Quilt block · Nine-patch · Advanced
Cat and Mice quilt block
A nine-patch of five cat units, each a dark center with triangles round it, and four light units with dark squares for the mice.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
48 squares
- A48 squares 1¼″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
13 squares and 20 triangles
- A13 squares 1¼″then cut with template A
- B20 squares 1¼″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
20 triangles
- B20 squares 1¼″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Cat and Mice cuts cleanly at 4½″ or 9″. At 6″ its squares are ⅔″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
48 squares
- A48 squares 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
13 squares and 20 triangles
- B10 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A13 squares 1½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
20 triangles
- B10 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
48 squares
- A48 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
13 squares and 20 triangles
- B20 squares 2″then cut with template B
- A13 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
Medium · Denim in the picture
20 triangles
- B20 squares 2″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Cat and Mice cuts cleanly at 9″ or 13½″. At 12″ its squares are 1⅓″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 20 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 9 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 9 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 9 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 20 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 9 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 9 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 9 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 20 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 9 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 9 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 9 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
More like this: Nine-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
At 9″ every piece measures with a ruler. On its 9 × 9 grid, 6″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 9″ or 13½″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 9 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I), each sewn on its own paper in order and then joined with straight seams. In Quarter Inch, the Foundations tab prints its papers at true size (with Quilter).
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an advanced block: 101 pieces in 2 different shapes and 27 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.