Whirligig Block Tutorial

The whirligig block is lots of fun a goes togeher rather quickly. You don't need a lot of fabric just enough to make 2 5 inch light colored block and 2 5 inch dark colored blocks. It's a fun way to use up scraps.
Step 1:

• Cut a piece of template plastic or thin cardboard into a five inch square.
• Draw a line down the middle of the template.
• mark a 1/4 of an inch on opposite sides of the the line and the template (look at the photo)
• Draw a line from the 1/4 inch mark diagonal across the square.

Step 2:

• Cut the template on the line- there now you have your template for your whirligig.
• Mark the right side so you always cut your fabric the right way!

Step 3:

• Now pick your two fabrics - a light and a dark one to make your whirligig.
• cut 2 light and 2 dark into 5 inch squares.

step 4:

• Stack fabric blocks (right side up)
• place template on block and draw diagonal line.
• Tip: always place your template the same way- to ensure your blocks spin the same direction.

Step 5:

• Cut the blocks on the line- keep them organized because now we have to put them together.

Step 6

• Line up the white with the opposite blue- see picture

Step 7:

• line up diagonal edge of fabric like in the picture and get ready to sew.

Step 8:

• Sew your blocks together with a scant 1/4 inch on the diagonal sides.

Step 9:

• Press to the dark fabric

Step 10:

• Now it's time to square up your blocks because right now they should be rectangular.
• the short end should measure 4 1/2 inches so square the block to 4 1/2 inches (refer to the photo)

• See your nice squared up squares.

Step 11:

• Now you need to place your squares out to make a whirligig- the easiest way to do this is to refer to the photo

Step 12:

• Place 2 of your blocks right sides together in row one and do the same for row two.
• sew them together with a scant 1/4 inch seam.

Step 13:

• press each row the opposite way so you can nest the seams and reduce bulk when you sew your rows to gether

• nesting the seams- refer to the photo

Step 14:

• sew your rows together with your scant 1/4 inch seam

• press your rows open.

There you go a beautiful and whimsical whirligig- now make a whole bunch and put them together to make a whirly fun quilt!