How to Sew a Nine Patch Quilt Block
For the beginning quilter, a nine patch block can be a low stress way to begin your first quilt. These versatile blocks, usually made of nine equally sized squares sewn into a simple grid, can be used in many settings and to achieve many different looks with your quilt, but are quick and easy to sew.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric
- Iron and ironing board
- Template plastic
- Sewing scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread that matches one or the other of your fabrics
- Sewing pins
Instructions
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Prepare to Sew the Block
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1
Choose two fabrics for your nine patch block, one light and one dark, to use in your quilt. Before you begin, make sure to wash, dry and press you fabrics.
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2
Cut a 4.5 inch square from the template plastic. This template will ensure your patches will all be the same size.
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3
Place the fabric wrong side up and trace around your template with a light pencil. Trace the template five times on the dark fabric and four times on the light. Cut these 4.5 inch square out with your sewing scissors.
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4
Lay out your block so that you will know what order to sew the pieces together. Place a dark square at each of the four corners and in the center; place a light square between the dark squares on the sides.
Sew Your Nine Patch Block
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5
Choose the first two squares in the first row, place them right sides together and sew them on your sewing machine using a straight stitch and a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Then add the third square, making sure the pattern remains the same as your initial layout.
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6
Sew rows two and three together the same way. Then, press the seams toward the darker fabric.
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7
Take your first completed row and pin it to your second completed row, right sides together, carefully matching the corners of the patches. Then sew the two rows together using a straight stitch.
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8
Add the third row to the other two. Then press the seams toward the center row.
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9
Admire the 12 inch nine patch block that you have now completed. Make eight more blocks to create a small nine patch wall hanging quilt.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Before you sew the rows together, lay out your nine patch block again to make sure you have the rows in the correct order.