Did someone say candy? Tis the season for peppermints and chocolates, lots of chocolates! Everywhere I see the red and white of the fabulous peppermint puff candy that just melts in your mouth.  Here is a block in honor of those candies we love!

This block finishes at 6" or 12" square.

6" Block	12" Block
From white fabric, cut: (2) 3” squares,  (2) 2 1/2"" squares, (2) 1 3/4" x 10" strip	From white fabric, cut: (2) 5" squares, (2) 3" squares, (2) 1 1/2" x 22" strips
From red print #1, cut: (2) 3" squares, (2) 2 1/2" squares, (2) 1 3/4" x 10"strip	From red print #1, cut: (2) 5" squares, (2) 3" squares, (2) 1 1/2" x 22" strips

Make Half Square Triangle Units (HSTs), (6" Block in parentheses)

1. The center pinwheel and the corner units are HSTs.  For the center pinwheel place the 5"(3") red and white squares right sides together. For the corner units do the same with the 3"(2 1/2") red and white squares

2. Draw a diagonal line on the white square. Stitch with a 1/4" seam on both sides of the drawn line. Cut on the line. Press the seam to the red.

3. Square up the pinwheel HST units to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"(2 1/4" x 2 1/4")

4. Square up the corner HST units to 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" (1 3/4" x 1 3/4")

Make the Pinwheel Block

1. Lay out your 4 blocks with the red corners pointing in the right direction to give the pinwheel design.  Join 2 block together,  press seams in opposite directions.  Pin the block pairs, nesting the center seams and stitch. This seam can be pressed open to reduce bulk or in either direction.

2. Trim the center pinwheel block if needed to 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" (4" x 4")

Make Strip Sets For Borders

1. Using the 1 1/2" x 22" strips ( 1 3/4" x 10") , stitch together in pairs red/white, press to the red, join the pairs together an press the final seam to the red.

2. Sub-cut the 1 1/2" strip set into (8) 2 1/2".  For the 6" block sub-cut (4) 1 3/4".

3. For the 12" block join (2) 2 1/2" units, press to the red to form 4 border units.

4. For the 6" block use only one of the sub-cuts (1 3/4" x 4") per border. If your strip set unit is a bit larger than 4", take a little bit larger seam between the units.

Final Block Piecing

1. Lay out the units for your block.  Place the border units in the same orientation to form an alternating color scheme around the center.

2. Join the corner HST units to the pieced border. Press toward the border.

3. Join a border unit to the left and right side of the pinwheel center block. Press seam toward the pinwheel block.

4. Pin the top and bottom units to the center pinwheel, stitch, and press toward the center.

This block finishes at 6" or 12" square.

Blessings for a joyous Christmas!

Pam Mildren

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