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Do you like to make quilts that are designed around just one quilt block? Twirling Windmills is a fast and easy quilt that you’ll enjoy making with this free Twirling Windmills quilt tutorial.
Twirling Windmills Quilt Tutorial
Twirling Windmills has to be one of the easiest and fastest quilts to make when you cut your batik fabrics with a AccuQuilt GO! Electric cutter. This block reminds me of all of the turbo windmills we have here in Iowa. I’m Connie and I have a fast and easy tutorial for you.
Use templates instead of AccuQuilt dies
I thought I would share this tutorial on my blog and also include directions and a template that you can use if you don’t have the AccuQuilt cutter and die – of course if you have the dies, it takes no time at all to cut out your quilt!
If you would like a printable PDF file for the Twirling Windmills by the Sea Shore Quilt Tutorial that includes the free templates, fill out the form below.
Twirling Windmills by the Sea Shore Quilt
Finished size is 36″ x 54″
It would be very easy to make this quilt larger or smaller. The finished block size is 12″.
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GO! Fabric Cutter: You can use all of them
GO! Cutting Dies:
- GO! 12″ Qube – die used #55724 3 1/2 inch x 6 1/2 inch rectangle
- GO! #55411 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 Rectangle
- GO! #55017 2 1/2″ Strip Cutter
Fabric:
- 2 yards light batik for back ground
- 1/2 yard medium teal batik
- 1 yard dark teal batik (this includes 1/2 yard for binding)
- 2 yards backing fabric
Cutting the blocks with the AccuQuilt dies:
- Cut 96 light batik rectangles with the #55724 rectangle die.
- Cut 96 light batik half rectangle triangles with the #55411 – die.
- Cut 48 medium batik half rectangles with the #55411 – die.
- Cut 48 dark batik half rectangles with the #55411 – die.
Directions to cut the blocks without using the AccuQuilt dies:
- Cut 96 light batik rectangles – 3 ½” x 6 ½”.
- Cut 96 light batik half rectangles with the half rectangle template.
- Cut 48 medium batik half rectangles with the half rectangle template.
- Cut 48 dark batik half rectangles with the half rectangle template.
I am using batik fabrics from Island Batik, from the Sea Shore collection. The wonderful thing about using batiks is that both sides look the same.
- Sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
- Follow the diagram below to help piece your blocks.
- It is so easy to match the pieces with the dog-eared corners.
Make 4 sections for each block, press your seams to the light fabric.
Lay out the 4 sections for each blocks as shown below and then sew together. You have made your first block!
Originally I was going to make a Twirling Windmills crib quilt but I had so much fun making the blocks that I decided to make a larger quilt.
Make 24 Twirling Windmills blocks
- Layout your quilt with 6 rows of 4 blocks alternating the medium teal and dark teal blocks.
- Layer your backing and batting – quilt as desired.
- I did a free motion stipple quilting using Aurifil thread in a medium teal color.
- Cut your binding strips 2 1/2″ using the AccuQuilt GO! #55017 2 1/2″ Strip Cutter die.
- Join the strips, press in half and sew to the front of the quilt.
- Finish your binding by machine using my Add Binding By Machine Tutorial or by hand.
I hope you have enjoyed the fast and easy Twirling Windmills tutorial made with the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter and GO! dies. If you are looking for more ideas for using the GO! Qube Mix & Match 12 inch Block (55778) and the GO! 12 Inch Companion Set you might enjoy some of my previous quilt tutorials.
- Summer Flower Table Runner Tutorial
- Chinese Forget Me Not Wall Hanging
- Harrison Rose Table Runner Tutorial
- Crystal Table Topper Tutorial
Twirling Windmills by the Sea Shore Quilt Tutorial
Here is another quilt that I made using the same block but it was a little smaller. I made this as a baby gift and I’m not sure what size the block is. I think I made it with the 6″ Qube set.
Twirling Windmills is a fast and easy quilt that you’ll enjoy making with this free tutorial. Use one simple block to create it. If you have a AccuQuilt GO! cutter, you can use that. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Follow the diagram below to help piece your Lay out the 4 sections for each blocks as shown There is a template that you can use to cut out your half square rectangle shapes linked in the blog post. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Twirling Windmills Quilt Tutorial
Materials
Tools
Instructions
the half rectangle template
the half rectangle template
blocks.
Make 4 sections for each block, press your seams
to the light fabric.
below and then sew together. You have made your first block!
Make 24 Twirling Windmills blocks
Notes
Recommended Products
Joline Moore
I must not be doing something right on the website. I have found the printable copy of this wonderful looking quilt, but I do not see any templates to cut it by hand instead of with the machine. I do not have a template maker….so need to have the paper template copy? It is not on the printable template. I tried going through the blog and through the tutorial and through every way I could. Can you please tell me how to access a copy of the template so I can print it out and try making this beautiful quilt.
Thanks.
Pitsa Davey
Hi Connie, My friend and I are looking forward to making this beautiful quilt. We don’t have the AccuQuilt and will need to use the template you provided. Although the 1″ square is to scale when printed, it would seem the measurement of the rectangle and half rectangle are not. Can you please confirm that when NOT using the AccuQuilt that the cut measurements of the rectangle is 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″and half rectangle is the 3 1\2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangle cut on the diagonal. We are hoping the start the project this weekend. Thanks so much.
Connie
The measurements are correct, if you print the page and check “Print Actual Size” – you’ll have the correct measurements of 3½ x 6½. Good luck!
Barbara Gaddy
Love it
Connie
Thanks Barbara!
Brenda Ackerman
Hello Connie! What a lovely quilt you have created! I especially loved the darker teal fabric you chose, but when used with the other fabrics it all worked to splendidly together and created quite a soothing and inviting quilt to snuggle with. Thank you for your great tutorial. If my friend has these templates, I will get them cut out when I see her next week. If not, it will be awhile but I will make it with the templates. Thank you so much for sharing! Have a great day!
Connie
I’m so glad you like it Brenda and I hope your friend has the die. Otherwise have fun cutting with the templates!
Vicki in MN
Love this block/quilt. I have the bloc loc half rectangle that I could use for this. I might get a different size block but I can adjust the rest easily, thanks girlfriend!
Connie
You are so welcome Vicki! I have made this block in other sizes too.
Lu
Thank you Connie for providing this great tutorial to make this cute quilt. You are just so generous.
Connie
You are so welcome Lu!
Danice
Very pretty quilt and pattern. Yes, thank you for sharing it.
Connie
Thanks Danice!
Linda Douglas
Thank You so much for sharing this beautiful Quilt + pattern+tutorial too! Beautiful photo of your project!
Connie
Thanks Linda, I’m glad you liked it!
Sherry
Gorgeous quilt with the softest ocean colors of Island Batik fabrics. I really think I could sew this block. Gorgeous Connie…<3
Connie
LOL, I KNOW you could sew this easy block Sherry! Thanks
QuiltShop Gal
Beautiful quilt and great tutorial. I think I need to get the GO! #55411 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 Rectangle die.
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
Connie
Thanks Darlene, this is one of my favorite and most used dies!
Ariane
This is a beautiful quilt. Thanks for the tutorial!!
Connie
Glad you enjoyed it Ariane!