Simple to Spectacular - the Nine Patch Block

I’m thrilled the quilter’s world is full of creative people! Take the Nine Patch block design for example, oh, my, goodness!

Creating a simple “Nine Patch” is pretty self-explanatory ~ take 9 squares of equal size fabric (say 4.5"), stitch three together, 3 more together, and another 3 together, then stitch the 3 rows to make the block - clear as mud, I know!

A simple 9 patch quilt can be stunning within itself! It's all about color and placement. I found these on Pinterest after searching "9-Patch":

Nine patch blocks also works beautifully with other blocks. For examples I went again to Pinterest!

(Have you noticed, I love Pinterest! It's the greatest thing since sliced bread!)

Nine patch blocks mixed with Half Square Triangles,
like we did yesterday!

Or, a same-size solid block will make the 9 patch block pop out nicely, like this one!

I took a "simple" nine patch with narrow sashing, and created a wall hanging for my niece... look closely, it's a completed Sudoku puzzle! I shared how I worked it out last year in this article.

But, how do we take a simple nine patch block and make them even more spectacular without all the tedious detailed work?

I made 3 of these nine patch blocks (each for the bottom/top of this quilt), keeping the color/print arrangement the same on each block I created.

I cut the blocks up like Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Company shows in her video, rearranged, then re-stitched, making the 9 patches “disappear”! I wrote about it in detail back in March, and shared Jenny’s amazing video!

While looking through Pinterest, I’m discovering the “disappearing 9-patch” is as versatile in arranging to make different “looks” as a log cabin block… it’s all in how you turn the “mini blocks” and stitch back together!

This is a lovely disappearing 9-patch quilt a friend of mine recently created!

Great job, Ellie!
I love the way she arranged the "mini blocks"
and added sashing!

In researching for this article, I stumbled upon cutting a nine patch diagonally (both ways) then re-stitching! Take a look at how Scraps of This and That blog explained with lots of pictures! I’ve not yet tried this, but it is high on my to-do list!

Just one more... she calls it the Double Trouble Disappearing Nine Patch! Clever lady!

Experiment. Play. Enjoy!

Sudoku Mini Quilt Wall Hanging

Somewhere, several months ago, I ran across a Sudoku quilt someone had created putting several puzzles together to make a full size quilt. I thought I had pinned it, but can’t find it now! Suffice it to say, it was lovely and inspired me to create a simple wall hanging based on the Sudoku pattern.

What is Sudoku?

Wikipedia describes it as a “logic-based, combinational number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9x9 gird with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 sub-grids that compose the grid (also called “boxes”, “blocks”, “regions”, or “sub-squares”) contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.”

When creating this simple Sudoku Mini Quilt Wall Hanging, I encountered a few challenges: 

• Selecting nine coordinating colors for the actual puzzle! Fortunately, I had my mother with me, an artist with a keen sense of color! The “tenth” color – I used a dark brown print - for the dark bold line separating the “sub-squares”.
• I purchased 1/4 yard each. I decided to use one of the colors as the backing, so that color I purchased a full yard. (I’m thinking with this size wall hanging, fat quarters would have worked just as well – but don’t forget about the binding, too!)
• Finding small prints to show up within the finished 1.5” square (the size I wanted)
• Keeping the “number” color separate/identified

I began by drawing out the puzzle on a piece of paper, then color coding the squares to represent numbers 1 – 9.

Using “snack” size baggies, I marked a number on each baggie, to keep the individual nine cut squares – per color - separate. Then I began cutting out my squares!

What size individual squares do you want finished?

Whatever that is, add a half inch (for your quarter inch seam allowance!)

Following the diagram closely, I positioned each “sub-square” together,

then stitched the pieces together.

The three rows then went to the ironing board.

On each sub-square, I pressed the center row toward the center square. The two outside rows, press away from the center square.

Two sub-squares received the strip of dark brown, the “bold” line, on the bottom.

I learned quickly to immediately sew the strip on the appropriate line.

Always, always, always, as you go, check the placement before sewing the sub-squares together… I had to rip out twice when I placed a row up-side-down, which invalidated the puzzle!

Press Press Press (DO NOT IRON) - What's the difference? Read about it here!  

Clip away all dangling threads

Once the “top” is stitched together, and the puzzle complete/accurate, sandwich the batting between the top (right side up) and backing (facing down). 

I started out machine quilting (3.5 stitch length) simply around the sub-square. It didn’t quilt it enough for me, so I continued with a “stitch in the ditch” technique within each nine square.

I never can remember how to miter corners when binding. I now have saved the .pdf document HeatherBailey so generously provided showing/explaining the amazing directions!

Then I went in search how to prepare the quilt for hanging and found this delightful tutorial at PatchworkPottery. I did make my corners larger (7”) than what she suggested.

Ta-Da!

Happy Creating!