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Free Weathervane Variation Quilt Block Pattern

    Today we’re going to piece together this traditional Weathervane Variation quilt block. What makes this Weathervane quilt block different is the pinwheel in the middle! Not hard to do – just squares and Flying Geese units – so let’s get started!

    weathervane variation quilt block

    Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Weathervane Variation Quilt Block:

    • Light/White: 8 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 2.5″ x 2.5″ squares
    • Medium/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles
    • Medium/Pink: 12 – 2.5″ squares
    • Dark/Blue: 20 – 2.5″ squares

    fabric requirements

    Sewing Directions:

    Flying Geese Units:

    Step 1:

    The first Flying Geese units we’re going to make are the Light/White and Dark/Blue ones shown below. Using the Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles and 16 of the Dark/Blue 2.5″ squares, make a total of 8 Flying Geese units. You can find my tutorial for making a “no trimming necessary” Flying Geese block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block

    weathervane variation 1

    Step 2:

    Now we’re going to make four Flying Geese units using the Medium/Blue 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles and eight of the Medium/Pink 2.5″ squares as shown in the picture below.

    weathervane variation 2

    Two Patch Unit:

    Step 3:

    Now we’re going to sew a Medium/Pink 2.5″ square and a Dark/Blue 2.5″ square together and press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Blue fabric as shown below. Repeat for a total of four Two Patch units.

    weathervane variation 3

    Pinwheel Units:

    Step 4:

    Sew together one of the Two Patch units (Step 3) and one of the Medium/Blue & Medium/Pink Flying Geese units (Step 2) as shown in the picture below.

    weathervane variation 4

    Step 5:

    Press the seam allowance away from the Flying Geese unit as shown below. Repeat for a total of four Pinwheel units.

    weathervane variation 5

    Block Center:

    Step 6:

    Lay out the Step 5 Pinwheel units as shown below. 

    weathervane variation 6

    Step 7:

    Sew the Pinwheel units into two rows as shown in the picture below.

    weathervane variation 7

    Step 8:

    And press the seam allowances as shown below.

    weathervane variation 8

    Step 9:

    Now you can sew the two rows together and …

    weathervane variation 9

    Step 10:

    Press the seam allowances. I used the tweak/twirl/furl method as you can see in the picture below. (This is a cute block all by itself!)

    weathervane variation 10

    Border Units:

    Step 11:

    To make the Border units, sew two of the Step 1 Flying Geese units together end to end and press the seam allowance open as shown in the picture below. Repeat for a total of four Border units.

    weathervane variation 10

    Putting It All Together:

    Step 12:

    Lay out the center Pinwheel unit, the Border units, and four of the Light/White 2.5″ squares according to the picture below. From here, the Weathervane Variation quilt block goes together like a simple Nine Patch block.

    weathervane variation 12

    Step 13:

    Now we can sew the units into three rows as shown below.

    weathervane variation 13

    Step 14:

    And press the seam allowances away from the Light/White & Dark/Blue Flying Geese units as shown in the picture below.

    weathervane variation 14

    Step 15:

    Sew the three rows together and we’ve done! Well, except for the pressing.

    weathervane variation 14

    Step 16:

    Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown in the picture below. All finished!

    weathervane variation 16