Quilt block · Checks and chains · Intermediate
Double Nine Patch quilt block
A nine-patch made of nine-patches: five small nine-patches, with a plain square between each. Also called Double Ninepatch.
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
20 small squares
- A20 squares 1¼″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
25 small squares
- A25 squares 1¼″then cut with template A
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 plain squares
- B4 squares 2½″
Between the lines. Double Nine Patch 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
20 small squares
- A20 squares 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
25 small squares
- A25 squares 1½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 plain squares
- B4 squares 3½″
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
20 small squares
- A20 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
25 small squares
- A25 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 plain squares
- B4 squares 4½″
Between the lines. Double Nine Patch 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 10 sections
Sew 2 Dark A pieces and a Background A piece together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 sections
Sew 2 Background A pieces and a Dark A piece together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 sections, 2½″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 10 sections, 3½″ × 1½″
Sew 2 Dark A squares and a Background A square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 1½″ (3″ × 1″ finished).
- Make 5 sections, 3½″ × 1½″
Sew 2 Background A squares and a Dark A square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 1½″ (3″ × 1″ finished).
- Make 5 sections, 3½″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 10 sections
Sew 2 Dark A pieces and a Background A piece together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 sections
Sew 2 Background A pieces and a Dark A piece together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 sections, 4½″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is it Double Nine Patch or Double Ninepatch?
Both: you’ll see it written either way in books and patterns. It’s the same block, and a search for either finds it.
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 15 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N and O), 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 intermediate block: 49 pieces in 2 different shapes. Take it slowly and check each piece against the list. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.