Perfect patchwork points
The beautiful secondary patterns that can make patchwork quilts so mesmerising often depend on the points matching perfectly.
The simple windmill block is a good example. Let me show you how to get it just right, and also how to avoid a mountain of seam allowances in the centre, which could make your work bumpy.
Materials needed
- Fabric as per your pattern: a simple way to make windmill blocks is to use 5” squares in two colours or colour values. You will need two squares of each colour for one windmill
- Sewing thread.
Equipment needed
- Sewing machine
- Quarter inch foot with guide- please check on Brother Solutions Center to find the correct compatible foot for your machine, see also our list with all the quarter inch feet options below
- Sharp machine needles – I like using a universal no 60 or 70 for my patchwork
- Fabric marking pen
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Ruler
- Pins – the ones with the flat heads work well
Quarter inch options
- In our pictures we used the Dual Feed Quarter Inch Guide Foot (F076) attachment for Dual Feed Foot. This technology is available on Brother machines in the V-series and higher.
- On all Brother sewing machines you can use the ¼ inch Piecing Foot (F001N) or the ¼ inch Piecing Foot with Guide (F057).
- Another option is the Dynamic Walking Foot Set (F085) used with the Interchangeable Toe Set for Dynamic Walking Foot (F086). Use the ¼ inch foot attachment.
Note: for the piecing method described in this article accuracy is very important. We highly recommend using a ¼ inch foot with a guide.
Step 1
Lay one square of each of your colour groups together, right sides facing and edges aligned precisely. Pin to keep in place.
With your ruler and marking pen, draw a line diagonally across the square from one corner to the opposite.
Tip: mark on the lighter square so it is easier to see your drawn lines.
Step 2
With a ¼” presser foot, sew on both sides of the drawn line.
If you are using the standard quarter inch foot, then place it so the edge is tightly next to the drawn line.
If you are using the Dual Feed quarter inch foot or the quarter inch foot with guide, keep the guide of the foot on the line while sewing.
Step 3
Lay the ruler on the drawn line and cut through with the rotary cutter. You will now have two triangle sets, sewn together, and forming a pieced square when opened up.
Step 4
Press the seams first flat as sewn, then from the right side so the seam allowance lies toward the darker fabric. You will now have two squares, each made up from two triangles.
Step 5
Place two pieced squares together with right sides facing and opposite colours facing each other.Your seam allowances will lie away from each other.
Make sure all edges as well as the seams are aligned. If you fold the one corner up, the two opposite colours should touch with no space in-between. Pin down one side of the square.
Step 6
Sew an accurate ¼” seam from top to bottom of the side.
Step 7
Press the seam and fold open. Press the seam towards the darker fabric.Check that the point where the two darker colours meet on seam is exactly ¼” from the raw edge.
If it is much different, unpick, press the fabric and start again.
Step 8
Repeat with two more squares, so you have two rectangular pieces. Place these two sets together, with right sides, seams and edges aligned. Pin and sew.If you fold it open and have a peek on the right side, you will see a windmill.
Now for the magic: on the wrong side, just above the last seam you have sewn (the one joining the two rectangular pieces), carefully unpick the stitches of the seam that runs at right angles with it.
Unpick only the few stitches in the seam allowance, starting from the raw edge. Do not trim off the loose end! Open the square and lay on the table with wrong side up. Push down with your finger in the centre where all the seams meet, folding them over. Press with the point of your iron and then press the rest of the seam.
Step 9
You will now have one completed windmill block with neat points all meeting in the middle.Create as many pieces as required to achieve the desired quilt size and then sew them together after trimming all of them to the same size.
Tip: remember to do the unpicking trick in the corners where the points meet when you sew the blocks together too!
To make the quilt in the picture
Inspired to make a quilt like the one in our picture? You will need 18 blue and 18 cream squares of 5 or 5½”. If you are using a charm pack, make sure you have enough contrasting sets. You will need one and a half charm packs.
Make nine windmill blocks, square them off and sew them together. We added a small border of 1” wide and then a larger border of 5”. The borders are mitred:
Finally, we added a zingy binding in hot pink, just because we liked it and we can 😊. If you’d like to know how to calculate and attach bindings, you can read it here.
The final measurement of this quilt will be approximately 120 x 120cm.
