Handmade Pinwheels by Design Team Member Amanda Sherman

Summer is here! One of my favorite parts of summers is backyard barbecues with friends. And what backyard get-together is complete without a few decorations? When I saw these little Basic Grey flags, I knew they would be perfect to incorporate into one of my favorite summer items, pinwheels! I remember as a kid being mesmerized by pinwheels for hours. Sigh, it’s the simple things. Even as an adult, I find the simplicity of pinwheels alluring. 

Creating the pinwheels is really easy, regardless of how daunting it might seem.

Begin by cutting a perfect square.  No, you don’t have to have specific measurements or use any math. 

Cut a square to whatever dimensions you want and we’ll use a zero centering ruler to make it easy to cut the panels.

Going diagonally across, center your ruler so the “0” is in the middle, equal distances to the corners.




Using a paper piercer, poke a hole at the 0.



Now, we’ll need to cut the blades.  So use a craft knife and cut from 3/4” to the corner along the straight edge of the ruler.



Next, we need to use the paper piercer and poke a hole in four of the corners (one hole in the same place in each of the four blades).



Now to assemble!  Turn one corner in and insert a brad.  Then fold up the next corners, layering under the first.  Push brad through layer and repeat until all layers are pulled up.



Turn over and secure brad.



I used Beacon 3-in-1 liquid adhesive to adhere the pinwheels to pencils.  I filled a jar with some old pattern tissue (any tissue paper would work) and inserted the pinwheels.  Then I used the same glue to adhere the flags into the pinwheels.

- Amanda Sherman