9 patch Archives - Page 4 of 4

Make a 9 patch Sampler with Nanny

February 6, 2017 by Nanny 10 Comments

Welcome to our Sewalong where we will make a 9 Patch Sampler. This will consist of 16 blocks each measuring 12.5″ and based on a traditional 9 Patch block.

Instructions will be given for the completion of each block. At times I will offer you more detail by providing a link, where, if you click on the word here or the highlighted word, it will take you to the more detailed explanation.

My purpose is :

1. to keep the tutorials short for those already experienced while providing the learners with the more involved detail; and

2. to save me repeating tutorials that I have already done. Feedback is welcomed.

Nanny Note: You will notice a new addition to my pages at the top of the page – if you click on the ‘Print Friendly’ it will prepare the page for printing minus all of the side bars ie you will just be printing the tutorial. Please let me know if you have any problems with it.

Fabric requirements:

I will be using up Black and White charm squares from my stash but look forward to seeing your fabric choices.

I have used 3 fabrics:

A Dark (White on Black background) This is the main fabric
A Light ( Black on a white background) This is like a background fabric and you might choose to use the same Light throughout
Other (plain black) This is a feature or contrast

As I am using my charm squares my fabric calculations will be based on that.

So fabric requirements are:

1st Fabric – my Dark – 1.5m

2nd Fabric – my Light – 1.5m

3rd Fabric – my Other – 0,5m

These are approximate and you will need more depending on how you decide to finish the quilt top. Borders, sashing, backing and binding are not included.

You may choose to select a colour combination, purchase a couple of FQs to get started and build on it as you go. If you decide to do this but with WOF (width of fabric) pieces buy 30cm pieces.

You can cut 12 x 5″ squares from a FQ and 8 across a wof strip so 16 from a 30cm cut.

Charm squares are 5″ square and will be my starting point – I will tell you if you need a different size. I decided to leave the squares at 5″ to allow a bit of leeway and more practice for you at trimming.

I suggest if you dont already have a quilting ruler, now is a great time to look out for one! The 6.5″ square is a very handy size and you will use this to cut and trim squares.

I also suggest that you take the time to check your 1/4″ seam – you can see instructions how to do that here.

BLOCK 1 – 9 Patch

Our first block is going to be a 9 patch as it will be the basis of all our blocks and of course our 9 Patch sampler. To find more detail, please look here.

What you need:

Cut 9 x 4.5″ squares – 5 Dark (black background) and 4 Light (white background) (more details on how to cut squares can be found here )

If you are cutting your own squares cut them at 4.5″ OR if you are using charm squares trim them to 4.5″

Nanny Note: This is a good block to use ‘directional’ fabrics if you have them. I had these Eiffel towers and thought the birds went well with them.

Let’s Sew:

Cut or trim your squares
Organise your squares and prepare for sewing.

2. Fold the left side squares over onto the centre squares and stitch together. Chain piecing saves cotton and keeps squares in order, see here.

3. Now flip the squares on the right over on to the centre squares and sew together.

4. You now have 3 rows to take to the pressing board or ironing board remember to press up and down – dont iron!

5. Press toward the dark so your rows will appear like this.

Notice how with the seams being pressed this way, it makes it easier to ‘nest’ the seams when joining the rows. Nesting means that they lock in place when you hold them together. You can see more about nesting your seams here.

6. Sew the rows together checking that you have them in the correct order. If you nest the seams you will find that you will not need to use pins – keep your finger on the nest as you feed it through the machine. You will end up with nicely joined corners. Please use pins if you prefer but I encourage you to try this method.

7. Press and admire your block! It will measure 12.5″ – if it doesn’t, please check your cutting and 1/4″ seams a s per directions above.

Well that wasn’t painful at all was it – your 9 Patch Sampler is underway!!

Don’t forget to show us your block and ask if you need help.

We will look at Block 2 next week.

Until next time

Nanny xx

WEEK 2: Make a Railfence Variation

WEEK 3: Make Half Square Triangles

WEEK 4: Make a Shoo Fly Block

WEEK 5: Make a Friendship Star

WEEK 6: Make a Contrary Wife Block

WEEK 7: Make a Spool Block

WEEK 8: Make a Churn Dash Block

WEEK 9: Make a Formal Garden Block

WEEK 10: Make a Greek Cross Block

WEEK 11: Make a Chevron Block

WEEK 12: Make a Birds in the Air Block

WEEK 13: Make a Double 9 Patch Block

WEEK 14: Make a Card Trick Block

WEEK 15: Make an Ohio Star Block

WEEK 16: Make Your own Block

WEEK 17: Complete the top

WEEK 18: Backing with a Disappearing 9 patch

WEEK 19: Completion of the 9 patch sampler

New Year Planning

January 26, 2017 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Hi! We are going to start off the new year planning to make a 9 Patch Sampler.

Last year, as a part of the activity on my Nanny Sews and Crafts page on Facebook, we decided to have a beginners quilt block swap.

We made the same block each month and the ‘Queen’ for the month decided on colour placement and layout.

This resulted in some interesting results and lots of practice of those pesky 1/4″ seams!

So. to build on these newly acquired skills, rather than a swap this year, we are undertaking to make a 9 Patch Sampler quilt.

We would love it if you would join us!

Starting in February, I will post each block here on the blog and each tutorial will remain as a resource.

I hope you will join us as you make a 9 Patch Sampler of your own.

I can’t wait to see everyone’s fabric choices!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a 9 patch block for Fire victims

January 10, 2016 by Nanny 2 Comments

It is that time of year again Australia where our beautiful country displays some of its darker side. Bushfires are raging in Western Australia and a member of one of my Facebook pages ‘Nanny + friends Charity Sew’ has asked for help in the form of 9 patch blocks that will then be made into quilts to provide some comfort to the victims.

