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Question on Disappearing Nine Patch (Nine to Four)

15 years ago

I shall be cutting out blocks soon for my Japanese inspired quilt, the one on which I hope to put the Sashiko embroidery. I thought the disappearing nine patch lends itself well to Asian fabric, but before I take a scissor to the fabric I have a question on seam allowances.

As an example, if one wanted to do the nine basic blocks in 12" squares, I know one usually allows half an inch on the length and width dimension to allow for seaming. But, since the nine patch is cut again, down the center both horizontally and vertically, it seems that would make the four resulting blocks short a quarter inch in both directions each unless they were made larger than 12.5 inches square. Do you see what I mean? Does one compensate for the additional cut and ergo extra seaming, or not?

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Comments (3)

biwako_of_abi
15 years ago
I'm a bit confused by your reference to "the nine basic blocks." Do you really mean the 9 original SQUARES that go together to make the 9-patch block, which is then cut two ways to make the 9-4 block? That would be a pretty big block! But I am assuming that you have some fabric whose pattern or pictures can best be shown off in 12" squares.

You shouldn't be thinking about the dimensions of the 4 square quarters that result from cutting the original 9-patch vertically and horizontally. That way lies madness, lol, because the rectangles inside those 4 squares created by the cutting CANNOT be equal to half the width of the corner squares. (I recall taking part in a block swap in which the blocks were very much like a 9-4, but all their rectangles really were cut out (before doing any sewing at all, I mean) so as to end up equal to 1/2 the width of the intact squares. That is not the case with a 9-4 block.)

The important thing is how big you want the four corner squares (which don't get cut in half) to be. If you want them to end up 12" square in the completed top, then, yes, add 0.5 to the width and length dimensions of all the squares you use to make the 9-patch. You will end up (before the top is put together) with individual 9-4 blocks that are 3 x 12.5 = 37.5" minus 1.5" (taken up by the three internal seams) in each dimension, making a total block size of 36" x 36".

Is this as clear as mud?
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calliope
Original Author
15 years ago
Yes, I am following you. I read several tutorials, one said to compensate, and one said don't bother. I was confused. Thank you very much for the concise explanation. And yes, I do have a pattern I would like to display in a twelve inch square, or at least nine inch minimum. That is why I'd like to go more ornate on the plain blocks with the embroidery, so it won't be large expanses of emptiness.
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Hey NanaJayne, Do you mean me, that you wished to see it closer up? If so: I too have done several that are scrappy, done from sets of fat quarters, once I learned this pattern. So I also don't really think yardage when I do these. For this one (the bed quilt for my Mom's 80th year) I consulted the ladies at my LQS who are mostly quite knowledgeable & experienced in things like this. I don't remember the yardage suggestions they made, then again, I'm sure I tried to err on the extra side on this one. I will check out the yardage tute above at another time, thanks for adding it. I'm really happy w/ this quilt, makes me beam w/ pride. If I ever work large again, I hope to collaborate w/ this long arm quilter again, he does magnificent work.
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Wow, this lilac/purple quilt above is really lovely, such a nice, harmonius coloring. Well, it's all YOUR fault, I'm not supposed to be starting any NEW work now, yet everytime I see these 9-4 discussions I am really intrigued. So I did it, I started cutting some samples of it, just 2 blocks 2 nights ago, 2 diff. blocks tonite ... well you know how THAT goes. It IS all your faults! It looks quite nice, but not sewn together yet, nor have I any cameras in the house, so pix will have to wait (sorry to be a tease)!
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Faye - it was when I saw yours and read how quickly you did it that I decided it was the pattern I would use on this 8 year olds quilt. I had seen Pirate Girl's posting on it and liked it, then I saw yours and liked that too. Thanks for the inspiration! I had purchased some of the fabrics while on an Alaska cruise last summer. Lots of family was gathered for the trip, including my favorite niece and her son, Lawson, who was 7 at the time. He's a little charmer and when he saw my purchases he would say "I hope someday you would make me a grown up blanket". He still has and uses the quilt I made when he was born, but with baby animals on it, he's rapidly outgrowing the theme. The new one has a woodsy theme and even has batiks with moose, bear and wolf outlines. I'm calling this quilt "Lawson's Walk in the Woods". He'll remember that the fabric comes from our cruise, too, and I think he'll like that. I added a link to the website for the quilt shop in Skagway, Alaska. They have a nice webstore and always have some batiks and flannels on sale. Lots of animal prints, too, and really cute penguin prints. Kate Here is a link that might be useful: Rushin Tailor website
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I have decided I will sew the 4 pieces together and then square up. I guess there is no right or wrong way to do this as long as each block comes out square in the end. Thank you for your input on this.
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User
15 years ago
I didn't quite follow all the math there, esp. Biwako's explanation.

However: I recently made my 1st 9 to 4 & posted pix here: Pls. see post called "All That 9 to 4 Talk -- Pix".

If you look at the 3rd pix, that's the reverse (back), which is one LARGE 9-4 block. I considered the Turq & Chartreuse print as the accent fabric which I DID NOT want to cut. I cut those blocks 12.5 square to finish 12" square which they did & the completed quilt is pretty close to 36" square.

Hope this helps.
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