Quilt block · Checks and chains · Beginner
Dutch Nine Patch quilt block
A nine-patch with a tiny framed nine-patch at its center: medium squares in the corners, and light ones on the sides.
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
4 side squares, 4 frame strips and 4 small squares
- A4 squares 2½″
- B2 rectangles 2½″ × 1″then cut with template B
- C2 rectangles 1¾″ × 1″then cut with template C
- D4 squares 1″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
5 small squares
- D5 squares 1″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 corner squares
- A4 squares 2½″
Between the lines. Dutch Nine Patch cuts cleanly at 7½″. At 6″ its squares are ²⁄₅″, 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
4 side squares, 4 frame strips and 4 small squares
- A4 squares 3½″
- B2 rectangles 3½″ × 1⅛″then cut with template B
- C2 rectangles 2⅜″ × 1⅛″then cut with template C
- D4 squares 1⅛″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
5 small squares
- D5 squares 1⅛″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 corner squares
- A4 squares 3½″
Between the lines. Dutch Nine Patch cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 15″. At 9″ its squares are ³⁄₅″, 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 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
4 side squares, 4 frame strips and 4 small squares
- A4 squares 4½″
- B2 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅜″then cut with template B
- C2 rectangles 3″ × 1⅜″then cut with template C
- D4 squares 1⅜″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
5 small squares
- D5 squares 1⅜″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 corner squares
- A4 squares 4½″
Between the lines. Dutch Nine Patch cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 15″. At 12″ its squares are ⁴⁄₅″, 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 2 sections
Sew 2 Dark D pieces and a Background D piece together in a column. 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 1 section
Sew 2 Background D pieces and a Dark D piece together in a column. 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 1 section
Sew 2 Background C pieces and 3 sections together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section, 2½″
Sew 2 Background B pieces and a section together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. 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 2 sections
Sew 2 Dark D pieces and a Background D piece together in a column. 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 1 section
Sew 2 Background D pieces and a Dark D piece together in a column. 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 1 section
Sew 2 Background C pieces and 3 sections together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section, 3½″
Sew 2 Background B pieces and a section together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. 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 2 sections
Sew 2 Dark D pieces and a Background D piece together in a column. 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 1 section
Sew 2 Background D pieces and a Dark D piece together in a column. 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 1 section
Sew 2 Background C pieces and 3 sections together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section, 4½″
Sew 2 Background B pieces and a section together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. 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).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 15 × 15 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 15″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 7 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F and G), 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 a good block for a beginner: 21 pieces in 4 different shapes. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.