In an earlier post, we explored the Nine Patch Block, and looked at some fun variations and ways that this block is used in quilts. But did you ask yourself - hey, I wonder what happens if I cut up that nine patch? Well, dear quilty pal, if you do that, you can create the disappearing nine patch! Let's take a look!
Begin with a 9 Patch Block
The disappearing nine patch begins with - yup, you guessed it, a basic nine patch block. Nothing fancy here - just nine equal squares stitched together to form a nine patch block.
Make Two Cuts
Make two equal cuts - one halfway across the block, and one halfway down the block. You will end up with FOUR equal units.
The Disappearing Nine Patch Unit
Your resulting units will look like this - one large square (the original corner of the nine patch), two rectangles (half of two middles squares of the nine patch) and one small square (one fourth of the center square from the nine patch). Easy peasy, right?!
A Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt
Here is just one of the many possible layouts using the resulting units. No right or wrong here. Instead, you get to play quilt designer and create your own beauty!
Some other possibilities:
- Use up your scraps and make a fun scrappy quilt
- Play around with color placement, maybe placing three squares of the same color in a diagonal row
- Mix large and small blocks for a fun look
The Math of the Disappearing Nine Patch
No worries - it isn't that bad! Ready?
Let's call the original nine patch unit our Base Block. We will call the cut units our Sub Blocks. Got it?
To calculate the Sub Block size, here's your math:
- Multiply the FINISHED size of each square in your Base Block by 3 to get the Base Block Finished Size
- Divide this number by 2
- Subtract 1/4" from the divided number in the above step to get the Sub Block FINISHED size.
What? Ok, let's look at a 9" FINISHED nine patch (Base Block).
9" FINISHED Base Block is made up of THREE 3" FINISHED squares.
If we multiple 3" (the finished size of each square in the Base Block) by 3, the result is 9".
3 x 3 = 9
Divide this number (the FINISHED size of the Base Block) by 2.
9 / 2 = 4.5
If we subtract 1/4" (or .25) from the divided number (4.5), the result is 4 1/4" or 4.25. This is the FINISHED size of the Sub Block.
4.5 - .25 = 4.25
Why do the math? So you can calculate how many Sub Blocks you need to create the size quilt you want! And see - the math wasn't that bad, right?
Play around with all of the possibilities of the Disappearing Nine Patch. Please share with me your creations! I can't wait to see them!
Head over to Kate's blog to get some additional tips and ideas on the disappearing nine patch block.
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