The disappearing nine patch quilt pattern is a great quick pattern to use for baby quilts, wedding quilts or for any occasion or season! Apr 25, 2017 The Springtime Disappearing Nine Patch Baby Quilt makes a gorgeous baby quilt pattern that you can gift for baby showers, holidays, and little birthdays. The springy colors and smooth finish of disappearing nine patch quilt patterns make this look so happy and professional, and the versatile design allows you to make a unique one of your own!
Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Tutorial
Design and Sew Disappearing Nine Patch Quilts
Try this disappearing nine patch quilt pattern if you love to make quick pieced quilt blocks and quilts. To make the quilts, a simple nine patch quilt block is sliced in half twice to create four smaller units.
The same technique can be used when you sew other quilt blocks. A few choices are:
- Disappearing Bonnie Scotsman Quilt Blocks
- Disappearing Bento Box Quilt Blocks
- Take a look at another tutorial, How to Make a Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt.
Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt History
The disappearing nine patch technique seems to have developed over time, and from the work of many quilters.
Pirate, a member of our Quilting Forum, found a few answers about the history of the technique when she made her own disappearing nine patch quilt.
- Karin Hallaby wrote a book in 2002, called Magic Pillows, Hidden Quilts. The book included a Magic Nine Patch quilt made using the same technique that's so popular today.
- Nancy Brenan Daniel wrote a book called Disappearing Nine Patch in 2002, but the design we associate with that phrase is not one of the quilt designs used. Ms. Daniel used the phrase again in a later book.
- A blog by Helen Bailey, with a tutorial about her own use of the disappearing nine patch, helped popularize the term. Ms. Bailey did not coin the phrase and mentioned that a Yahoo group had used the term early-on.
- The same technique has been called Tossed Nine Patch (by Eleanor Burns) and 9 to 4 by other quilters and authors.
Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Color Options
Sometimes it's a little difficult to wrap our heads around the final look of quilt blocks produced using this technique, and the contrast that will occur when the nine patch blocks (let's call them parents) are cut apart (resulting in the daughters) and then reassembled.
- The center square of a parent nine patch block will turn into a small corner square in each daughter when the parent block is sliced into four sections. Choose a dark (or hot/warm) fabric for the center to make those small squares pop out when the daughters are arranged into a quilt layout.
- Squares that touch the parent's center squares (midpoints of the outer rows) are also sliced, and become each daughter's outer bars. We think they look good when sewn as either lights or mediums that contrast with the center.
- Squares sewn in the four corners of the block are the only pieces that remain their original size (minus the seam allowance). They should contrast with the midpoint squares mentioned above.
Having said all of that... keep in mind that there are no rules.
- Try placing your darkest square in one corner, and then fill in the other slots with light and medium squares.
- Assemble the nine patch in a traditional way, looking like an X -- with dark squares in the center and four corners and lighter squares in the four remaining positions.
- We love watercolor quilts, sometimes called colorwash quilts, where floral fabrics of all types seem to melt into each other, but still have a bit of contrast for definition. Here's an example of a split nine patch quilt we did many years ago in the watercolor style. The quilt was strip-pieced, so the patches don't blend quite as well as they might have in a quilt sewn one patch at a time, but we was happy with the result.
Experiment a bit to create your own unique quilt blocks from the basic pattern, and then take some time to play with the endless layouts possibilities.
How to Change the Size of Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Blocks
Work with any size squares you like, just remember that the block will be sliced in half twice -- once vertically and once horizontally. Here's a look at the results of using a few different square sizes for parent blocks:
- 3-1/2' parent squares: daughters finish at 4-1/4' x 4-1/4'
- 4-1/2' parent squares: daughters finish at 5-3/4' x 5-3/4'
- 5-1/2' parent squares: daughters finish at 7-1/4' x 7-1/4'
Again, any size squares will work -- if the quilt will be constructed entirely of same-sized daughter blocks, they'll all match in size as long as you sew and cut accurately.
