Create a Nine-Patch Variation Quilt Block

Materials and Tools:
book
translucent paper
Collins fabric glue stick
Omnigrid 6-1/2" square ruler
photocopier
basic machine sewing supplies
fabric — for each 6-1/2" (unfinished) block choose 12 different fabrics

Steps:

Machine Setup
1. Set up the sewing machine with a #90 needle and set the stitch length to a shorter than average length of 15 to 20 stitches per inch (or about "2" for a European machine.) Use a shorter stitch length to create more perforations in the translucent paper. This will make it easier to remove the paper once blocks are joined. However, too short a stitch length makes it harder to undo a seam line when a mistake occurs. Select the stitch length that suits you best. Use a thread color on the top and in the bobbin that is neutral to your fabric.

Cutting
1. From the 12 fabrics, cut three dark and three light 2-1/2-inch squares. Also cut three light and three dark triangles by cutting 2-7/8-inch squares in half diagonally. Nub off the base points so they won?t extend beyond the seam allowance during piecing. You will have leftover triangles.

Figure B

Piecing
1. Photocopy the pattern onto the translucent paper.

2. Fold along each of the four intersecting seam lines.

Figure C

3. Make a fabric placement mockup using the squares and triangles

4. Position and glue or pin all of the triangles onto the unprinted side of the foundation. The lighter triangles are positioned first, right side up. The darker triangles are then placed, wrong side up, on top of the lighter triangles. This will avoid any shadowing.

Figure E

5. Assembly-line sew the triangles, press them open and glue their corners down.

6. Glue or pin all of the squares into position onto the unprinted side of the foundation.

7. Make sure no excess fabric is lying on any fold.

Quilt Top Assembly
1. Re-fold the foundation along one of the four previously folded lines, enclosing the patches.

Figure F

2. Sew along the seam line from one end to the other, extending your stitches into the perimeter. Raise the machine's needle; don't sew in the interior seam allowances.

3. Sew the parallel seam line in the same manner.

Figure G

4. Clip the four intersections perpendicularly to and beyond the sewn line.

5. Re-fold along a perpendicular fold and sew as in step 2.

6. Sew remaining seam line.

7. Press seams with iron against paper side, not fabric side.

Figure H

8. True-up with 6-1/2-inch square ruler. Do not remove translucent paper until the blocks have been joined.