Note: A full tutorial has now been written and photographed. Click to read “Tutorial: A Disappearing 9 Patch Quilt Top.”

As I mentioned, our ballerina and I are taking a quilting class soon. But, being myself, I just couldn’t wait a full week until the class, so over the weekend I used this tutorial to make a Disappearing 9 Patch incubator-sized quilt top.
The fabric:

ooooh, ahhh, oolala
Cut into squares:

Before you look at more photos, if you are a seasoned quilter, please set down your coffee cup or you might giggle-snort into it and get coffee on yourself. I have uneven blocks, little blips, tiny tucks, but, hey, it filled some time with creativity.
The three 9-patches:

What’s more fun than filling time with creativity, I ask? Certainly not giggle-snorting into coffee.
The pieces are then cut (ack!), turned (ack!), ironed (ick!), and then sewn back together (whew) to make this:

this…

and here it is in full (-ish):

I learned something during this patchwork process, besides that quilting requires ironing. A lot of ironing. I learned that I like quilting. I really, really like quilting. I know, I haven’t actually started the real “quilting”: hand-stitching the layers together. But I already know I really, really like quilting.
I just know. You seasoned quilters understand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
p.s. It’s February 21st. Later today, this evening if all goes well, I hope to have posted a full tutorial complete with even more photos of this Disappearing 9 Patch quilt process. This time in pink! Check my main page tonight or tomorrow morning. Done!
p.s. Oh, you know what else is super fun about the Disappearing 9-Patch? Making the men in my life (ages 8, 12, and their Daddy) figure out how I did it, after giving them only one hint: that I cut all the fabric squares the same size. Heehee, it’s fun to puzzle those puzzle-solving guys.
Photos by Lori Seaborg, February 2008
Your top looks great! I love the fabrics and the pattern. It’s addicting even though there is a lot of ironing 🙂
I finally understand how you did this, I’m ready to try it for a pillow, I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Samantha
I love it! I even went to the tutorial to see how you did it. If I didn’t have so many of my own projects going on I’d try it today.
Take care!
~ Drewe Llyn
I have uneven blocks, little blips, tiny tucks, but, hey, it filled some time with creativity.
What is it that makes a guitar easier to play than other guitars? And what is it that makes it sound good?
What are the factors that make one guitar easier to play than another? I play guitar and I’ve noticed that some guitars are just easier to play.