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Nine Patch Split!
Approx. Size 49"X49". Block size: 6"
How
many of us are still enamoured with the simple 9 patch? I know
that I am! I love to take out my precut scrap squares,
triangles, and bricks and lay them out just as if I were playing with
building blocks and see what strikes my fancy. Here, let me show
you how this came about!
Basic Split 9 patch block, right?
Only instead of completely scrappy, I
wanted something to emphasize the diagonals, and being a lover of
red...I cut some red triangles and placed them along the dark half of
the block. Nice, but kind of ordinary! Now, what would happen if
I switched those triangles around and put the reds on the LIGHT side of
the block? Hmmmm! It has possibilities!
But look! What if I
eliminated some seams...I could use my pre-cut 2.5"X4.5" bricks and get
basically
the same look with lots less seams to match up when I put the blocks
together! By this time my juices were really flowing and I was
anxious to get started. Are you ready to get started too? :c)
Let's start with the 1/2 square triangles!
I love my Easy Angle ruler!
This ruler eliminates that whole "add 7/8" to the finished size
thing...the seam allowance is added to the ruler! This works great with
my scrap quilting because I can cut the triangles I need from the
strips I have already cut. These blocks use 2.5" strips, squares
and bricks, so I will be cutting my triangles from the same 2.5"
strips. Layer your dark fabric and light triangle fabric with
right sides together. Square off one end, and following the
diagrams above, align the 2.5" marking on the ruler with your
strips. Make your first cut. Flip the ruler as above to
make your second cut. Cut as many as you need. Each block takes 3
triangle squares. If you are making the baby sized quilt, you
will need 108 triangle squares to make the 36 blocks needed for this
quilt.
See that little nubbed
end? It makes it so easy to chain feed these pairs through the
machine! And when you press them open, there is only one dog-ear to
trim.... Sew your triangles, as many or few as you want, press
them and trim them!
Now that you have your triangle
squares sewn and pressed, you can start
playing with blocks!
Now that you have your triangle squares sewn and pressed, you can start
playing with blocks! Each block takes 3 2.5" triangle squares, two 2.5"
squares, and two 2.5"X4.5" bricks!
Sew the block sections into
rows, and sew the rows together to complete the block. I press
the center section out towards the side sections. The seams just seem
to want to go that way.
Here are 36 blocks laid
out! You can do lots of different layouts with these blocks. Try
any log cabin setting! Sew the blocks into rows, and then sew the rows
together to complete the quilt center. At this point I added a 2"
cut (1.5" finished) red border to frame the quilt center before adding
the cornerstone braid border! Are you feeling brave enough to tackle
the border as well?! Let's start!
Braid Border:
For the border we are
switching strip size! For the braid you will need about a
gazillion (just a guestimate!!) 2"X5" rectangles, and a whole lot of 2"
cornerstone squares!
To start, sew a cornerstone
square to the end of one of your braid pieces. Press the seam
towards the braid piece. Take a second rectangle, and laying the
cornerstone piece and new rectangle right sides together and forming an
"L" stitch with a 1/4" seam. Press towards the rectangle.
I know this looks like a
strange way to start, but the excess will be squared up later.
Look at the pic on the left above...can you see how this braid is going
to build? You will sew the blue strip to the left side of the
braid, sew the red square to the purple strip, and then add that unit
to the right side of the braid. It is a two step process. Every other
strip will have a corner stone square sewn to the end of it before it
is added to the braid unit.
Keep piecing sections on
until your braid is quite a bit longer than you need for one side of
the quilt. When you trim the braid to size, you will use the
excess length to keep building on for the next side. I piece one
border length at a time just so that it doesn't get too bulky and I'm
not
dealing with a mile long braid that gets unweildy to deal with.
Time to Trim! Square off the bottom end of the braid. Then, laying your ruler along the edge of the braid, trim off all those zig-zag edges. Your braid should measure approx 6 1/2" wide.
Being careful not to stretch
the braid. lay it across the center of the quilt, smoothing
carefully. Cut two braid lengths this width. Sew to opposite ends
of the quilt with right sides together. Press carefully so as not to
distort the bias edges of the border. Looking good so far! Back to
piecing more braid....piece the braid long enough for the next two
sides of the quilt top.
Measure with the braid unit down the
center of the quilt including the two borders just added. Cut two braid
lengths this long and sew to the remaining sides. Press carefully. At
this point you might want to stay stitch around the edge of the top
with a large machine basting stitch. It will keep all those border
seams from coming undone and help to minimize stretching during the
quilting process.
Note: I like primitive wonky
quilting. I did NOT
pay attention to where the cornerstone pieces fell in the braid, I
didn't try to have the edges even or sections match up when attaching
the borders. The ends run off the quilt wherever they end! If you
wanted a more uniform look, you could cut all 4 borders at
once....centering a cornerstone square in the border so that all the
ends would be the same. Use a large cornerstone square in each corner
of the quilt. It's your quilt. Play with it! Have fun with
it...experiment, dare to try!
For the quilting, I did a freeform "Feather To Fill" over the entire surface of the quilt. This quilt is destined for my new nephew who is to make his appearance any day now! In fact...I'm in a rush to get the label on and get it sent before he makes his entrance into this world. There is always a good reason to make another quilt, isn't there?! :c)
Another idea: Here is a
whole quilt I did with cornerstone braids!
And More Playing: I thought this would make a great pattern for Quilts of Valor!
A bit more color controlled.....the
red and gold would be the
'constants' in this quilt..with the blues and neutrals being very
scrappy....the ideas are endless! This quilt layout takes 80 blocks!(That's
240 red/gold triangle squares!)
Questions
or Comments? I would love to hear from you!! Bonnie@Quiltville.com© Quiltville Custom Quilting.All Rights Reserved. No part may be used, copied or otherwise
altered without express written permission from the webmaster.