quilt blocks Archives - Nannycraft4u

9 Patch Sampler Quiltalong Completion

June 19, 2017 by Nanny 1 Comment

Today we will take a look at the processes involved in the 9 Patch Sampler Quiltalong Completion. These are pinning the quilt, quilting and then binding the quilt.

Pinning (or Basting) the Quilt

1. Press the backing well and lay right side down onto your floor or table.

2. Using your tape, tape the backing to the floor or table. Pull it taught but don’t stretch it.

3. Place your batting on the backing

4. Place your well pressed quilt top, right side up on top of the wadding.

5. Pin the quilt.

You will find a detailed description of the pinning process I use here.

Quilting

Decide how you want to quilt –

Stitch in the ditch – where you stitch along the ‘ditch’ formed by the seams.

Straight lines – following seams or diagonals

Free Motion Quilting

I will be using Straight lines and you can see details of the method I use here and here

2. Have fun!

I decided to draw up a plan:

I started at the centre and worked my way out. I decided to use black thread.

Front

and back

Binding

Choose your binding fabric – I have chosen a stripe.
Decide if you are going to apply your binding totally by machine (you sew it to the back first) or if you would prefer to hand stitch your binding (sew it to the front first) . The only difference in process is whether you start at the front or back of the quilt.
Trim your quilt
Prepare the binding
Apply the binding

You will can see the method I use here.

and I have to be happy with the stripe matching in the join at the end!

Congratulations! That is the 9 Patch Sampler Quiltalong Completion.

I hope you have enjoyed our Quilt Along and that you are happy with your new quilt!

Don’t forget to give your quilt a label – I am calling mine ‘9 Patch Sampler in Black & White’ – now that’s original!! I would love to see your 9 patch sampler completed so please send me a photo so I can share the results.

I have had a fun time and am open to ideas for our next venture.

Until next time

Nanny xx

WEEK 1: Make a 9 patch sampler

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

Backing your 9 Patch Sampler with a Disappearing 9 Patch

June 13, 2017 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Today I am going to show you an option for backing your 9 patch Sampler.

You can purchase special backing fabric which is wide enough to cover the back of your quilt but you often find that you cant find anything suitable. Eventhough I had purchased some backing fabric, I decided it might be fun to show you a pieced back.

I decided that I would make one more 9 patch block using plain black and white. I cut 5 x black 21″ squares and 4 x white 21″ squares. They were a bit too large to photograph in total.

I plan to use this 9 patch to create a Disappearing 9 Patch Block.

The Disappearing 9 Patch Block is a very popular block as it is simple in construction but looks interesting and varied.

Normally you would make a Disappearing 9 patch block by making your 9 patch. You would then cut it vertically and horizontally through the centre like this:

Now because my black and white squares are so large, I’m going to cut them up before I make my 9 patch. My tapes show where I will be cutting:

So I now have 4 x black 21′ squares, 1 x black square cut into 4 x 10.5″ squares and 4 x white squares cut in half.

I will now sew each quarter by joining the small black square to a white and the large black square to the other white and then join them to form our quarter block. I will repeat that to complete all four quarters.

I now turn the quarters to choose a layout. Here they are all facing the same way:

and here the opposite large black squares are tuned towards the centre or corners. I will now join the 4 in this layout to complete the block and hence the backing.

My completed Disappearing 9 Patch Block all ready for a good press.

I am really pleased with my Disappearing 9 patch – I think it will make a great backing for my 9 patch sampler!

Until next time

Nanny xx

All tutorials for the Quiltalong can be found here.

Be Creative 9 Patch Block

May 22, 2017 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Well here we are about to complete the final block of our 9 Patch Sampler quiltalong! We have looked at some traditional 9 patch blocks and some variations of others. Today it is your turn! You are going to create Block 16 and I am calling it the Be Creative 9 Patch Block!

During the quiltalong, you have accumulated ‘spare’ squares and now it is your turn to make your own 9 patch block using our ‘leftovers’ and/or others of your creation.

Just remember to trim your squares to 4.5″ before you make your 9 Patch Block.

