Thank you for all of your comments on my most recent project ~ the Nine Patch Checkerboard Quilt! A few readers have inquired about what the best way is to sew and press seams of the Nine Patch blocks so that all of the seams nest when sewing blocks together into a quilt top, and so here today a quick and easy tutorial.
I have made each nine-patch block with just two fabrics (a light fabric, and a dark/er fabric) and I have alternated the layout of the fabrics; one Nine Patch block has a dark center fabric and matching corner fabrics, and the next Nine Patch block has a light center fabric with matching corner fabrics, thereby creating a checkerboard look when the blocks are alternated.
I have strip pieced the Nine Patch Blocks - making two blocks at a time :: one light block and one dark block.
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| Click on images for larger view. |
STEP 1: Using a 1/4 inch seam sew fabric strips together into two strip sets as pictured, and press seams towards the dark fabric (as indicated by the arrows).
STEP 2: Cross-cut both strip sets at 2.5 inch intervals ~ cut 3 units from each strip set:
Here is what the wrong side looks like - seams are pressed toward the dark fabric:
STEP 3: Arrange the 6 units into two nine patch blocks - one dark Nine Patch block (left) and one light Nine Patch block (right):
STEP 4: Using a 1/4 inch seam sew units into two Nine Patch blocks:
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| Each Nine Patch Block measures 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches including seam allowances. Each individual finished square measures 2" x 2". |
Press seams as pictured:
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| Dark Nine Patch block (left) :: Seams are pressed away from the center. Light Nine Patch block (right) : : Seams are pressed towards the center. |
Alternating these two light and dark Nine Patch blocks in your quilt layout will create a checkerboard design and all of your seams will nest for easy sewing and seam matching.
And in case you would like to work with smaller/larger patchwork units:
1 inch finished squares : : cut 6 fabric strips (3 light/3 dark) 1.5 inches x 5 inches : : cross-cut the strip set at 1.5 inch intervals.
nine-patch block measures 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches (incl. seam allowances).
3 inch finished squares : : cut 6 fabric strips (3 light/3 dark) 3.5 inches x 11 inches : : cross-cut the strip set at 3.5 inch intervals.
nine-patch block measures 9.5 inches x 9.5 inches (incl seam allowances).
Any questions? Please feel free to ask by leaving a comment, and I will reply in the comments section.
Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Tutorials
Nine Patch Checkerboard Quilt - in progress
Bloomsbury Gardens - Nine Patch Checkerboard Quilt 2013
Thanks for sharing your technique Rita....ways straight forward and aesthetically appealing.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I have struggled with this each time I've made 9-patches.
ReplyDeletethank you for the tutorial, Rita - I've been wondering for awhile about how to sewing this pattern, I made once with open seam, though will avoid too much bulk.. but I felt upset with the result because the thread wasn't strong enough to hold and always end up with 'open' space between Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteOk...that whale fabric is adorable! Would be fun to do a whole quilt in that! Thanks, as always, for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience with us Rita!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Rita. I have to admit that I fail at ironing properly! I've often thought that a cute checkerboard framing a larger piece that I didn't want to cut up would be cute....now I won't shy away from that idea!:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the alternate measurements. I love the airiness of the quilt when your light fabrics have a lot of white in them.
ReplyDeleteRosemary B here:
ReplyDeleteI appreciate so much that you share your technique and creativity.
Thank you
This quilt is very cute.
How large is this quilt that you made? 48 x 72? just guessing.
It is marvelous. And then you just scatter the doubles?
So cool.
PS: I have SO MUCH old cute fabric. I could make 50 quilts like this. I plan to bring my featherweight over to my 91 year old parents place (now that they are safely tucked away in a fancy retirement prison - j/k but they are safe) and piece piece piece.
DeleteThanks so much for the instructions. Definitely on my to do list!
ReplyDeleteI will try this next time. I think I will sew a scant quarter. My blocks come out to 6.25 before being attached to the next block. Thank you Rita for your help. Your quilt is beautiful, your colors wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt and thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial ! :)
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DeleteThey really do nest!! I've been working on this for many days and am pleased to say it WORKS
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