Squares do not have to include a fraction. Do you have a collection of 5' x 5' fabric squares, either purchased or received in swaps? Perfect -- daughters will finish at 6-1/2' x 6-1/2'.
Use this formula to calculate the finished size of daughter blocks:
- Divide a parent's finished size by 2, and then subtract 1/4' to find the finished size of each daughter.
Make Scrappy Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Blocks
This floral version of the Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block was used for a previous forum event. Alter fabrics selections in any way you wish.
Make One Parent Nine Patch Block
Cut 9 squares, each 4-1/2' x 4-1/2'
- (1) dark
- (4) medium
- (4) light
Sew with a quarter inch seam allowance.
- Arrange the squares into three rows, each row with three squares. Place the dark square in the block's center position. Place the light squares in the block's four corners. Fill in the midpoint gaps with the medium squares.
- Sew the components of each row together. Press seams in adjoining rows in opposite directions.
- Join the rows, butting seam allowance lofts for a perfect match. Secure the fabrics with straight pins to keep them from shifting. Press.
- The parent block should measure 12-1/2' x 12-1/2'. It's important that the block is accurate. If it's skewed, or a bit small, press the block again and remeasure. Adjust your seam allowance for another block if necessary, sewing a scant 1/4' seam.
- Use a rotary ruler to slice the block in half once vertically. Each half of the block should be 6-1/4' wide. The 6-1/4' vertical rule should run perfectly down the left side of the block and the bottom of the block should align with a horizontal line of the ruler (see photo above). The block's midpoint is critical, so if your seam allowances are a tad off, be sure the cut will flow down the midpoint of the parent block.
- You should now have two vertical segments that measure 6-1/4' x 12-1/2'. Cut each segment in half horizontally to produce a total of four 6-1/4' x 6-1/4' daughter squares. Photo of the Second Cut
Repeat to make additional quilt blocks.
Sew Strip Pieced Disappearing Nine Patch Quilts
You can make a strip pieced quilt, either orderly or somewhat scrappy. Read more about strip piecing if the technique is new to you.
- Choose a square size and determine how you wish to position fabrics.
- Using the width you chose, cut strips of each fabric from selvage to selvage.
- Sew three strips together lengthwise to create three strip sets that look like the three rows of your block.
- Square up one end of each strip set. Cut segments from the strips sets, each the same dimension as the width of your original strips.
- Sew segments together to create the block, and then slice the block in half as described above (slicing dimensions will differ based on your strip width).
Disappearing 9 Patch Baby Quilt
How to Make a Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt
Disappearing Nine Patch quilts are designed by arranging and sewing together nine squares to create a traditional nine patch quilt block. But instead of leaving the block as-is it is sliced into four equal sections to create the disappearing design.
Learn more about the block's history and find additional assembly and design details in a disappearing nine patch quilt block pattern that was originally used for an online quilt block exchange.
Disappearing Nine Patch Terms
- The original nine patch quilt block can be called the parent block
- The four sections cut from the original blocks are called the daughter blocks
A Few More Facts About the Quilt Blocks
- The outer four corners of the parent nine patch block remain squares in the daughters.
- The center square of the parent block becomes a small square at one corner of each daughter.
- The squares that sit at the inner midpoints of the parent block become narrow bars in daughters.
The parent quilt block on this page repeats one fabric—the paisley in the upper right and lower left corners. Remaining fabrics in the block are unique, but because the midpoint and center squares are divided, even the unique fabrics are repeated in daughter blocks.
If you're making a scrap quilt, the repetition won't be obvious in the finished project unless you sew lots of identical parents. You might even decide to use the same or very similar fabrics in the center of each parent block to tie the design together when it's time to establish a layout.
Choose a Size
Each fabric in this parent nine patch block is unique, producing a more scrappy layout than the block in the step above, where one fabric is repeated. Squares in corners are not necessarily the same color warmth or color value, adding even more variety to the daughters.
