[74] 9-Patch Quilt Blocks ~ Something for Every Quilter

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9-patch quilt blocks are the most basic of quilt blocks.

For the beginning quilter, they're simply 9 square patches stitched together to form a design.

For the more experienced quilter, substituting different units for those simple square patches reveals a myriad of designs to play with.

Remember to Pin It for later!

Use the links below to quickly skip to the topics and information you are interested in.

• A quick discussion and illustration of the similarities and differences between even and uneven 9-patch quilt blocks

• Why identifying a design as '9-patch' is helpful in construction

• An example using both even and uneven construction

• Our Library of EVEN 9-patch quilt block tutorials (multiple sizes)

Let's get to the good stuff!

9-Patch Quilt Blocks: Even vs uneven designs

The 9-patch quilt blocks in THIS Library are divided by their grid: 3x3, 6x6, 9x9 and each is an 'even' 9-patch design. (Eventually, there'll be a library of 'uneven' 9-patch quilt blocks, too.)

3x3 grid

6x6 grid

9x9 grid

Constructing 9-patch quilt blocks

As you look at 9-patch quilt blocks—both even and uneven—notice that the corner units for each design are all constructed exactly the same. Then (usually) rotated a 1/4 turn to create symmetry.

Each design contains 'side units' that are identical, too.

These ideas apply for both even and uneven 9 patch quilt blocks.

It might be tempting to assemble a block drawn on a 5x5 grid as 5 separate rows—sometimes this is the only way that makes sense.

Another reason to assemble in rows is to create a very scrappy block. The more patches, the more opportunity for scrappiness.

However, many times you'll find that it's much easier, much more efficient, to construct the four like-corners and four like-side units, finally creating the block as though it was a 9-patch whose patches are simply different sizes.

An example using 9-patch construction: Even vs Uneven

Four Crowns block

Identifying a block as a nine-patch (even or uneven) gives you an efficient way(s) to construct your patchwork.

Here is the Four Crowns quilt block design which is drawn on a 6x6 grid.

Without any patch lines to go by, how would you construct it?

You could choose to piece it in six rows.

But where's the fun in that?

That's be a lot of monkeying around with extra half square triangles, trimming and pinning to get everything to line up...the first time.

I don't know about you, but there's way too many quilt ideas sloshing around in my brain to assemble blocks the long way.

Uneven 9-patch

And who wants to piece that dark center square as two halves? (Unless of course, I wanted a very scrappy look to my patchwork.)

That doesn't make a lot of sense in my own work flow

What about yours?

An alternative is to piece it as an uneven 9-patch (which is what we did in the paper pieced block tutorial found here.

Now our Four Crowns breaks down into:

• A large Economy block in the center

• Flying Geese and HST as the narrow side units

• Small cut squares in the corners

Use a bit of paper piecing and the block is pointy-point-i-licious every time!

Even 9-patch

The third piecing option is to construct it as an even 9-patch quilt block.

Broken into its parts we have a

• Brave World units

• Pairs of Flying Geese (aka 'Arrowhead' quilt block)

• A solid cut square for the center.

Remember, the best method is the one that works best for YOU.

Looking for a different block?

For a list of all the 220+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

Click here if you are looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

And finally, if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e. Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each, click here.

What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 220+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:

• 4"

• 4-1/2"

• 5"

• 6"

• 8"

• 9"

• 10"

• 12"

For even more blocks to make...

For you, are quilt block designs like potato chips...

...you can't have just one?!!

Check the amazing resources I rely on for all the quilt block designs you see on this website. 

To see if they're worthy of a spot in YOUR quilting library, CLICK HERE.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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