Disappearing 9 Patch ... Diagonal Cut Tutorial (or split cut 9 patch)

Ever wonder what to do with a fat eighth?  Here is one great simple block - it's a disappearing 9 patch - cut on the diagonal and reassembled.

For this quilt I used all Cotton + Steel fat eighths.  A fat eighth is 9" x 21" - but not all fabric cuts are totally accurate.  Some of my pieces were just shy of 9" deep, so I cut my squares for this 9-patch:  4 1/4" x 4 1/4". 

Pull out 9 squares that make a variety in both color and dark/light.  Sew into a 9 patch, 3 across by 3 down.

Now cut this whole unit from corner to corner on the diagonal.  You will end up with 4 pieces.  Put these into a pile and start the whole process over again.    

Now comes the fun part.  Take two random triangles and position them so that the two large, uncut squares are opposite each other.

Don't try and be all matchy matchy or overthink this.  There is so much pattern that trying to 'figure out what looks best' is not really possible.  

Put your pairs all together and have fun sewing them together.  Now its TIME TO TRIM!

My blocks were a little shy of an 8"x 8" -  so I just grabbed my 7.5" square ruler and trimmed everything to 7.5" x 7.5". 

Yes, a little waste with the trimming but I really didn't want to chase after an extra half inch or so and following the template made perfect blocks and kept this project relaxing and fun. 

Now the important part - layout is key.  There are two whole squares in the middle of your block, and above them are two small triangles (dark pink and stripped in the pix above).

The goal is to have the 'little triangles' meet whenever you can during the layout phase.  Why do it this way?   I think it's easier to find the little triangles as a repeating pattern on an already busy looking block.  The pix above shows how easy it is to find the four little triangles to match up. 

Not every side of your blocks will have little triangles to match.  But if you do it this way -  lots of secondary diamond shapes appear throughout your quilt ... all created by the various sized triangles lining up.  

To layout on point - here is a video from the Fat Quarter Shop for visual instruction.  There is also a link for a downloadable cutting & measurement chart. I would recommend using Kimberly's suggested cutting sizes and even going a half inch larger for the corner triangles - this will allow lots of wiggle room for squaring up.

Notes:  one 9-patch made with 4.25" squares yields 4 'triangles' (or 2 blocks).  Each block is trimmed to 7.5" x 7.5"   This quilt has 25 Cotton + Steel blocks.  Following the Fat Quarter downloadable chart, the rest is Kona white with a 3" border on every side. 

The back is a rainbow of left over minkys and here is my post on how to do that.  

I press my seams open so quilting was done with a walking foot on either side of the seams - and through the larger squares that didn't have seams.  Because of the minky back I did a generous 3.30 straight stitch length and used Aurifil 50wt. #2000.  

Two links to earlier quilts made with this block, not on point but a little easier Row by Row: here and here.  I hope that this variation of the disappearing 9 patch becomes as fun for you as it is for me.  

Materials:
Cotton + Steel - Fat 8's
Kona white
Warm & White batting
Scrap minky
Aurifil 50wt. #2000
Size: 45.5" X 45.5"
May 2019

Simple Square Quilt in Feather Flock

The third and final quilt made with the prettiest novelty fabric called Feather Flock by Tina Givens. Feather Flock came out in 2015 but some pieces are still available on Etsy.  How can a little quilt this cute really be called a scrap quilt?

Quilting is straight lines on either side of the seam with a generous 3.4 stitch length and then down the middle with Aurifil 50wt. #2425 (light pink) and #2311 (muslin) on the back.  

I sewed two left over minky pieces together as well as scrap batting for the interior.  You can see here how the quilt lines from the front create those little pockets of minky puffiness that make this type of blanket so fun.  I am still a big fan of dimple dot minky and an added bonus is how many colors are now available.   Quilting with minky is always done with a walking foot, going slow and steady.

A little purple and some Kona white made a small border and binding is in hot pink.  Perfect for it's new owner who just turned 9.  

Novelty fabric does not always translate into cute quilts. But here you can see how simple quilt patterns like the 'snowball' and 'granny square' can work with bright, bold designs - especially when paired with a crisp Kona white.  