Remember that all Disappearing Nine Patch daughters cut from the same parent will contain the same fabrics in their small squares and narrow bars.
Assembly
- Parent nine patch blocks can be assembled one piece at a time to create three rows, which are then sewn together and pressed. This method is a good choice for very scrappy quilts.
- Another option is to use strip piecing techniques to create long strip sets of three fabrics each to mimic rows. Strip sets are cut into segments that are the same length as the squares used to construct the set.
Example Sizes
Squares of any consistent size can be used to assemble the parent nine patch blocks for a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt.
- Parent blocks made with 3-1/2' squares = daughters that finish at 4-1/4' square
- Parent blocks made with 4-1/2' squares = daughters that finish at 5-3/4' square
- Parent blocks made with 5' squares = daughters that finish at 6-1/2' square
- Parent blocks made with 5-1/2' squares = daughters that finish at 7-1/4' square
- Parent blocks made with 6' squares = daughters that finish at 8' square, a standard size that could be mixed with other 8' quilt blocks
Calculate the Daughter Size for Any Parent
- Multiply the finished size of each square in the parent by 3 to find the parent block's finished width and height.
- Divide the result by 2.
- Subtract 1/4' to calculate the finished size of each daughter.
Use a quarter inch seam allowance to sew all seams.
4-Fabric Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt Blocks
This Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block produces two different types of daughters. The like-patches needn't be sewn diagonally from each other. For example, placing a green at each bottom corner and a blue at each top corner would produce the same daughters.
This arrangement is a good option for quilts with a more controlled appearance, and the rows could be strip pieced with ease.
Neutral Disappearing 9-Patch Blocks
This Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block is made from neutral fabrics that are mostly a combination of black, gray and beige. The block's light center square results in small light squares at one corner of each daughter.
Four different dark fabrics are sewn in the parent block's corners, but the midpoint slots repeat the same fabric.
This type of layout would be a good approach if you want a scrappy assortment of large squares in the daughters but would prefer identical small squares and bars in the finished quilt.
Strip Piecing a Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt
One of the best things about Disappearing Nine Patch quilt blocks is their versatility. Search for the term online and pull up the images. You'll find all sorts of potential layouts, and you can design even more by shifting daughter blocks around on a quilt design wall.
The example here illustrates one way to arrange daughters cut from nine identical red and white parent quilt blocks.
Strip Piece Blocks
If you're a new quilter you need to learn how to rotary cut strips of fabric and how to cut patchwork shapes before you begin.
To make a scrap quilt, use shorter strips and cut fewer segments from each.
- Choose the square size for parent blocks.
- Determine the layout for each row of the parent block.
- Make a plan for each row of your desired parent blocks. Where will darks, lights, mediums, brights, etc. be positioned?
- Cut long fabric strips in widths that match the parent's square size, and remember that segments will be cut that same size.
- Repeat to create strip sets and segments for each row.
- Adjust the strip length to suit your needs. For instance, in the scenario above, 4' wide strips cut across the fabric's crosswise grain, from selvage to selvage, would be long enough to cut (10) identical 4' segments from the finished strip set—enough for 10 parent block rows.
Strip Pieced Example
Let's say the top row is similar to the red and white block shown here and you want to create enough top rows for five parent blocks. Your parent square size is 4' x 4'.
Cut one 4' x 20-1/2' strip of each fabric (two light red prints and one dark red print) and sew them together lengthwise, with the dark strip in the middle. After squaring up one end of the strip set, you'll have enough leftover length to cut (5) 4' long segments—the top row of five parent blocks.Pressing the Strip Sets
It's easier to cut accurate segments if you press seam allowances to one side after creating a strip set, and it's more simple to match seam intersections later if the seams butt into each other when rows are aligned before sewing the block.
Consider which row you're working on when creating strip sets and devise a pressing plan. You could press seam allowances in the top, and bottom row strip sets away from the center, and towards the center square in middle rows.
Make It Fun
Part of the fun of a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt is devising a color scheme and layout.