Two Identical Nine Patch Base Blocks with One Variation

Last week I talked about choosing colors that I wanted to work with at this time of year. Pink ais the tint of red. Although they derive from the same primary color, red, it’s a bit unusual to see them together. I like how happy they are. And it is fun to work with them.

I’ve managed to make a bit of progress on my project this week.

I have the components all cut and initial piecing done and am just starting to assemble the blocks. So far I have 2 completed blocks!

The red block is called “Waterwheel” and the pink block is called “Four Patch Chain”. They are the same basic nine patch block with four patches in each corner. The only difference is the half square triangle blocks in the red Waterwheel block. Putting a red square next to the red triangle in the half square triangle gives the block motion. that’s what makes it look like a water wheel.

The colored squares in the four patch blocks of the waterwheel will all be different. I like to think of them as splashes of water as the waterwheel spins.

I don’t think I’ve ever made a quilt before where the alternate block (the pink chain) was the same basic block as the feature block.

It’s all rather satisfying. And exciting.

"Nine Patch Challenge" Quilt

This “Nine Patch Challenge” quilt is another pattern from the book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts. You can read about the making of this quilt in my April 6, 2023 post.

I really enjoyed quilting this lap size quilt. I stitch just outside the ditch around the square patches but then put flowers and leaves in the alternate blocks. I started out thinking I would try to stitch the flowers in a continuous line from block to block, but after doing that once, I decided I liked them better as separate flowers. Can you spot the one place where I stitched from one block into the adjacent one?

I decided that the nine patch blocks needed to be anchored centrally. I initially thought I’d try to make a petal pattern but in my first attempt the petals were very subtle and I discovered I’d actually stitched out a loose, free-motion circle! I loved it. So I did that in all the blocks.

Free-motion free-form circle around the central patch in the nine patch block

The wavy line of stitching in the #4 stitch on my Bernina 440, set at stitch length 25. It’s one of my favorite stitches for borders.

I love the striped binding fabric chosen by O’Sewpersonal Sewing Center who kitted the fabrics for this pattern.

"Nine Patch Challenge" Completed Quilt Top

The puppy had a sleepy under-the-weather day so I seized the opportunity and assembled the blocks I had made for the the “Nine Patch Challenge” quilt from the book, Just One Charm Patch Quilts.

The blocks in this quilt are set “on point” so they look like diamonds rather than squares. I generally don’t like making on-point quilts because of all the setting triangles needed along the sides of the quilt to make the sides straight. But the instructions and diagrams in this book were excellent and so there was none of the hassles and frustration that often occur with on-point quilts. Whew!

Here’s what it looked liked laying out the blocks before sewing them together. My design wall needs to be replaced, so it was easier just to put everything on the floor this time. You can see I had the book open to follow the layout diagram.

The setting triangles on the sides of the quilt are squares cut in half. That means the free side of all those blocks are fabric cut on the bias. That means they are all s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y and have to be handled gently. (Tip: If you are worried about this stretch, or are new to quilting or haven’t sewed a lot, starching the fabric with a spray starch and ironing it before you cut it will help by limiting some of the stretchiness).

The pattern calls for a border of the background fabric and this is one instance where you really need the border—it stabilizes all those stretchy-sided setting blocks, giving the finished quilt top the stability it needs. I had extra fabric so I cut my borders wider than what the pattern called for. I sort of wish I’d made them even wider, but it’s done now, so I’m calling it good!

This is the first time I’ve used this book and I’m really happy with how this pattern worked. There are some other intriguing patterns in the book so I know I’ll make at least a couple others.

The puppy is back to his bouncy self, so this quilt top is joining a growing stack of tops in need to quilting.

"Nine Patch Challenge" Quilt

My newest work in progress is the “Nine Patch Challenge” quilt from the book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts. The fabric in the pack of 5 inch squares is “Zinnia” by April Rosenthal printed by Moda Fabrics.

The nine patch blocks will be set on point with bright solid peachy pink alternate blocks between them. It’s going to be a very cheerful quilt, 46 x 54 1/2 inches with a multi-color striped fabric from the same line for the binding.

Ordinarily it wouldn’t take me very long to sew this quilt…but the 7 1/2 month old puppy isn’t keen on having me spend time at the sewing machine, and his naps are fewer, farther apart and shorter! But, nevertheless, all in good time!