I recently finished my king sized quilt "King George". Can you believe I'm going to add a print border to either side. I still want it just a bit wider.
I contains 250 3" 9 patches. Whew, that's a lot.
My Illinois friends showed me a new technique for making them that is easy, quick and really good for making scrappy patches. I wish I had learned this earlier it would have been great for this quilt.
No Strip 3" (finished) Nine Patch
Cut 2 squares of contrasting fabrics, 4 1/2" each - (one light and one dark)
Place right sides together.
With right sides together, sew the outer edges (all seams 1/4"). I pinned in the middle to keep it lined up nicely.
Cut a 1 1/2" strip from the raw edges on both sides that have been stitched.
Press the pieced strips to the dark side. Line up the free strip with the stitched strips to form opposite sets. Stitch and press again to the dark side.
Now sandwich the them together finger pressing to nestle the seams.
Stitch each side.
Cut 1 1/2" strips from the raw edges on each side.
Arrange the free strip to make 2 opposite 9-patches (an X and a O)
Stitch to complete the set (2 opposite blocks).
I like to press the last seams open to make them lay nice and flat.
In no time at all you'll have a nice little pile of 3 1/2" (3" finished) nine patches!
Is anyone interested in trading some of these blocks? Would you want reproduction patches or new bright patches? I've posted a poll for each one. You can also do both. If there is interest I'll organize and host a swap.
Fun For Friday - a Cat's Tail
Scene: while sorting fabric, Luna enjoys a roll in the fabric pile....Starbuck sneaks in from the hall and pauses.....
Starbuck: Can I play? Luna: I don't think so.....
Starbuck: Please? Luna: I said NO!
Scene: Luna feigned a chase....Starbuck runs for the hall.
Luna: Victory is MINE !
Have a great weekend. The Swap Poll will be open until July 15th.
44 comments:
Great technique. I'm in who can't use some nine patches?
Silly kitties!!
Your quilt is looking fabulous! Really great idea for making lots of 9-patches too! Thanks for sharing.
The quilt is beautiful. I have to print out those instructions....what a great way to make 9paches.
BTW who wouldn't love toroll in the fabic? LOL
Ooooo, by George, I have to submit. He is inspiring. I'm in for the reproduction swap.
King George looks great! I made red and white nine patches with this technique; they turn out so perfectly!
Love your quilt and thanks for sharing a very cool technique. You knew perfectly what your kitties were thinking! Ha
Your kitties and the commentary are so cute! I'm sure that is exactly what they were thinking. Cool technique on the nine patches I might have to try that. If you do a swap I would be more interested in repros. Sounds fun!
I'd have to look at the directions ever single time to make the 9 patches, but it does look pretty slick!
The kitties are too funny!
Great quilt! I have never seen this method, will definitely try it I hate cutting strips.
Love King George!
What a great way to make 9-patches. I so want to join in the swap but do I have time? My sewing room isn't even close to functional yet. I'll think on it. Thanks for sharing this method.
Great post Barb, fun and informative! I would do a nine-patch swap, repro or brights, either one. Thanks.
I love nine patches, so your quilt and technique gave me lots of smiles! Can't wait to try out the technique - thanks! And I'm in for a swap; voted for repro, but would do anything.
I love this idea - thanks for sharing!
Your quilt looks so great! Good for you, taking the time to make it as large as you want. Too often, I've pooped out on a quilt and been sorry that it doesn't really fit the bed. Very cool 9 patch trick! Fun cat story too!
King George is a great quilt. What kind and/or color of fabric do you envision for the border?
Love the cat narration, Barb. : )
That is a great 9-patch technique. I will have to give it a try. Wish I could join the swap, but I am two months behind schedule already. I will not be a happy camper if I take on more right now.
you're right, that is a lot of nine patches~! but the quilt is looking great.
i've not seen them put together like this before but it looks pretty efficient. thank you for the great tutorial.
i will consider whether i can make time for some trading of these blocks . . . it would be a good way to further use up some of my scraps but making the time might be tricky.
loved seeing your kitty's antics as they played together.
:-)
libbyQ
Love the quilt, will you hand quilt this one ? Great kitty story, too funny.