There was something about the colors, the fairies and little birds with crowns that appealed to me and I have loved every quilt I made with this collection. 

Luckily I had a left over granny square and some true scraps to make this funky block for myself ... I have no idea what to do with it for now ... but this block is staying with me!

Materials:
Feather Flock / Tina Givens
Warm & White Batting
White minky from Hawthorne Threads
Vanilla minky from Fabric.com by Shannon
Aurifil 50wt. #2425 & #2311
Kona white and scrap purple/hot pink
Size:  44" x 45.5"
April 2019

Jewel Box Quilt Shibori Style (#102)

There is nothing I like more than a simple quilt pattern that looks complicated.  Behold .... the Jewel Box quilt.  

Shibori is a Japanese term for a method of dyeing cloth.  Traditionally using Indigo, it is a form of tie-dyeing that goes back to the 8th century. 

This quilt block is called:  Jewel Box   
I did not use a printed pattern - but by reading this post and the links below you will be able to master this :)

Quilt Specs: 

The fabric: A fat quarter bundle of Shibori II from Moda.  This collection designed by Debbie Maddy contains 20 different designs and I used all of them in this quilt.
The 'background' fabric is Kona white. 

Note: If you are using pre-cuts like charm squares or a layer cake, do not starch or iron with steam - they will shrink.

If you are using yardage for this project, feel free to starch and iron with steam.  

1)  Cut 5" x 5" squares from both the Shibori fabric and the Kona white:  a TOTAL of (126) each.

2)  Take (63) of the blue and (63) of the white squares and make (126) half square  triangles. Use a scant 1/4" seam.  Trim to an unfinished size: 4.5" x 4.5"  
A good tutorial for making HST's with charm squares is HERE from Scrapish.

3)  Take (63) of the blue and (63) of the white squares and make (126) 4-patch units. See pix above.  These should be unfinished at 4.5" x 4.5"

 

Note: A good video tutorial on how to make 4-patches from 5" squares is HERE from Me and My Sister Designs. 

If you are using yardage (cut into 2.5" strips)  - a video HERE from Missouri Star Quilt. Co. is helpful.

Or, you just cut up 2.5" x 2.5" squares and a post HERE from Fabric406 explains this method.

 Assemble all your units the way shown above with the 4-patch focus fabric on the top left - and HST focus fabric - top right.  That's it!  Sew away and stack them up.

I figured out my quilt size based on a 4" finished square.  14 squares across & 18 rows down = 56" wide x 72" long.

                                                          
NOTE ABOUT YARDAGE ...
 The yardage for THIS quilt in two colors would be exactly 2 yards of each.  But since I would err on the side of caution with mistakes, pre-washing, squaring up and starch - I would get 2.5 yards of each to be SAFE !

Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville's Quips & Snips has a great chart for yardage if you choose to make this quilt with just two fabrics ... a light & a dark.  Just figure out how large YOUR quilt will be - and go to the chart column for 5" squares. 

 

See the Jewel Box pattern emerge as you rotate these units and match up the triangles and the four patches. 
 I made this diagram which explains the assembly in detail - the colors are not important. Two good links below are also helpful with instructions & pictures.

    *Make all your units (#1).  
    *Take two units (#2) and rotate them so the focus                        fabric HST's are pointing out (#3)
     *Sew blocks together with 4-patches and triangles next                  to each other (#4 and #5).

The backing is a beautiful midnight blue minky.  Wavy line quilting was done with a walking foot in Aurifil 50wt. threads. Following the seams makes it super easy to quilt and creates cute little squares.

More Links:

1)  Shontelle from England Street Quilts has a great PDF and diagrams for a Jewel Box quilt here.  While our assembly techniques are different (Shontelle stripped pieced her 4-patches, I made them from 5" squares) - her pattern guides are the best.

2) For some step by step pictures of Poppy's Jewel Box quilt, visit Cuckooblue. 

