The ‘Split Nine-Patch’ or ‘Disappearing
Nine-Patch’ is a fairly recent design that is doing the rounds of quilting
circles. It has been duplicated by many and seems to be evolving all the
time. I have written instructions to
make it my way (which is usually the quickest, easiest way!)
You need nine different fabrics for the
nine-patches in 6 ½” strips. Two strips of each fabric, one the
WOF and one half the WOF. There should be one fabric that stands
alone, like a zinger or a darker fabric. You should use this as the centre
square.
Then there should be four light and four
dark co-ordinating fabrics.
The darker fabrics are your corner squares
and the light fabrics are the central side squares.
70 cm fabric for the thin border and the
binding
90 cm fabric for the final border
Sewing Instructions
Take the nine fabrics that are already cut
in 6 ½” strips and decide how they should be laid out in the nine-patch.
NOTE: All
the nine-patches should be made exactly the same.
Sew
the fabric A, 6 ½” strip (the WOF) to the fabric B, 6½” strip (the WOF)
legthways. Then sew the fabric C, 6 ½” strip (the WOF) to the other long side
of the fabric B, 6 ½” strip (the WOF).
Repeat with fabric D, E and F, 6 ½” strips and the fabric G, H and I, 6 ½”
strips.
Press the seams away from the lightest
fabrics.
Trim the selvedges from the edge from
which you will be cutting. Recut
the three long strips into 6 ½” strips - now called units.
Each unit is 18 ½” long X 6 ½” wide.
You should have cut 6 units from each colour
combination.
Lay out your nine-patch using one of each
unit from each colour combination.
Sew the three units together to create the
nine-patch.
You should have six nine-patches 18 ½” X
18 ½”
Cut each nine-patch in halves twice to
create four corner units Cut once vertically through the block and once
horizontally though the block.
HINT: The pieced centre square in the
nine-patch is 6” wide so half way between these seams is 3".
Cut 3” away from the sewn edges.
Each corner block is 9 ¼” square.
Once you have cut the nine-patch block
into four corner units, rotate two corner blocks from opposite corners, 180°
NOTE: With every second block, rotate the opposite two corner blocks.
Sew the four corner blocks back together.
The resulting Split Nine-patch block should be 18” square (unfinished)
Take the 6 ½” strips that are half the WOF
and repeat the above sewing instructions to produce three more Split Nine-patch
blocks.
Lay the blocks out with three rows of
three blocks each so that the alternating blocks are those with different
corner squares rotated.
Sew the blocks together to create a square
top that is 53”
Borders
Cut six 1 ½”strips the WOF from the thin
border fabric.
Remove the selvedges and sew the strips together at
the short ends, creating one long strip. Measure through the centre of the quilt top and cut
two strips this length. (Should be 53”). Pin and sew
these onto two opposite side edges.
Measure
through the centre of the quilt top including the two new sides and cut two strips
this length. (Should be 55”) Sew onto the two final sides.
From the final border fabric cut six 5 ½” strips
the WOF.
Remove the selvedges and sew the strips together at
the short ends, creating one long strip. Measure through the centre of the quilt top and cut
two strips this length. (Should be 55”). Pin and sew
these onto two opposite side edges.
Measure
through the centre of the quilt top including the two new sides and cut two
strips this length. (Should be 65”) Sew
onto the two final sides.
Different
Ideas for making the
Split Nine-Patch
An effective Split Nine-patch quilt could
be made with light and dark scraps keeping the centre square as the same fabric
throughout or alternatively you could make all nine fabrics scrappy.
Don’t be limited by the size we used - 6”
squares. 4”, 5” or 7” blocks would still work and look great.
Rotating the squares is another area you
could differ. Make a lot of corner blocks and randomly sew them together
following no pattern layout at all.
Have fun creating your own version of a Split nine-patch!
..............Penny
Kits are available $82 $77 $80
Border fabrics are included in the kits with a Free printout of the pattern.
Postage is extra.
Contact me for further details: anpv@ozemail.com.au