Kathie
I've never seen that method before, but it's great and definitely one I'll use in the future.
I'd love to join the swap, but as I live in the UK, the postage would be prohibitive I'm afraid.
I love your King George quilt. The technique for 9-patches is genius! Now, I hope I can remember that when I have to make 9-patches. Thanks for sharing.
I'd be interested in the reproduction fabric 9-patch swap! Off to find the poll.
Ha ha kitties! What fun that you were able to capture them in action.
I love the idea of a 9-patch swap but maybe in the fall; I'd vote for repros.
Now I'm feeling the urge to rush straight to the sewing room to try out that new-to-me technique.
George is looking mighty fine!
I have seen that technique before but never tried it. I think I will have to give it a try, you made it look so easy. I love the idea of a 9-patch swap....I love 9-patches. But, maybe in the fall. I already cast my vote.
Your method looks great...I've saved it to use later. The idea of a 9 patch swap sounds great...but not with repros! Your narrations and photos of Starbuck and Luna are just tooo funny!
King George is wonderful - are you going to quilt it? Great technique, haven't seen it before, thanks for posting.
Your King George quilt took some stick-to-it-iveness! After all that work, I'd want to make sure it was the best size for use, too.
Great method for nine patches! The things people figure out....
Love your King George quilt! Would absolutely love to participate in a block swap - reproduction for me please! I'm going to stop working in two months after 34 years - woo hoo! So I'll have more time to sew from now on! Thanks so much for showing the tutorial!
I"ve been doing 4 patch blocks like this and I love it, especially when they finish out at 1" squares. Not fiddly at all. I'm swapping 300 4 patchs so what the heck, I'll start making some 9 patches at the same time. Shirtings and repros??? or just mixed light and dark? or both. I know, the swap hasn't started, hehe OK, I'll wait to hear from you. Thanks for hosting this, I've done 2 9patch swaps already and both quilts are in my top 10 fav's.
I love your King George quilt!! Thanks for sharing thaty great way of making 9 patches! I'd love to be part of the swap!! It would be a great chance to use some of my repro stash.
What a great way to make 9-patches! Thanks for the tute Barb.
Wonderful post..gotta save this technique..
That is so cool - I've never seen 9 patches made that way. Congrats on getting all 250 9 patches made :0) you must be so pleased to have this top finished. So do you know how you want to quilt it?
Beautiful quilt!
I am in! Haven't worked with repro fabrics in a while. It will be fun!
Love the technique. I am trying it today.
Barb, I would love to swap some nines...how fun!!
I would be interested in 9 swapping!! Repros are what I have most of. Awesome quilt Barb!
That is an awesome quilt. Thanks for sharing that neat technique to make the 9patch.
Does your black cat have two different colored eyes?
I'm definitely going to try that method for 9-patches! And I would like to join the exchange, but it looks like I may be too late. I love your patriotic quilts!
Thank you sew much for the great tutorial - I am definitely going to try this method!
I just swooning over this quilt----it is lovely! I love that brown-ey coloration..I will definitely experiment with that 9-patch technique--am deep in my "Where in the world is Tommy" scrappy fest right now. Amazing use of the G>W> fabric! What can I say--I am so jealous of that quilt!! hugs, Julierose
Hello, brilliant tutorial! Thank you for sharing.
I took the liberty of linking to this post on a French quilters forum. I hope you don't mind. If so, let me know and i'll remove the link. Beatrice.
Hi Barb--I am collecting fabrics for my 9-patches...I LOVE the George fabric...I got only one yard so have only 8..
Figure 5 for a lap quilt and two for the back....am thinking pinky-brown for my patches...thanks for this great way to make tiny 9-patches. I love it!! Hugs, Julierose
P.S. I cannot imagine doing a KING size quilt--am machining a lap quilt now and my shoulders are saying "ooof-dah".
Great technique! Thanks for the tutorial, I'm going to try that one on today!!
This is great! I'm going to share it with my daughter - she makes these all the time. I don't know if she does it this way or not.
Wow! This is a neat way of making 9 patch blocks. Thanks for sharing. I will follow this method from now on. Now, what am I going to do with all the 1.5 strips I've cut already? ;^)
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