Hella Basic Blocks: Nine Patch
Join me in making a Hella Basic Block! This month’s focus is on the checkerboard classic: the Nine Patch. This tutorial will work through both block assembly and will offer three sizes of block and will include tips and time saving tricks to make this block come together fast! Perfect for tossing together a quick and easy quilt, or sharing with your quilting bee for a block of the month!
Here’s what you need to get started:
FABRICS FOR BOTH BLOCKS
For two blocks: (2) 10” square scraps
For strip piecing: (2) 1/2 yard cuts
TOOLS
Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat
Ruler
Sewing Machine
Coordinating Thread
Scissors and/or Snips
Straight Pins or Clips
Iron and Pressing Mat
Fabric Cuts
Because the nature of the checkerboard pattern is to alternate fabrics, this cutting guide has you create two Nine Patch blocks. This makes it perfect for joining together for a larger project that is balanced!
Block Assembly
For both block layouts, arrange fabrics in alternating layout as shown below. Sew fabrics together to make rows.
Press seams either open or to the side in the direction of the arrows to nest seams. Nested seams are when the seams fold to opposite sides, causing them to lay nice and flat against each other when sewing together.
Join rows together, pinning seams together to maintain accuracy, and sew the top row to the middle and then adding the bottom row.
Press seams either open to reduce bulk, or all in one direction to the side to potentially join with other blocks for a larger project.
Block Layout 1
Block Layout 2
Bulk Sewing: Strip Piece!
If you’re looking to make a LOT of these blocks in the same colorway, let me introduce you to Strip Piecing! This technique helps you move quickly through the process and leaves you without having to sew together a bunch of fiddly pieces.
Begin by working with Width of Fabric (WOF) strips. This is the fabric that is acquired off the bolt in yardage, with the Width of Fabric being the measurement from selvage to selvage. Often, the standard size for usable quilting cotton WOF is 42". So for the sake of this tutorial, it is assumed that all WOF is 42".
Cut three WOF strips by preferred size in both colorways. Sew together three strips in alternating colors as shown. Repeat this in the alternate layout with the remaining strips.
Press seams either open or toward the same color for both pieced units to nest seams.
Cut the strip units down to desired size. See table below.
Join rows together, pinning seams together to maintain accuracy, and sew the top row to the middle and then adding the bottom row.
Press seams either open to reduce bulk, or all in one direction to the side to potentially join with other blocks for a larger project.
Project Ideas
This block comes together so fast and can easily be made into a quilt top. See below for layout ideas based on block size as well as options for mixing and matching to create a one-of-a-kind piece!
Small Throw Size Quilt: 54" x 54"
Mixing and Matching
Because the blocks are sized to be multiples of the largest block (6, 9, and 18), it is easy to add up smaller blocks to join alongside a larger block. The possibilities are endless!
Scrappy Style
Dive into the deep end and go wild! Incorporate your favorite fabric collection to create a cohesive story or work with a huge variety of fabrics to mix and match. This block can be SO versatile when you use scraps and leftover bits to create your project. I recommend using some form of a visual anchor to help create some balance within your piece.
Some ideas that are fun to explore:
Congratulations on creating your Hella Basic Nine Patch Project!
Classic checkerboard never looked so cool!
Share your progress and makes on social media using the #HellaBasicBlock and #SarahJeanMakes hashtags. Please tag me at @SarahJeanMakes so I can cheer you on!
