Free Modern Patchwork Quilt Pattern: Disappearing Nine Patch – Quilting Daily
Whenever I visit my local quilt shop, I delight in the displays of fresh new fabrics, all cut and folded in beautiful and unique ways. Jelly rolls? I have them at the ready for strip quilting and quick patchwork projects. Fat quarters? They are tucked into baskets in my studio.
But what about the 10″ squares from Moda’s Layer Cake packs? I used one package for this modern nine-patch quilt, featured in our new special issue, Modern Patchwork: 37 Contemporary Projects to Make Now.
The blocks for this handmade patchwork quilt are made using a really fun and simple piecing technique. Starting with 10″ squares I made huge nine-patch blocks, each with a solid pink center square. Then I cut each nine patch into quarters.
The resulting blocks were rearranged into a 4 x 5 grid and sewn together to make the quilt top, hence the title “Nine-Patch Rearranged.” I learned this technique for how to make a patchwork quilt from a quilting friend, using much smaller nine patches. Many of you know this technique as “Disappearing Nine-Patch” but it’s also known as “Split Nine-Patch.”
Disappearing Nine-Patch Quilt Pattern
Materials
Finished size 57″ x 71″
- Coordinating print fabrics, 40 squares 10″ x 10″
- Solid fabric, 5 squares 10″ x 10″ (I used 3/4 yd. of a bright pink solid.)
- Backing fabric, 3-3/4 yds.
- Binding fabric, 3/4 yd.
- Batting, 62″ x 76″ (or twin size)
Directions
1. For the first over-sized nine-patch block, select (9) 10″ squares (you’ll need 8 print squares and 1 solid square). On a design wall or other flat surface, arrange the squares into 3 rows of 3, with the solid square in the middle.
Tip: Place the fabrics you want to dominate your quilt in the 4 corner positions, and those that will be less dominant in the middle row positions.
2. To piece the over-sized nine-patch block, first sew the squares into 3 rows. Press the seams to 1 side, pressing in the opposite direction for the center row. Sew the 3 rows together. Press these seams toward the center, then press the block and set it aside.
3. Repeat the process, making a total of 5 blocks.
4. Cut the blocks into quarters by cutting in half from top to bottom, then side to side.
Detail of my modern disappearing 9-patch quilt.
Tip: Because of the large size of the nine-patch blocks, it is easiest to locate the center by measuring 4-3/4″ from the side seams of the middle row.
5. Using a design wall, arrange the blocks into 5 rows of 4 blocks each. Play with the placement of the colors, and rearrange the blocks to your heart’s content.
6. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions, and then sew the rows together, nesting the seams for matching corners. Press the entire quilt top.
7. To prepare the backing, cut the backing fabric in half from selvedge to selvedge to get 2 pieces approximately 67″ x WOF (width of fabric). Sew these pieces together along a 67″ edge.
8. Layer the quilt top with the batting and backing. Quilt and bind as desired. The featured quilt was quilted with an overall spiral design by the talented Saima Davis.
Mixed Bag Studio M (R) and From Outside In by Malka Dubrawsky (L), both by Moda.
Working on this quilt was so much fun and it’s easy enough for a new quilter to tackle. Grab your layer cakes and enjoy playing!
Now that my quilt is done, I’m already prioritizing my list of the other contemporary patchwork projects I plan to make from issues of Modern Patchwork. It’s a long one!
P.S. Leave a comment for a chance to win one of two Moda 10″ layer cake bundles. Two winners (one bundle each) will be chosen at random Monday, June 2, 2014.
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