Saturday, March 26, 2011

More Nine Patches

When I made nine-patches for Debra's American Cancer Society auction quilt a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of a scrap reduction nine-patch project I've had going for a while.  So this afternoon, after the joke quilt was all finished, I got it out and made a few more blocks.

As you can see, this neutral, earth tone palette is very different from Debra's.  The blocks are larger too, finished size of 4 1/2 inches. I love the softness of various browns together, and this quilt will make a good gift for someone else who does.  The pattern is a double nine patch block, with triple sashes and nine patch cornerstones making a chain of small squares throughout the quilt.

Nine patches are much more fun to make since I stumbled on Bonnie Hunter's directions.  I never could get my head around how many and how long the strip sets should be when you make strip sets with three fabrics.  Bonny says to use one kind of strip set about four times the length of the cut squares, and then just cut one extra square from the fabric that goes in the corner.  Slice your strip set into four pieces as though you were going to make four-patch blocks, add the extra square to the end of one piece, and put the block together.

I intended to link to Bonnie's instructions, but I couldn't find them on her site, so this picture should give the idea.  Maybe everyone else already knew this, but it was new to me.  Thank you, Bonnie.  This is just one of many wonderful ideas on her web site.

P.S.  Here's the link to Bonnie's instructions, thanks to Amy of the Calico Cat.

7 comments:

Libby Fife said...

I sure do love those colors! Nine patch blocks have a special place in my heart since that was the first type of block I learned to make. I never had a formula for putting them together en masse but I see what you mean.

Frances Arnold said...

I had never seen Bonnie Hunter's directions for making a nine patch.....it is SO much easier than making two different strip sets!!!!

*karendianne. said...

What a pretty block. I love these earth tones.

The Calico Cat said...

I think her directions are in the Sister's choice pattern. (I like the sisters choice & Bonnies 9-patch method. I love the flexibility of cutting strips just long enough for 1 block...)

The Calico Cat said...

http://www.quiltville.com/sisterschoice.shtml

Rian said...

Aren't those nine patches fun? I enjoyed making them too.

Debra Dixon said...

I could probably overdose on 9 patches.