February 24, 2009

Disappearing 9 Patch Quilt

Here it is! My collection of black and white fabrics is now a Disappearing 9 Patch quilt! To tell you the truth, I wasn't crazy about the black and white color scheme, it just isn't me. But I wanted to use colors outside my comfort zone, and I really like how it turned out! My favorite part of the quilting process is taking the finished quilt off my longarm machine because it has become a quilt. That is when I decided I really like this one. I was going to sell it, but it is definitely growing on me!
(Editor's Note: The Disappearing Nine Patch quilt design is not my own, and I do not intend to imply anything more than insight into the fabrics I chose, and how I made it for my own personal use. I did some research before I posted the quilt, and there are several different names, including "9 to 4", "Tossed Nine Patch", and others. Just like many other common quilt designs, there are tutorials and photos of the design on many quilting websites and blogs. This blog is not intended to be downloaded or copied in any way, it is for your personal enjoyment only.)

Now I am going to show you how I made this Disappearing 9 Patch quilt. It looks complicated but it is really easy!! I used darks (black), lights (white), and an accent fabric (red). This quilt is about 62"x84", it is 4 blocks wide and 6 blocks long, for a total of 24 blocks. For each block I used 4 dark squares, 4 light squares, and 1 accent square. I cut my fabric into squares 4-1/2" x 4-1/2". I used a total of 96 dark squares, 96 light squares, and 24 accent squares. Here is a pile of my 4-1/2" black and white squares.
The next step is to sew the 9 Patch block. I made 24 blocks that look like this, with the dark squares in the corners and the accent square in the middle. I didn't worry about what fabric goes where, other than light, dark, and accent, because as you will see it doesn't matter!
And my finished blocks look like this. I made make 24 of these.
This is a traditional 9 Patch block! The next step is to cut each 9 Patch into 4 equal pieces with one horizontal cut and one vertical cut, like this.Now here is where the 9 Patch disappears! I turned two of the blocks, so it looks like this.I sewed the 4 small squares together into a finished block. I ended up with 24 of these blocks. I then sewed them together in rows, 4 blocks wide and 6 blocks long. The blue line shows one block.
Below is what the quilt looks like when the blocks are all sewn together.
As the saying goes, "It's not a quilt until it's quilted!"
This is my Statler Stitcher at work. I chose a quilting design called "Too Much Bubbly". It is a design with lots of little circles, I thought the quilt was busy enough and needed something fairly simple with curves and repetition. I chose red thread to compliment the red accent squares.
I like to put a narrow accent border to frame the quilt, and then a wide border to finish it off. It is like putting a double mat on a picture.
Here is a picture of the back, you can see the quilting design. It is the same fabric that I used for the accent blocks and narrow border on the front, even though Photo Shop changed the color a little ;-) Rather than using black and white on the back, I think it is fun to use a fabric that creates a little bit of a surprise!
Now you know how I made this Disappearing 9 Patch quilt! Here is the finished quilt one more time...

70 comments:

Unknown said...

Sue, That is a great tutorial and wonderful quilt! That would be perfect for my Black and White Quilt Challenge Project. You should check it out. You can go to the blog either through my blog and click on the link to it (picture) on my left sidebar or you can go directly to the blog at www.bwquiltchallenge.blogspot.com. There are over 100 people participating.

Zonnah said...

I love the fabrics and the way you quilted it.

Bunny said...

Stunning! I love the looks of black red and whit together. the quilting is terrific. and the red backing is perfect.

Anonymous said...

Really beautiful...red black and white look so good together! Great work!

hetty said...

Great quilt! I love the disappearing nine patch! Thanks for the tutorial. Like Jackie suggested, I also think this quilt would be perfect for the Black and White Challenge. I have it on my sidebar too. If you don't enter, I'm stealing your idea!

Calicojoan said...

I love it. Having just finished a black and white and green quilt, I am finding this really calls to me! Thanks for such great instructions on how you did it. I am going to be looking for things to "Cut up" now! Your an inspiration!

Patty said...

I love the red in this quilt.

stitchinpenny said...

My idea of a disappearing nine patch. Use that center square to make the design pop. I love the quikt - the back is so unexpected.

quiltmom anna said...

I love how your disappearing nine patch worked out- I have made a couple and one of them worked much better than the other because of my fabric choices. Your red block makes this quilt.
Thanks for sharing the great tutorial.
Regards,
Anna

Anonymous said...

Great quilt and great tutorial. Must consider this design for my collection of black and white fabrics.
Thanks for posting.

Vicki said...

Very cool. I will have to try that someday.

Anonymous said...

I'm just learning how to make quilts and taking my share of classes. I'm fixing to take a class on this one. I have no idea what colors until I saw yours. Now My son will have a News Paper Quilt, Black, White and Red all over.


Stitchz

SJ said...

What a wonderful tutorial! I never did know what a "disappearing 9 patch" was. So easy yet looks so hard. I love to do 9 patches since they go together so fast and use up those "special" fabrics I have hanging around. Thanks.

Shirley

Sue said...

Thanks! The pattern is not an original design, I found it on several internet blogs and it goes by other names as well. I thought it would be fun to show how I made it. I just quilted one for a lady, she made the block colors totally random and it is very cute!!

