the block so be careful when machine quilting. Go slow over that center and you will be fine.

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Want to learn how to crochet? Then check out this post, How to Learn How to Crochet – Guide for Beginners.

Sew, quilt, crochet and repeat!