Jane's Fabrics and Quilts: The Good Old Nine Patch

Today I would like to pay tribute to the Nine Patch Block. This is one of my favorite blocks. Not only is it versatile but it is simple to construct. This is the perfect block for a beginner quilter and the perfect block for an advanced quilter! There are so many ways you can use this block.

Before we begin the tutorial let’s get inspired! If you take a peek at flickr there are thousands of Nine Patch Quilts to spark your creativity.

Here are a few……

Thank you to Emily from Creative Chicks. This looks like a postcard!

Look at this nine patch. A rainbow puzzle.

Thank you to Suture for a Living for allowing me to share this quilt.

How about this Vintage Nine-Patch Quilt!

I think you will enjoy reading her blog as she is taking it apart and putting it back together.

Thank you Q is for Quilter

Thank you! Red Pepper Quilts

Here is one of her Nine Patch quilts.

I love this one! The white space is calling for some quilting or embroidery.

Thank you Linda!

Are you inspired?

Okey Dokey

Let’s begin!

You can make your block any size you would like. All you need to do is to decide how big you would like your block. If you would like your block to be 9 X 9 inches you would use 3 ½ inch unfinished squares. If you would like your block to be 6 X 6 inches you would use 2 ½ inch unfinished blocks.

That is as much math as I am going to share, not one of my strong points!!

For today I am going to use 2 ½ unfinished squares. In honor of the Wantobe color scheme I am going to use orange and lime green fabrics.

There are two ways to make this block. The first is to cut 9 separate 2 ½ inch squares. That would be fine if you were making just one block. But, a whole quilt that way would take a long time.

So I am going to show you the strip method.

It is easier to sew strips into sets and the re-cut them. Huh?? You say! I will show you……

Cut your fabric into strips, for us 2 ½ by the width of the fabric.

You will end up with a 2 ½ inch strip by 44 inches.

I then cut it again so it is now 2 ½ by 22. ( I like to work in smaller lengths)

Now lay the first set to look like this.....

and the second set to look like this.....

With right sides together and using a 1/4 inch seam sew strips A to B ( you will make two AB sets)

Then to each AB set, sew one more stripe to your sets look like this.

Iron one set of seams to the outside.

And one set of seams to the inside.

I sure hope you are still with me... Pardon me while I take a sip of my coffee!

OK, back to work.

Take your strip sets and put them right sides together.

Try your best to match seams.

Trim and straighten the edges.

Now cut three sets at 2 1/2 inches wide.

(remember if you cut your strips 3 1/2 inches your cross cut would be 3 1/2. If strips are 4 1/2 your cross cut would be 4 1/2. Mine were cut at 2 1/2 thus cross cut at 2 1/2)