Astrid said...

What a stunning quilt! I love the color combination! I have heard so much about this block, but never knew how to make it. Thanks for the easy-explained tutorial!

karen said...

A firend of mine sent me the pattern for this 9 patch, because I had fallen in love with her quilt as she finished it. I am so glad to finally know what the pattern is, and now, after seeing your black / white with the red, I am heading to my fabric stash and gonna try my hand at doing this pattern.. SOOO cool, thanks so much for doing the tutorial for us !
Blessings,
karen
http://www.karensthreadsofhope.blogspot.com

Nancy in IN said...

I have a collection of b/w/r fabrics waiting to be pieced and this looks to be what I want. It is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy in IN

Anonymous said...

How many different shades of black did you use? How many different shades of white did you use?

Sue said...

I was cutting out a Summertime Stars quilt at the same time and I needed 15 blacks and 15 whites for that, so I think I used the same number for the disappearing 9 patch. But you can use any number!

Russ and Misty said...

How much of each fabric would I need to buy to make this?

Sue said...

That depends on how big your quilt will be, how big your blocks are, and how many different fabrics you use. If you want a scrappy look, fat quarters or charm packs would work. The whole quilt is made from squares that can be any size, and they are all the same size. My quilt had 96 dark squares, 96 light squares, 24 accent squares, and two borders.

Carolina Carol said...

I am making a child's quilt with pockets for small dolls (The ones being offered now at MacDonalds) and I thought a disappearing nine patch would work well for it for a friends 4 year old. A fellow member of my Quilt Guild is an avid nine patcher. Thanks for the inspiration.
Carol from Carolina (formally MA,a Patriots Fan)

Karen said...

Not enough "research"... The pattern was originated and published by Nancy Brenan Daniel some years ago by the American Society of Needlework in a booklet entitled "Disappearing Nine-Patch Quilt"... hard to find and out of print, it's available occassionally on eBay and Amazon as a used booklet.

Kim-the-girl said...

I am making this quilt for my parents for Christmas this year and yours is the best tutorial I've found! Thank you so much! It is BEAUTIFUL!!!

corina said...

I think I'm going to have make myself one of these. It's beautiful. I just finished a black, white and lime green string quilt and still have lots of the same fabrics leftover - perfect for this!

Anonymous said...

I have been collecting black & white fabric for a couple of years not just trying to figure a pattern that would work well. I think I finally found one I really like. Thanks.

Jennie said...

Thanks for your tutorial. Very informative and the black, white & red are fabulous. Love the step by step photos. Followed your tutorial and have my own version now just waiting for the binding.

LetMeRead said...

This quilt is so wonderful. I love the red pop! I linked your instructions to my blog. www.HowToBeAMollyMormon.blogspot.com

Sue said...

Thanks! Your baby quilt is lovely!

Twinmomwv said...

Love the quilt! I've decided on the Disappearing pattern for a quilt for my sister-in-law to take to college with her this fall.

The blanket dimensions that I have found for an XL twin dorm bed are 68 x 96. Would I be better off to make the blocks bigger or to do more blocks?

I'm also confused about the block size. I found an equation that gave me a 6 1/2 in block using 5 in squares. Is this right? It seems the reconstructed patch should be larger than that.

Sue said...

Thanks! You could either make bigger blocks, or more blocks, depending on how many you want to make. It sounds like the 6 1/2" block is 1/4 of what I am calling a block, the equivalent on mine is about 6".

Heart Gramma said...

It is a fabulous quilt. I have quite a stash of black & white fabrics and very inspired to get one like this started. The decision will be what accent color? Thank you for a great tutorial!

Sue said...

Thanks! I made a black and white star quilt that still needs a small inner accent border I am pondering the same thing, what color? I am thinking teal might be nice...

judy said...

I am so in like of this. I want to stop everything and make this. But, NO ... I must finish everything, well at least something I am doing. Then start this. Love love love

Julimond said...

I am so late, to write about my DNP.
You find it on my blog
http://julimonds-patchwork.blogspot.de/2011/12/unglaubige-blicke.html
I made this quilt with your tutorial. I never heard before of it. Thank you for your tutorial. The Quilt was a gift for my husband on Christmas last year.
Greetings from Germany

Iris

Sue said...

Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful quilt. Love to know how you pressed the original 9 patch blocks. Thanks.

Unknown said...

I love it! I have been collecting black and white material. Now I know what I am going to do!
Thank you!

Sue said...

You're welcome! Have fun :)

Inga's This and That said...

I was wondering how to do that block. I would get distracted by the fabrics and colors and and...your tutorial was well thought out and step by step. I will give this one a shot after I finish a top I have lurking on the shelf daring me to quilt it before I start another project...Blessings.

J Page said...

Love the quilt and the colors. Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

TheItinerantChemist said...

Came across this when looking for example disappearing nine patch quilts to show my mum. Coincidentally I'm hoping to do a similar design with black batiks, white prints and hot pink batik fabrics. If it looks even half as good as yours, I'll be well pleased! :)

Anonymous said...

