Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Double Nine Patch

IMG_4754

I have really enjoyed the two sew alongs in which I participated in 2017.  Triangle Gatherings by Lisa Bongean and Moda BlockHeads by Moda.   The nature of both these sew alongs is that one would make one block a week for the BlockHeads, and one or more blocks per week for Triangle Gatherings.  My Triangle Gatherings quilt top is sewn together and the BlockHeads group just has one more block to go.  I am going to miss these sew alongs, so I've been scouting around for ideas for the next one in which to participate.

I didn't have to look long.  The Quilted Moose in Nebraska is hosting a Double Nine Patch sew along, where the idea is to make one nine inch block each week for a year.  I have had a box of blue, brown and cream fabrics sitting in my stash closet for going on seven years, and whenever I see it, I feel guilty.  The fabrics were a kit that I bought while traveling with friends.  Gosh that was a fun trip.  I bought the kit from Pieceful Heart Quilt Shop in Illinois.  The kit was based on a Bonnie Blue pattern called James River Blues, and had loads of Judie Rothermel Civil War Repro blue fabrics in it.  I am not sure why I never made the quilt, probably because I keep telling myself I "am not a blue person".  Well, that is something that is about to change.

IMG_4745

Just look at those pretty fabrics.  Do they deserve to languish in a tub in my closet?  No I don't think so.

IMG_4746

This is my year to Use It Up, and I got busy cutting out 1 1/2 inch strips to make Double Nine Patch blocks.  I cut out about half the fabric, but I have a feeling this quilt is going to be gigantic.  If I am wrong, I have plenty left over to cut some more.  I am pretty sure the idea behind The Quilted Moose's sew along is to just use 1 1/2 inch squares to make the blocks, but I just can't see doing that.  I think it is much more efficient to do strip piecing.

IMG_4749

I got out my Bloc Loc strip piecing ruler and made short work of cutting out sections for the nine patch blocks, which finish at 3 inches.   Each of my strip sets produces three nine patch blocks.

   IMG_4750

I am pretty sure I will not be dragging this project out for an entire year, but I am happy to have gotten the inspiration to use up these pretty blue and brown fabrics.

How about you?  Have you heard of any new Sew Alongs for 2018 that sound intriguing?  Lisa Bongean said on her blog yesterday that she has something in the works, and will tell us more soon.  I've done three sew alongs with her, (Christmas Gatherings, Triangle Gatherings and Moda BlockHeads)  and can tell you it really helped my piecing become more accurate.  If you know of any local shops or quilt designers who are hosting sew alongs, do share with us! 

54 responses to “Double Nine Patch”

  1. Love the fabrics and your determination to Use It Up! Interestinglyly, I’ve become more of a blue person in the last couple of years and, as I live close to the James River, I love the name James River Blues!
    Enjoy the process!
    Hugs 🙂

  2. Love the fabrics and your determination to Use It Up! Interestinglyly, I’ve become more of a blue person in the last couple of years and, as I live close to the James River, I love the name James River Blues!
    Enjoy the process!
    Hugs 🙂

  3. Love the fabrics and your determination to Use It Up! Interestinglyly, I’ve become more of a blue person in the last couple of years and, as I live close to the James River, I love the name James River Blues!
    Enjoy the process!
    Hugs 🙂

  4. Love those fabrics! They are beautiful! Fat Quarter Shop has a new quilt-along called Clementine. You can order the fabrics or just use scraps, which is what I do! I have so much fabric that my husband and kids will be giving it away when I die! But hopefully that’s not too soon!! Have a wonderful day!

  5. Love those fabrics! They are beautiful! Fat Quarter Shop has a new quilt-along called Clementine. You can order the fabrics or just use scraps, which is what I do! I have so much fabric that my husband and kids will be giving it away when I die! But hopefully that’s not too soon!! Have a wonderful day!

  6. Love those fabrics! They are beautiful! Fat Quarter Shop has a new quilt-along called Clementine. You can order the fabrics or just use scraps, which is what I do! I have so much fabric that my husband and kids will be giving it away when I die! But hopefully that’s not too soon!! Have a wonderful day!

  7. In February, Sew Incredibly Crazy is starting their annual BOM. It is a BOM with each month being done/hosted by a different designer. This year the title is “It’s a “Wild” Life.” Loved last years, “Sun, Sand and Sea.” ….like I need an excuse to purchase more fabric…..

