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Quilt Patterns More than a Nine Patch Quilting How Tos Hand Marbling How to Janet's Books Easy-to-Make Dollhouse Quilts If you've read Rodale Press's Classic American Quilt Series, you've read other books by Janet. She was the freelance writer for eight out of ten books in that series, and continued writing and editing for other Rodale quilting books. She has also been a contributor to other topnotch quilting publications.
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Here's a quick and easy quilt block for you. There are no stretchy bias edges to deal with and it's all strip pieced and rotary cut. The example in this drawing uses four fabrics, but you can select a scrappier assortment of fabrics for your own quilt block. Don't feel you have to use my colors, they're only there to give you suggestions for color value placement. The instructions make two identical blocks. Repeat to make additional quilt blocks, varying the fabrics with each set if you're making a scrappy quilt. Quilt Block Cutting Chart The straight grain should run parallel to the outer edges of all pieces. Use an exact 1/4" seam allowance throughout the block. Cut (4) 2" x 5" strips Cut (1) 2" x 5" strip Cut (2) 2" x 18" strips Assemble the Small Nine Patch Units 1. Sew two 2" x 35" floral strips together lengthwise. Sew the light background strip of the same length to the side of either strip. Carefully press seam allowances toward the center strip. Fabric Strip Option: You can use a 3-1/2" x 35" floral strip instead of the two 2-inch wide floral strips. I chose the narrower strips because I like the extra texture that's created by the piecing, and because using two strips makes it easy to add even more interest by selecting two florals of the same color value. 2. Square-up one end of the strip set. Cut a total of (16) 2" segments from it. Check the leading edge often to make sure it remains at a 90 degree angle with the long edge. (Learn about strip piecing techniques)
width of segments (2" for this block) times the number of units desired + approximately 2" for squaring up/edge corrections = length 3. Sew a shorter floral strip to each side of the 18" dark strip. Press seam allowances away from the center strip. Square up one end of the strip set and cut a total of eight 2" segments from it.
4. Arrange two segments from Step 2 and one segment from Step 3 to form a nine-patch unit. Sew together, matching seams carefully. Press new seams in any direction. Make a total of eight nine-patch units.
5. Sew a 2" x 5" background strip between two nine patch units. Make sure nine patch's are positioned as shown, as mirror images of each other. Press seam allowances away from the center strip. Repeat to make a total of four paired units.
6. Sew a 5" x 5" light background square to each long side of the 2" x 5" dark strip. Press seam allowances towards the dark center. Square up one end of the strip and cut two 2" segments from it.
7. Arrange the components of the quilt block as shown below, turning nine-patch units so top and bottom rows are mirror images of each other. Sew rows together and press. Assemble another block with the remaining pieces.
Quilt Block Options The shades-of-gray drawings below illustrate how the appearance of a quilt can be changed by altering the placement of color value in blocks or by changing the layout of the quilt itself. These examples are just the beginning, there are endless value arrangements for the block. A few other ideas for layout:
That's the beauty of scrap quilts, all of your quilt blocks will come together to form a gorgeous tapestry.
Instructions and Graphics Quilt Guilds: You may use this pattern in your Guild classes provided the instructions are marked with the copyright information above.
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More Than a Nine Patch
Beginning Quilter Tip
