Patchwork
Disappearing Nine Patch
Don't cut these pieces directly — they're produced by the disappearing technique. Cut 9 squares at 4.5" x 4.5" (4 of fabric A for the corners, 4 of fabric B for the edges, 1 of fabric C for the center). Sew into a 3x3 nine-patch with A in the corners, B on the edges, C in the center. Press seams. Make a horizontal cut through the center and a vertical cut through the center. Rotate each of the four quadrants 90 degrees clockwise. Reassemble in the original positions. Final block finishes at 11.5" x 11.5".
Cut list
Dimensions for a 12 inch finished block with a standard 1/4 inch seam allowance. Scale proportionally for other finished sizes.
| Region | Role | Pieces | Cut size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half B (Top of B2) | Background | 1 | 2 1/4" × 4 1/2" |
| Corner A1 | Feature | 1 | 4 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| Quarter C (Top Right) | Accent | 1 | 2 1/4" × 2 1/4" |
| Half B (Right of B1) | Background | 1 | 4 1/2" × 2 1/4" |
| Quarter C (Top Left) | Accent | 1 | 2 1/4" × 2 1/4" |
| Half B (Left of B1) | Background | 1 | 4 1/2" × 2 1/4" |
| Half B (Top of B3) | Background | 1 | 2 1/4" × 4 1/2" |
| Corner A2 | Feature | 1 | 4 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| Corner A3 | Feature | 1 | 4 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| Half B (Bottom of B2) | Background | 1 | 2 1/4" × 4 1/2" |
| Half B (Right of B4) | Background | 1 | 4 1/2" × 2 1/4" |
| Quarter C (Bottom Right) | Accent | 1 | 2 1/4" × 2 1/4" |
| Half B (Left of B4) | Background | 1 | 4 1/2" × 2 1/4" |
| Quarter C (Bottom Left) | Accent | 1 | 2 1/4" × 2 1/4" |
| Corner A4 | Feature | 1 | 4 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| Half B (Bottom of B3) | Background | 1 | 2 1/4" × 4 1/2" |
How it goes together
- Step 1
Cut your pieces
Cut each region using the dimensions in the cut table for a 12 inch finished Disappearing Nine Patch block. Standard 1/4 inch seam allowance is included.
- Step 2
Sew sub-units
Sew the smallest units first (half-square triangles, flying geese, four-patches), then build outward.
- Step 3
Assemble the block
Join the sub-units into rows or columns, then join the rows. Press as you go. Square the finished block to size.
Read more
Color value vs hue in quilts
Value is how light or dark a color is. Hue is what we usually call “the color itself.” In quilts, value carries the design — hue carries the mood.
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Quilt block families, explained
Most quilt blocks belong to one of six families — Patchwork, Half-square triangles, Flying geese, Stars, Curves, and Hexagons. Each family is a way of piecing fabric together.
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The quilter’s seam allowance, explained
A seam allowance is the strip of fabric between the seam and the raw edge. Quilters work in a standard 1/4 inch — and getting it right is the difference between a top that finishes flat and one that fights you.
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Try the Disappearing Nine Patch on a real layout.
Open it on the Design Wall. Try a few colors, see the math, change your mind.