  8. In February, Sew Incredibly Crazy is starting their annual BOM. It is a BOM with each month being done/hosted by a different designer. This year the title is “It’s a “Wild” Life.” Loved last years, “Sun, Sand and Sea.” ….like I need an excuse to purchase more fabric…..

  9. In February, Sew Incredibly Crazy is starting their annual BOM. It is a BOM with each month being done/hosted by a different designer. This year the title is “It’s a “Wild” Life.” Loved last years, “Sun, Sand and Sea.” ….like I need an excuse to purchase more fabric…..

  10. This is going to be a pretty quilt! My goal this year is to make a dent in my scraps and I had plans to make some four or nine patch blocks for starters. I do like how you have the shirting look fabric squares between the nine patches.

  11. This is going to be a pretty quilt! My goal this year is to make a dent in my scraps and I had plans to make some four or nine patch blocks for starters. I do like how you have the shirting look fabric squares between the nine patches.

  12. This is going to be a pretty quilt! My goal this year is to make a dent in my scraps and I had plans to make some four or nine patch blocks for starters. I do like how you have the shirting look fabric squares between the nine patches.

  16. Laundry Basket- Edita Sitar ? has a pretty quilt along, very intricate design that you would be great at.

  17. Laundry Basket- Edita Sitar ? has a pretty quilt along, very intricate design that you would be great at.

  18. Laundry Basket- Edita Sitar ? has a pretty quilt along, very intricate design that you would be great at.

  19. I saw that SAL too. Pretty tempting. Sewing strips is definitely the most efficient way to sew. I’ve got lots of 1.5″ squares cut just waiting for a project. I’d probably head off in that direction.

  20. I saw that SAL too. Pretty tempting. Sewing strips is definitely the most efficient way to sew. I’ve got lots of 1.5″ squares cut just waiting for a project. I’d probably head off in that direction.

  21. I saw that SAL too. Pretty tempting. Sewing strips is definitely the most efficient way to sew. I’ve got lots of 1.5″ squares cut just waiting for a project. I’d probably head off in that direction.

  22. Sometimes we just fall out of love with a project. How nice to have renewed enthusiasm for that fabric! It looks very promising. Can you tell us more about that Bloc-Lock ruler? I’m not familiar with that one.

  23. Sometimes we just fall out of love with a project. How nice to have renewed enthusiasm for that fabric! It looks very promising. Can you tell us more about that Bloc-Lock ruler? I’m not familiar with that one.

  24. Sometimes we just fall out of love with a project. How nice to have renewed enthusiasm for that fabric! It looks very promising. Can you tell us more about that Bloc-Lock ruler? I’m not familiar with that one.

  25. Nicole, this one will be beautiful! Love the 9 patch blocks. For the last two years I have joined QALs and haven’t gotten past the first two or three blocks, although I’ve printed all the patterns. This year I’ve made a list and hope to finish a few things. But I do love watching your progress! You get so much accomplished!

  26. Nicole, this one will be beautiful! Love the 9 patch blocks. For the last two years I have joined QALs and haven’t gotten past the first two or three blocks, although I’ve printed all the patterns. This year I’ve made a list and hope to finish a few things. But I do love watching your progress! You get so much accomplished!

  27. Nicole, this one will be beautiful! Love the 9 patch blocks. For the last two years I have joined QALs and haven’t gotten past the first two or three blocks, although I’ve printed all the patterns. This year I’ve made a list and hope to finish a few things. But I do love watching your progress! You get so much accomplished!

  28. Those fabrics are gorgeous…and I’m not much of a blue girl either. This year I am going to give up the BOWs as they seem to weigh on me psychologically and thats not what they’re meant to do, so I will take a break from them and focus on what I have in my stash for projects. Kinda what you’re doing with your blues! Enjoy your day, Nicole!

  29. Those fabrics are gorgeous…and I’m not much of a blue girl either. This year I am going to give up the BOWs as they seem to weigh on me psychologically and thats not what they’re meant to do, so I will take a break from them and focus on what I have in my stash for projects. Kinda what you’re doing with your blues! Enjoy your day, Nicole!

  30. Those fabrics are gorgeous…and I’m not much of a blue girl either. This year I am going to give up the BOWs as they seem to weigh on me psychologically and thats not what they’re meant to do, so I will take a break from them and focus on what I have in my stash for projects. Kinda what you’re doing with your blues! Enjoy your day, Nicole!

