Hello again!
I thought I would explain what a disappearing 9-patch is for those of you non-quilters out there who check into my blog once in awhile. š
You’re welcome! š
A nine patch block is made up of 9 squares (patches) that are sewn together in three rows of three. Usually (but not always) alternating light and dark patches. Here is one of the nine-patches that is going into the Australia Quilt,:
Now let’s make it disappear!
First I am going to cut it exactly in half, using the center block as my guide. That’s right – take a deep breath and slice that baby in half!
Now, without disturbing it, rotate your mat and cut again the other direction, exactly in half, again measuring from the left side of the center square:
Now lets make it disappear!
Flip the top left and bottom right blocks around so they are facing the other way:
Like so:
And Ta Da! Your nine-patch has disappeared!
Ordinarily you would sew them together at this point:
However! Here’s a twist – the pattern I’m following calls for some extra white space added in. So I’ve sewn strips down the center to open it up a bit. Now the disappearing nine-patches look like this:
Here’s a recap: From standard nine-patches:
To disappearing nine-patches (with a spacer strip):
And here’s another disappearing 9-patch quilt top done the regular way (without the spacing strips):
Pretty cool, eh?
Stay tuned for the next installment of Australia Quilt as I become a maverick and leave the pattern directions behind and head off in my own direction!
I love the idea of adding the narrow white strips to this quilt and will plan on using it on my first vanishing 9 patch quilt.
My husband and I were in Australia several years ago for a 10 day visit with friends in Brisbane and have a deep appreciation for your amazing country. I tried in vain to find “Australian” fabrics to make a quilt as a reminder of our adventure, so I am thrilled to see the lovely fabrics used in your quilt. At least I was able to purchase a beautiful scarf with a Norman Cox design that I treasure.
I have just found this blog post via Pinterest. I have mad several disappearing 9 patch quilts but never thought of sashing between blocks
Oops… Your quilt is lovely and Iām not usually a great fan of ethnic prints, but those are lovely. Did you do an Australia Quilt 3 post?
I think the added white strips really make the pattern jump out. How wide are those strips? If I knew, I could make one of my own.
Beautiful. I love your spirit.
Thank you very much! I love this idea. I will have my grandchildren reproduce this using paper. I think it will be fun!
Great tutorial on the disappearing 9-patch! I done a couple and I’m always amazed when I’m done. I need to get into my sewing room and have some fun soon. (I have a project I need to finish for someone else and it seems to have put a damper on my creativity.) Thanks for the inspiration and for stopping by my blog.
Very “cool” for “hot” Australian fabrics!! š
I was looking for a quick and easy pattern to use with a new set of fat quarters I got…thanks for this inspiration Nita!
Thanks for you’re great instructions and diagrams. I also liked the small sashing on the cut edges of of the completed disappearing 9 patch. Thanks again. P. S. If I wanted to find your page again how would I go about doing that? SHERRYLYNNE l am new to all of this.
As a new quilter, I was so happy with my nine patch squares, I almost did not cut them. Used the disappearing nine patch for a wedding quilt for my daughter. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
Beautiful quilts! I made one in Sweetwater fabrics ( a Christmas line) and it was a lot of fun. Like your spacing strips! Thanks for sharing.