Thanks to everyone for their tutorials and for all those who left comments that corrected my horrible math skills.  (2/14/19)

Materials:
Shibori II by Moda / Debbie Maddy
Kona white
Dimple dot minky / midnight blue
Binding: Cotton Couture Midnight / Michael Miller
Aurifil Thread 50wt: #2600 (dove) & #1248 (denim blue)
Warm & White batting
Jewel Box quilt pattern
Size: 56" x 72"
December 2018

Big Sky Simple Square Baby Quilt (#96)

Some quilts just resonate and the Big Sky simple square blanket I made for my high school's fundraiser  is one of them.

The soothing colors and bear & moose motifs were so cute that I got asked to make this quilt from various friends.  My math skills are not great ... end result is I bought way too much Big Sky fabric.  I guess it's more quilts for everyone and thankfully my friends are a patient lot so I can take my time making them!

What's better than this bear blanket going to Alaska for a new baby boy.  I chose to continue with  4.5" x 4.5" squares unfinished since I had leftovers from the other quilt.  I did buy some more bear and moose fat quarters since that is the cutest motif and who doesn't like more cuteness! 10 squares across, 10 rows down and a border trimmed to 2.25".

This is a blanket that will grow with baby.  A nice 43" x 43" with minky on the back and batting on the inside.  I duplicated the 'melding' look again by using the same fabric for the border & binding. 

I like making easy quilt patterns because of time restraints.  I enjoy making different patterns since I get bored.  Squares seem like cheating since they are so simple,  but time & time again they come out looking really pretty and are very well liked.  

Materials:
Big Sky by Annie Brady / Moda
Warm & White batting
Simple dot minky - brown
Aurifil 50wt. #2360 (brown) & #2314
Size: 43" x 43"
April 2018

Big Sky Simple Square Quilt (#93)

Some fabrics look really nice cut up into simple squares.  Big Sky by Annie Brady for Moda is one of these collections.

Cute bears, woodland creatures and a variety of colorful foliage harmonize in forest greens and browns.
I started out with a few layer cakes ... steamed ironed & starched.  I knew they would shrink so all squares were cut  4.5" x 4.5".  

14 squares across by 17 rows down plus small borders on all sides makes this a perfect minky quilt at 60" x 72".

I am really liking the same color fabric for the small borders and  the binding.  Usually I 'frame' the quilt with a different colored binding - but after seeing this I will do the melding look again. 

Aurifil 50wt. thread in simple straight lines on either side of the seams makes a nice square pattern.  

To read about this minky's quilt journey from start to finish there are 7 blog posts under "How to Make a Minky Quilt" here.

Got the wooden box, the S'mores and the cuddly bear - it's off to auction we go. This will be my third quilt to be donated for the Immaculate Heart Morther/Daughter Luncehon - the alma mater for both me & my daughter. So, from the Class of '75 & 2017 - this sweet quilt is made just for you.

Materials:
Big Sky by Annie Brady / Moda
Warm & White batting
Dimple dot minky - brown
Aurifil 50wt. #2360 (brown) & #2314
Size: 60" x 72"
February 2018

Princess Rose Charm Pack Quilt (#66)

So soft, so sweet and so pretty is this charm pack quilt made with Princess Rose 2015 by Lecien. (and so hard to capture the delicate pastel colors on camera)

Offsetting the squares and laying out each row so not too many similar colors touch - this is one simple way to use up a layer cake or 5" charm squares.

 By following the seams to quilt - you can create this really nice wavy box pattern that is easy to follow.  Minky and batting is thicker and doesn't glide through the sewing machine throat.  You have to pull the left side of your quilt as you sew - and if you drift a little when you get to the middle sections - the wavy line is very forgiving. I always use Aurifil 50wt. on the top and bottom with a #14 needle and stitch length at 3.5

I try to match the thread color to harmonize and 'sink' into the quilt since I don't do free motion or complicated designs. I love the Aurifil 50wt. Muslin as a great color to meld into vintage like and pastel fabric collections.  

Materials:

Princess Rose 2015 by Lecien

Warm & White batting

Dimple dot minky - white

Aurifil 50wt. white #2024 and Muslin #2311

Size: 60" x 76"

January 2017