Some members of the group are not quilters and have asked for direction so let’s look at how to make a 9 patch block for Fire Victims.

What you need:

9 squares each 4.5″ x 4.5″

What you do:

Check your 1/4″ seam

This may sound like a funny thing to say, but when you are sending quilt blocks, it is so important that you get the basics right otherwise it can create a real headache for those trying to join things together. It is important for your own quilting as well, but when you make all the blocks in the same way on the same machine , differences may not be so noticeable.

You can do this quite simply by taking two measured pieces (I’m using 2 of my squares) –

Sew them together (use a big stitch so it is easy to remove), press and measure and it should be 1/2″ less than the two separate pieces measured (or in my case 8.5″)

A lot of people, when starting out, like to mark their seams and cant understand why their finished block doesnt end up the correct size – so let’s take a look at that.

I will mark 1/4″

Now here’s the trick – In quilting you will often hear the term Scant 1/4″ – this simply means that you sew just a couple of threads to the seam side of the seam line so that when the seam is pressed open, that tiny amount that the seam ‘takes up’ will not affect your measurements.

Press the seam to the side and measure – Perfect!! 12.5″

Once you have your 1/4″ seam sorted, you might like to mark your machine with tape or a large rubber band or a pile of stick it notes – anything that gives you a guide to keep your fabric pieces moving under the needle at the correct distance.

Now the sky’s the limit!!!

Let’s Sew!

I just have to change my thread – I use a light grey when piecing as it blends in to all colours and I also must remember to change my stitch length back ready for sewing.

Take your 9 squares and organise how you want them to look

Now take the first two from each row and join them – I am going to press my seams towards the floral. To do that, put it on the ironing board or pressing board with the floral on top. Press the seam as it is first (this helps set the seam) and then flip it open and press the seam. NOTE: I said PRESS not IRON – we don’t want a lot of back and forward motion of the iron, just up and down!

Now join the 3rd one onto each row and once again press to the floral

Now to join the strips

You will notice now why we press the seams that way – you will notice where they join, one will go to the left and the other to the right and this allows us to ‘nest’ the seams or if you like, butt them up against each other.

If you ‘nest’ the seams, then place under the foot and sew holding the nest together, you wont even have to pin!!! AND you will end up with lovely joins!

You will also see how spending that little amount of preparation time pays off in a perfectly sized block!

So, let’s see how many blocks we can get made and as we make a 9 patch block for fire victims, let’s reflect on how generous the quilting community is and how wonderful it is, as a group, to be able to help each other in a time of need.

If you need any further details please message me.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Nanny’s Birthday Surprise

December 5, 2015 by Nanny 10 Comments

Just under two years ago, I received a wonderful gift! Without my knowledge, two of my on-line friends (never met) organised a Nanny’s Birthday Surprise.

Wendy and Ineke set up a facebook page , blocked me so that I couldn’t see and they were off and running! They decided to send me 9 patch blocks in my favourite colour – purple, and they rallied others to join them. On my birthday, these envelopes started to arrive and to say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement!

Over the days following my birthday, the mailman kept calling and I received beautiful cards with words of friendship from people I didn’t know and each contained at least one 9 patch block. A couple didn’t have time to make a block and so sent me the fabric squares and one member was in New Zealand, away from her sewing gear and so sent me a purple NZ bag and silver fern badge. This bag held all of the blocks and cards while I tried to plan.

Ineke included two ‘special’ blocks – a heart and a bee ( the members of my Nanny Swapz call me Queen Bee)

I spread them all out to show the group what I had received:

Then the time just seemed to slip by as life kept ‘intruding’ in on my sewing plans! I worried that I wasn’t getting my quilt done and more time passed me by.

I played with the blocks, put them back in my purple NZ bag, played with them some more and finally decided to organise them into groups of four. I tried to look at colour values ie light and dark and also tried to spread the splashes of yellow to give balance. I then decided to make the blocks the heroes of the quilt, I needed a light sashing with a medium corner block.

I loved how it all came together – Lorraine had sent me three blocks so they became corner blocks and the Happy Birthday block from Heather was perfect for the other corner!

and I was soon searching for a suitable backing.

With the backing sorted, I still wasn’t finished – I still had the fabric squares and a mugmat sent by Mary. I decided to contact Mary and asked if I could incorporate the mugmat into the quilt and Mary was most generous and gave me the Ok to undo the mugmat or to do whatever I liked . The mugmat became the feature on the back of the quilt where I wanted to acknowledge all of the contributors. I decide to do this by embroidering all of the names around the mugmat top, separated by the pansies from the back of the mugmat and to me it was ‘perfect’!

I then cut up the fabric squares and made two smaller 9 patch blocks which I decided to set on point. I had now succeeded in using all of my gifts in the creation of my quilt and I was so excited!

It was now time to pin!

For the quilting, I decided to ‘eyeball’ diagonals on the 9 patches and stitch in the ditch to preserve Ineke’s blocks and Clare’s pansy block.

I thought I would use the backing fabric for the binding as well but it looked dreadful so off to the stash! I found a pack of purple 2.5″ strips that I received as Queen in one of the ‘hives’ we had run at Nanny Swapz and would you believe that it matched a fabric used by one of the quilters in the making of the 9 patch blocks?? Perfect!!!

My good friend Sue then offered – no insisted – that she would love to hand stitch the binding for me and my quilt was done!

To Wendy and Ineke – Thank You!! To all of the wonderful women who took the time to do this for me – Thank You!! I apologise for the time delay but hope that you like what I finally came up with in my Nanny’s Birthday Surprise Quilt.

It certainly was a birthday that I will never forget – I was truly humbled by your gestures of friendship

and my wish is that one day I might get to thank each of you in person!

Until next time

Nanny xx

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