I am new to quilting, please tell me how much fabric of each color to purchase or how to determine the amount to buy. Thank you

Rita said...

I'm taking a quilting class and our teacher gave us your link to the disappearing nine patch. I love it and want to make one for my granddaughter . What was the finished size of your quilt? I need to make a queen size quilt.

Sue said...

Fantastic! I made my Mom a queen size. It's late now so I will try to find the details in the morning. If you want to email me it would be easier :) Address is on my website.
www.ValentineQuiltworks.com

Rita said...

Thanks sue,
I sent you an e-mail, hope you get it, I got a message that the address did not appear to be valid, but I sent it anyway.
Rita

Sue said...

I did not get the email :( The quilt I made for my Mom is 91x91 (I don't have it here). I think the squares are 5.5" sewn into 25 nine patches and cut from there, then a 1.5" inner border and a 6.5" outer border. Hope that helps!

Rita said...

Thank you for the information. That helps. I've been collecting fabrics and hopefully I can try my hand at this soon.

Lori said...

Hi Sue! Thank you so much for this quilt and directions! I have been trying to figure out what to get my daughter and son-in-law for their graduation from UMass Amherst; lo and behold here's your quilt in their school colors. I love that I can make this quick and that it'll serve them well for their long happy lives together! Thanks again!!

Sue said...

Congrats to the grads!

Anonymous said...

What a stunning quilt! Thank you for (for me) a new "twist" on the fabric positions. I've been looking for a pattern to use with civil war fabric, and I think I just found it! I'll pick up a coordinating plain fabric for the accent squares...thank you so much. hon!

Judy Lenzin said...

Hi, This is the best tutorial on the block I've seen. Thanks for sharing! I liked what you did with the color too... blended with the red accent. Amazing for something in stark contrasts like black and white. Anyway, cheers! Judy

Judy Lenzin said...

Hi, This is the best tutorial on the block I've seen. Thanks for sharing! I liked what you did with the color too... blended with the red accent. Amazing for something in stark contrasts like black and white. Anyway, cheers! Judy

Lyric said...

These are the tops of my favorite colours so of course as I am reading your words I am thinking "What's there NOT to like", LOL. The D9P is in my top three list of quilts I want to make.

Somehow at the beginning of my quilting sojourn I got turned around with making quilted totes. Now, the original strips I have cut for my "first" quilt are sitting by pouting. Hopefully I'll get to them by November. After all, that'll be a year since I started.

Good job (as you know).

Cheers,

Lyric
http://www.sewlyricallyvintage.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Beautiful quilt and a great tutorial.

chrissy said...

Sue, Misty and others were asking about the amount of fabric to make a quilt the size that you made. Could you please just tell me with your size, how much dark and light and how much black(dark)for both borders and how much red YOU used.? Also how much yardage for the borders of the black( dark) separately . I can add them all up so separate is fine thank you.

Holly said...

Hi, I came across this tutorial while on Pinterest and I fell in love with the idea. I'm 20 and am a beginner quilter, although I have made many quilts. I feel like I could tackle this just on a smaller scale. I do have a question. How many different fabrics for each color did you use? Does that make any sense. I had noticed you have 8 black and white blocks and they all had a different print on them. How many different prints of each black and white fabrics did you use. Gosh, I hope this makes sense. Thanks!

Sue said...

Hi, I don't recall exactly how many different fabrics, but it really doesn't matter. For the size I made I would say 8-10 blacks and 8-10 whites would be plenty. Collect as many as you can, or use what you have! It will look great either way!

Laurie said...

This is a beautiful quilt! I am now making a black and white and red accent one also! Thanks for the inspiration!!

Sue said...

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Can't go wrong with red and black. Good eye on fabric choices.

Sue said...

Thanks! This was my first black and white quilt, I am now a big fan :) The combinations is pretty much guaranteed to look good, either by itself or with a splash of another color.

Unknown said...

Superbe j'adooore

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous...these colors are stunning. I just bought some fabric and was looking for a pattern to make my next quilt...looks like I found it! Hoping my colors look as good as yours do! *fingers crossed*

Joyce said...

I am a brand new quilter....and totally love it!!! My son is getting married this summer and I want to make them a lap quilt. When I saw your black, white and red quilt I said, "I can do that!" In your tutorial you say, cut out 41/2 " squares. My question is,can I use charm packs (5" squares)?

Sue said...

Sure! You can use 5" squares, your quilt will turn out a little bigger. Good luck, you can do it!

Unknown said...

stunning !

Flutterbye said...

I LOVE it!! These are just the right colors and design for my oldest grandson. He requested a black and white , then added, maybe red too. I can do this one. I've only been quilting a few years and so this one looks do-able.Thanks for the great , understandable tutorial. It's saved to my Pinterest board.

Gram999 said...

I made one for my sister using your colors and directions. My other sister said it was the prettiest quilt she's ever seen and asked for one. I just got the blocks cut out. I hope I'm next. Thanks for sharing your directions. Great blog.

Laurie said...

Your beautiful quilt was the inspiration for my first "real" quilt. I used black and white and pink prints and I love how it turned out. Thank you so much for your tutorial!