Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Nine Patch Path

Look what I found--62 little quilt seeds; they were just waiting to be planted into a quilt.


These nine patches are made from 2" squares with the block finishing at 4 1/2" square. These nine patches were made quite a few years ago as leader / enders. They have been sitting idle in this box ever since.

I picked up the latest Quilter's Newsletter Magazine's Quilt It~More Nine Patch Favorites and the cover quilt, Nine Patch Path seemed to be the perfect pattern to give these homeless nine patches a purpose. I only have 62 nine patch blocks in my box - not enough to make my version bed size. This is a perfect scrap / stash quilt pattern.

I will wait until I have used up my nine patches and then decide if the quilt will remain that size or if I will add an outer border to make it larger. I like an outer border not only to add size to a quilt, but because it also stabilizes the quilt for machine quilting and it gives a visual frame to the piece. The pattern in the magazine is borderless, so I will wait to make that decision.


These are the blocks that I have put together so far. Please disregard the distortion in the picture--it was taken while my blocks were hanging on my design wall (aka the floor).


Linda J: I think this project must be the perfect combination to address my outstanding UFO list and to "reward my brain" with creativity. This is technically a new project--I certainly did not have it in mind when I made these little nine patch blocks. However, these nine patches were also technically an ignored UFO. Eureka! A project that address the creative need while getting another box off the UFO shelf!

To Everyone Else: When you start a new project with UFOs still on the shelf, just remember Linda J's quote, "I am not ignoring UFOs, just rewarding my brain!" This erases all UFO guilt! (quote used with permission of Linda J -- which still makes me chuckle when I read it!)

20 comments:

  1. I like the design, yours is prettier than the picture...
    Melanie

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  2. Those are great!! I agree that yours are better than the one in the mag. Love the quote too!

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  3. Oh, Oh, Oh, I LIKE this one. I'll have to file the idea away to use when I get to the strip stash.

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  4. this looks terrific, Norma and really dresses up the plain nine patch blocks---like taking them all to a whole nuther level.

    Excellent stash buster---I'm gonna send my mom over to look at it too.

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  5. Yours is much nicer, and I have bookmarked it for my 'inspiration and ideas' folder, LindaJ is right about it taking 9 patches to a new level.

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  6. Norma, this is a great quilt. It is a good way to use up your blocks, without looking like a using up your blocks project.

    The denim circles are shown here:
    http://shelinascreations.blogspot.com/2006/06/another-week-another-class_12.html

    I got the pattern from about.com. You cut circles using a coffee can lid. Draw a square inside the circle, and sew together using the straight lines. Then you just put a piece of fabric in there, and sew down the flaps using a wide zig zag. Easy and fun. I am using old jeans - some from the 80's and upwards for it.

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  7. I love the nine patch design. There may have to be one on my design wall soon too.

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  8. Quilter's Newsletter is one of my favorite quilt magazine's there's always some neat quilt ideas in it.
    I like this pattern I have some nine patch blocks to use up I'll post the pic of the quilt I want to make with them. On my blog. I think this pattern would be a lot easier.

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  9. That's a great pattern. Just perfect for your little orphans. Your "design" wall is just like mine! The floor! :)

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  10. Your little nine-patch blocks look wonderful. You gave them a whole new life!

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  11. what a wonderful pattern for the 9 patches... and I love the colours you've used with them ;-)

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  12. What an inspiration for using 9-patches. I may have to make some 9-patches just so I can put them together.

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  13. Great find, those 9 patches..and so timely!!
    Leave it to Linda J. to have just the right comment to everything..LOL. But I'm in total agreement with her...*VBS* I love the beginnings of your 9 patch path.

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  14. What a great find, and what a way to use them. Looking forward to following your process as you move ahead.
    I like Linda J's way of thinking.

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  15. These are really pretty! WIsh the 9-patches that I inherited were as pretty and the size of these!

    Great inspiration to do the leaders/enders. I need to do that.

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  16. Great idea for the 9-patches. I really like 9-patches in different settings. I can't wait to see it finished.

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  17. I like the extra punch that nine patch has. I saw it in the magazine and I thought of yours right away.

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  18. I just bought that magazine and love that pattern. It's definitely on my to do list.

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  19. What a great pattern for using 9patch blocks and using your stash. Look forward to watching your progress.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the welcome.

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