Here is the tutorial for "Whirligigs", our May mystery quilt.  Hope it proves helpful to you.  We welcome any ideas and suggestions to improve.  (We hope to become better photographers along the way.)

Have fun!!

Cut 12 - 7 inch squares from each of  the plain red, red print, yellow polka dot and yellow floral.  Match the plain red with the yellow polka dot - right sides facing.  Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner on the back of one of the squares.  Sew 1/4 inch on both sides of the lines.

Cut apart on the drawn lines as well as half way horizontally and vertically. 

Square each of the blocks to 3 inches.   (I love the Quilt In A Day triangle square up ruler for this.  Place the 3 inch line of the ruler on the seam line of the unopened half square triangles.  Sorry - the photo shows it on the edge, it should be on the seam - do as I say, not as I show.) 

Clip the excess seam points and press open, creating a total of eight - 3 inch half square triangle blocks.  Press toward the red.  

Repeat with the remaining red print and yellow polka dot squares and then with the red squares with the yellow floral.

Using eight each of the two color combinations, assemble as in the photo below to create twelve whirligig blocks.

The finished block.  You will need twelve.

To create the corner posts, sew the yellow polka dot 1 ¼” x width of fabric strip between the two red 1 ¾” x width of fabric pieces.  Sew along the length of the strips.  Press toward the yellow. 

 Sub cut to create 20 – 1 ¼” segments. 

Sew a 1 ¾” x 3 ¾” red to each side of these segments.  Press toward the yellow. 

Create the sashing strips by sewing a 1 ¼” x 10 ½” striped fabric between two 1 ¾” x 10 ½” inch yellow polka dot pieces.  Press towards the yellow polka dot.  Repeat to create 31 units.

Lay the blocks out in four rows of three blocks. 

Sew a sashing unit in between each of the three blocks in the rows and one to both ends.

Create 5 sashing/corner post rows by sewing three sashing units between four corner post units. 

Sew a sashing row between the four block rows and to the top and bottom.

(We got a little ahead of the photo taking in our exitement to see the finished quilt top.  I think you can see how the sashing and blocks all go together from the photo.)

Sew the final border to the quilt.  Quilt as desired.  Bind and enjoy!

The finished quilt top (above).

I think it makes a fun splash of color in the garden (below).

Thanks for participating!  Have fun making your whirligig quilt. 


Please join us for the June mystery quilt.  Here is a peak at some of the fabrics we'll be using.

Happy Quilting!