  31. I’ve see a bunch of new QALs starting this month…they eitherseem too complicated or make you figure out a your total fabric choices at the beginning…which would probably have me buying more fabric (which I don’t want to do!). I like your choice for a QAL…easy to cut and piece…who doesn’t have 1 1/2” strips hanging around?! I just found an entire box of them, I think I’ll join you!

  32. I’ve see a bunch of new QALs starting this month…they eitherseem too complicated or make you figure out a your total fabric choices at the beginning…which would probably have me buying more fabric (which I don’t want to do!). I like your choice for a QAL…easy to cut and piece…who doesn’t have 1 1/2” strips hanging around?! I just found an entire box of them, I think I’ll join you!

  33. I’ve see a bunch of new QALs starting this month…they eitherseem too complicated or make you figure out a your total fabric choices at the beginning…which would probably have me buying more fabric (which I don’t want to do!). I like your choice for a QAL…easy to cut and piece…who doesn’t have 1 1/2” strips hanging around?! I just found an entire box of them, I think I’ll join you!

  37. I have at least one BOM that just needs borders & backing that I need to address before starting anymore! I’ve actually gone as far as selling my fabric, including one or two finished blocks, when I lost interest in sewing along. Good for you stash busting for this one! Nine patches are my favorite quilt blocks.

  38. I have at least one BOM that just needs borders & backing that I need to address before starting anymore! I’ve actually gone as far as selling my fabric, including one or two finished blocks, when I lost interest in sewing along. Good for you stash busting for this one! Nine patches are my favorite quilt blocks.

  39. I have at least one BOM that just needs borders & backing that I need to address before starting anymore! I’ve actually gone as far as selling my fabric, including one or two finished blocks, when I lost interest in sewing along. Good for you stash busting for this one! Nine patches are my favorite quilt blocks.

  40. Oh Nicole, I cannot wait to see how your nine patch sew along goes. I always kicked myself for not buying the James River Blues kit because I love the blues in that one. Excited to watch yours come along!

  41. Oh Nicole, I cannot wait to see how your nine patch sew along goes. I always kicked myself for not buying the James River Blues kit because I love the blues in that one. Excited to watch yours come along!

  42. Oh Nicole, I cannot wait to see how your nine patch sew along goes. I always kicked myself for not buying the James River Blues kit because I love the blues in that one. Excited to watch yours come along!

  43. Oh, Nicole! I see my very favorite Jo Morton fabric in the center top of the lower right 9 patch! I may be joining you on this one!

  44. Oh, Nicole! I see my very favorite Jo Morton fabric in the center top of the lower right 9 patch! I may be joining you on this one!

  45. Oh, Nicole! I see my very favorite Jo Morton fabric in the center top of the lower right 9 patch! I may be joining you on this one!

  46. This will be a pretty quilt!
    Like you I’ve made (and I’m still making) the Modablockheads and if I read Carrie’s post yesterday right it could be that they have something new planned (a girl can always hope).
    FQS started a new sew-along today and Sherri form AQuiltingLife has a new BOM out too.

  47. This will be a pretty quilt!
    Like you I’ve made (and I’m still making) the Modablockheads and if I read Carrie’s post yesterday right it could be that they have something new planned (a girl can always hope).
    FQS started a new sew-along today and Sherri form AQuiltingLife has a new BOM out too.

  48. This will be a pretty quilt!
    Like you I’ve made (and I’m still making) the Modablockheads and if I read Carrie’s post yesterday right it could be that they have something new planned (a girl can always hope).
    FQS started a new sew-along today and Sherri form AQuiltingLife has a new BOM out too.

  49. OOOOOHHHHH! I love blues! That is gonna be gorgeous. I never last until the end on sew-alongs. I get distracted and start something new. ugh. ;p

  50. OOOOOHHHHH! I love blues! That is gonna be gorgeous. I never last until the end on sew-alongs. I get distracted and start something new. ugh. ;p

  51. OOOOOHHHHH! I love blues! That is gonna be gorgeous. I never last until the end on sew-alongs. I get distracted and start something new. ugh. ;p

  52. I’m so impressed at how you stick to your sewalongs! Can’t wait to see how it turns out, gorgeous stash of fabric.

  53. I’m so impressed at how you stick to your sewalongs! Can’t wait to see how it turns out, gorgeous stash of fabric.

  54. I’m so impressed at how you stick to your sewalongs! Can’t wait to see how it turns out, gorgeous stash of fabric.