February Quilt Block - 9 Patch 12"

[Fi]

Just getting a head start for February since we are almost there!

Feb is going to be a basic 9-patch block. This will consolidate on your ability to sew straight lines, but it will introduce meeting points - an essential skill in Patchwork.

I am going to offer instructions for a slightly more complicated option, but essentially the fabric requirements will be the same.
______________________________________________
Fabric requirements

Bare minimum - 2 types of contrasting fabric (A and B)
Fabric A: total size 9" x 9"
Fabric B: total size 13.5" x 9"
______________________________________________

We don't need a template for this one, its just 4.5" squares sewn together in a 3x3 grid
http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltblock ... lock_2.htm

For a more complicated block, you can look at the Double 9-patch option.
http://www.quiltingassistant.com/doubleninepatch.html

For tips and tricks on how to make your points match - check out my blog starting Feb1st. I'll help you with your cutting, sewing and most importantly - how to get those pesky points matching.

I'll be doing a few of these - these are really great for using up 5" charm squares, and there is no reason you have to do them in 2 colours only.
My versions will give you the confidence to try anything in your stash. It would also be nice if we could do a few of these to donate to charity.

So - not trying to get you all panicky about February, but just to keep the momentum going for the project.

Post any questions queries down below!
____________________________________________________

[Plingie]

Oh yay!! This looks cool. Can you do a mix of basic and complicated? IE 4 squares made of the small squares and then 5 plain, large squares? (I hope that makes sense!!)

[Fi]

Yep
I think for one of mine I'm going to do the double 9 patch in the centre only, while on the other I'm going to double-9-patch the 5 squares.

[Plingie]

Oh yay, cool! I think I'll just do a complicated middle peice then normal other bits.

[Khai]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, maybe I should do this one first.

[Fi]

This is actually harder than Jan - in this block you have to match points up where as in Jan its just sewing strips.
If you want a good result - its a much higher level of accuracy.

[Joanne]

I'm thinking that after making those two variations, I might try and make one where the light squares are actually made up of 9 light patches, and the darks made of 9 darks .... wonder what that would look like?

[Fi]

OOh - that sounds nice. You could do a colour wash effect.

[Joanne]

Can you explain 'colour wash' please?

[Fi]

This page has some awesome examples of colourwash.
http://exuberantcolor.blogspot.com/p/co ... uilts.html
Its where you use the colours to go from dark to light.
It could be nice in a double 9 patch And would use lots of little scraps up.

[Joanne]

Wow Fi. I thought it was something like that, but wasn't sure. So much to look at in those quilts!

I went past the Quilt Barn in Marlborough yesterday, and they had The Hoffman Challenge quilts on display, plus others. There was one there that was inspired by the $10 note. It was pleated, when you looked from one side you was Sir Ed, ice pick and silver fern, looking from the other side you saw the Himalyas. Quite inspiring and makes you start thinking a bit laterally
The Hoffman ones (where they are not allowed to be rectangualr or square) are really interesting.

And yes, some of their quilt supplies came home with me! LOL

[Fi]

I think my mother first started that challenge in NZ (based on a USA comp)
We used to get to see all of them as they came in to the shop - very cool.
Some of the super talented people out there stun me.

[missymoomoo]

I love 9 patch blocks.

Here is another take on it, http://valentinequiltworks.blogspot.com ... quilt.html

[Plingie]

missymoomoo, that's awesome! And what a neat, simple trick.

Does that make the finished block smaller though, because you cut the block and resew, using a seam allowance?

[Fi]

Yep - if you wanted to do that with the block you would need to start with slightly larger squares.