You will have leftovers from:

Railfence Variation

Birds in the Air

Card Trick

Chevron

You do not HAVE TO use the leftovers – if you have already used them elsewhere, don’t worry. Take your scraps and create!

This is my effort. I’m not sure where my top right square came from (must have made that one up) but you can see that I have used the others.

Next week we will join our quilt top so have fun arranging your blocks until you find a layout that you are happy with.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Card Trick Quilt Block from Charm Squares

May 8, 2017 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today we are going to make a Card Trick quilt block from charm squares.

NANNYNOTE: If you are following along with me using Charm Squares be warned – today we are going to break the rules! Ooh – ahh! So read the instructions carefully. WE ARE GOING TO BREAK THE 1/4″ RULE – we are going to do our seams only 1/8″

If you are not using Charm Squares you might like to cut 5.5″ squares and be a ‘goodie two shoes’.

WHAT YOU NEED:

LIGHT: 4 x 5″ squares (Spot)

DARK: 5 x 5″ squares (zebra)

OTHER: 5 x 5″ squares (black)

LET’S SEW!

Take a LIGHT / OTHER and a LIGHT / DARK and make HSTs using a 1/8″ seam. Place to the side till later.

2. Repeat step 1 – DONT TRIM

We will now add an OTHER to each of the LIGHT/DARK HSTs from 2

3. Fold the OTHER along the diagonal (I have stitched mine so you can see)

4. Place the OTHER RST (Right Side Together) with the LIGHT/DARK making sure that the diagonals make an X

5. Stitch either side of the diagonal using our narrow seam

6. Cut and press.

7. We will now repeat that process adding a DARK square to each of the LIGHT/OTHER HSTs

8. Sew, cut and press

9. Take the remaining DARK and OTHER Squares and make HSTs using our narrow seam – DONT TRIM

10. Turn these RST so that the OTHER covers the DARK with the diagonals on top of each other

11. Place a pin Through the seam of the top square and check that it is going through the seam underneath as well.

and bring it back through the seam – the pin will lie along the seam.

12. Sew narrow seams either side of the diagonal, cut and press.

13. Admire your perfect Hourglass squares!

14. Time to trim!

Trim the HSTs from 1 to 4.5″
Trim the squares from 5 and 6 to 4.5″ just like when we trim HSTs. Just make sure that the 2.25″ mark is sitting on the join,

Trim the hourglass by

Placing the 45 degree line on your rule (mine is taped) along the seam until the 2.25″ mark is on the centre – trim the right hand side and top

Turn and place the 4.5″ marks along the left hand side and along the bottom. Check the position of the 45 degree line and check the 2.25″ mark is centred. Trim the right hand side and top.

14. Organise your squares – if you have a directional fabric like my DARK (zebra) make sure you choose the right combination. You will have spare squares but dont panic, just put them aside and continue.

15. Sew your 9 patch. Now that is some Card Trick!!

I hope you enjoyed making the Card Trick block. Of course it can be made using different fabrics for the four cards –

this is one I made for my friend Ineke as part of a Block Swap.

I can’t wait to see how they look using your fabric choices!

Until next time

Nanny xx

–

Catch-Up Week for the 9 Patch Sampler

May 1, 2017 by Nanny 2 Comments

I have noticed that the number of photos of finished blocks that I have received has declined and so this week I have decided to give everyone a ‘catch-up’ week.

I know what it is like when you have fallen behind and have that dreaded feeling that you are never going to catch up !

I want you to finish this Sampler and so I am giving you a chance to get back on track – so lets do it!

WHAT YOU NEED:

a plan of attack
some time
belief in yourself
chocolate

WHAT YOU DO:

Find where you are up to – all tutorials can be found by clicking on the Block names below.
Print the tutorial if that helps – you will find a green ‘Print Friendly’ sign at the top left of each tutorial – this will print without all of the ‘other stuff’
Complete your block and lodge a photo.

To help inspire you, I am going to share some of the completed blocks (with permission). I love how different they look depending on the fabric choice and I cant wait to see them come together in a few weeks time!

BLOCK 1 – 9 Patch