Moonlight Quilters
Tip of the Needle
Nine Patch Blocks - Two Methods
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Cut a 9-inch (or any size that is easily divided by 3) square from each of 2 different fabrics. Place them right sides together. Sew down two sides:
Cut them into three equal strips. Press the two sidepieces open. You will have an extra strip of each color:
Sew each of the extra strips to their corresponding sides. Press open. You will now have two squares with 3 strips each, of alternating colors:
Lay them right sides together so the seams nestle. Sew down the two sides with the seams on them:
Cut the unit into three equal strips, cutting in the direction of the seams you just sewed:
Press open the two outside pieces. You will have two extra of strips. Sew them onto their corresponding units and Viola'!
You now have two Nine-Patch blocks of alternating colors.
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image 1
image 2
image 3
No Waste Nine Patch Blocks
(These directions make one 4 1/2" finished 9 patch block.)
Cut 2 strips-2" X 8" plus one 2" square of your corner fabric.
Sew the long strips together and press to the darker strip
Cross cut the unit making four 2" strips
Reposition as shownin image 1. Note where the extra square is placed!
Sew together as shown in image 2, and
Viola!!!
Use this chart to plan your cutting for different sizes of blocks.
| Strip Cuts | Makes Finished |
| 2" x 8" | 4 1/2" |
| 2 1/2" x 10" | 6" |
| 3" x 12" | 7 1/2" |
| 3 1/2" x 14" | 9" |
| 4" x 16" | 10 1/2" |
| 4 1/2" x 18" | 12 " |
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