allsorts October 27, 2006 Crazy about quilting Finally! After years of thinking about trying my hand at making a quilt, I have completed all of the blocks for my very first one! I took a class last week with my Bernina sewing posse, and learned how to make a "crazy nine patch." It is incredibly easy to make these blocks! I snapped pics along the way so you can try it, too. First, here is one of the finished blocks: This quilt uses 36 fat quarters. I chose 12 each of red yellow and blue 1930's inspired fabric. Once you've chosen your fabrics, wash or rinse, dry them, then give a liberal spraying of starch and iron them so they're nice and stiff. Using a rotary cutter, cut them into 36 squares. Mine are 12" but you can go bigger if you like. Divide into four stacks of 9 squares with the colors arranged red yellow blue red yellow blue, etc. But vary the order and which color is first in each stack, to assure a random scattering of color across your quilt. Put one stack on your mat with the edges aligned, and make an angled cut like so:
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Crazy About Quilting - Crazy Nine-Patch Directions
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allsorts
October 27, 2006
Crazy about quilting
Finally! After years of thinking about trying my hand at making a quilt, I have completed all of the blocks for my very first
one! I took a class last week with my Bernina sewing posse, and learned how to make a "crazy nine patch." It is incredibly
easy to make these blocks! I snapped pics along the way so you can try it, too.
First, here is one of the finished blocks:
This quilt uses 36 fat quarters. I chose 12 each of red yellow and blue 1930's inspired fabric.
Once you've chosen your fabrics, wash or rinse, dry them, then give a liberal spraying of starch and iron them so they're
nice and stiff.
Using a rotary cutter, cut them into 36 squares. Mine are 12" but you can go bigger if you like. Divide into four stacks of 9
squares with the colors arranged red yellow blue red yellow blue, etc. But vary the order and which color is first in each
stack, to assure a random scattering of color across your quilt.
Put one stack on your mat with the edges aligned, and make an angled cut like so:
Make sure the bottom edge of your strip is at least 1.5" from the corner.
Now take the TOP piece from the narrow stack and put it at the bottom of the stack like so:
Now take the top piece from each stack, put the right sides together and sew a quarter inch seam along the edge you just
cut. Working your way down the stack, sew each pair together in the same way, making sure to keep them in a chain, until
you finish the last one in the stack. Then open them out one by one, clipping the thread between them as you re-stack
them in the same order. Align the edges again and make another angled cut like so:
This time take the top TWO pieces from the narrow stack and move them to the bottom:
Same as before, put the right sides together of the top pieces and sew along that edge, then open out and put back in the
same order.
Now press your seams to the middle, making sure you don't change the order or orientation of any of the blocks. Align
your blocks and make a cut like this:
Take the top THREE pieces from the narrow stack and move them to the bottom of the stack, and sew pieces together as
before. (I won't show photos of every step) Then open up and re-stack in the same order, align the edges and make one
final angled cut like so.
****This time you're going to move the top SIX pieces from the narrow stack to the bottom.***
Same as before, put right sides together and sew along the edge, then open out and re-stack. Press seams to the middle.
Make sure to keep each stack together. When you arrange the blocks on the quilt you will need to have them still in their
original groupings.
Now do the other three stacks the same way, then trim all of the blocks down to a uniform square size. In my case, 10".
I'll have to save the info on how to do the sashing and so forth until a later post, since I haven't learned how to do that yet!
But here are the pattern combos for my other three sets of blocks:
Its probably a good thing that I'm doing this particular quilt for my first try. And these colors are really making me very
happy! I am still waffling on what color to choose for the sashing and border, but I'll settle on something eventually.
Have a great weekend folks! We're off to get Mexican food!
Cheers,
Jenny
October 27, 2006 in Sewing Room | Permalink
Comments
laurie said...
Wow! I am amazed and inspired. I can't wait to see them all together.
Reply October 27, 2006 at 07:26 PM
Jane said...
Thanks for the tutorial and I absolutely LOVE your fabric choices!
Reply October 27, 2006 at 08:32 PM
Alvina said...
What a GREAT tutorial. I've always wanted to learn the art of quilt making. Thanks Jenny!
Reply October 27, 2006 at 09:46 PM
~Vicki said...
We just got back home from eating Mexican, and what a fabulous treat to see this quilt you're making and the tutorial tor
it. Those colors make me happy too! I can't wait to see how it all turns out!
Reply October 27, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Amy said...
I just love the fabrics! My mother is passing all her quilting supplies on to me - fabric, books, tapes, magazines and even
the oak quilting frame my father made for her years ago. Right now I'm picking away at a vintage reproduction
"honeycomb" quilt and it's been a lot of fun.
Reply October 27, 2006 at 11:37 PM
Jenny V said...
I love your blocks! I like this version of the 9 patch much better than the traditional one. What great fabric you've found
too! I can't wait to see the finished project.
Reply October 28, 2006 at 01:06 AM
manda said...
The quilt's going to be beautiful - I can't wait to see it!
Reply October 28, 2006 at 05:18 AM
Tiel S-K said...
good for you.
be warned...there is no turning back. Soon you will find yourself with piles of fabrics set aside for quilts you want to make.
And you will be starting another before the next one is complete.
the colours are great together. can't wait to see the results.
Reply October 28, 2006 at 07:16 AM
violetismycolor said...
Quilting is one thing that I have never tried. I have to admit, since I love to sew, that I have been tempted. I am afraid of
getting addicted, unfortunately. And I have so many projects on my plate right now that I just CAN'T get another crafty
addiction...
Reply October 28, 2006 at 07:38 AM
Aubrey Tell said...
These look so great! And fun. Thanks for the tutorial. I'm definitely going to save this for a quilt one day.
Reply October 28, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Vintage Wine said...
They`re lovely! Someday I want to try and make a quilt to, but right now I`ve got enough things to do to keep me busy :-)
Mexican food sounds delicious! I love it :-)
Reply October 28, 2006 at 11:22 AM
lauradodson said...
oh! i love this quilt. i wanna make one for me. thanks for sharing.
Reply October 28, 2006 at 02:11 PM
Melissa said...
this is so pretty! I love the fabrics you chose and while the technique sounds tricky, I guess it's one of those "just follow the
instructions and it will work" things!
Can't wait to see your finished quilt!
Reply October 28, 2006 at 03:04 PM
Dawn Castro said...
I love the quilt blocks!! I quilt also!! Like they say, once you start you'll never stop!! Might i suggest using a red for a small
border around the blocks themselves.(Just a plain red) And then for a larger boarder go wild!! You could take one of the
fabrics that you used for the backing!! I can see your quilt with red binding!! Maybe a yellow backing!! Sorry getting
carried away!! I look forward to see how your quilt turns out!!
Reply October 28, 2006 at 08:50 PM
lazylol said...
Wow - I love it! The tutorial is just want I needed to see. I want to learn to quilt but there are no classes in my area and
after searching the internet I haven't really found anything as good as yours. i am crossing my fingers that you will tut the
next stages too!
Reply October 29, 2006 at 02:22 AM
katiek said...
thank you THANK YOU for this post - I am going to print it out so I can have the instructions to hand because I really
want to try this out - this is my first visit to your site - HI! the red background is l-o-v-e-l-y and I look forward to the Next
Quilt Lesson - from a complete beginner!
take care
Reply October 30, 2006 at 01:52 AM
KJ said...
Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial! My grandma was a quilter, but unfortunately, she passed away before I was
old enough for her to teach me how. I've always wanted to try it...and after I get a sewing machine, I will definitely give this
a go.
Also, I love how the colors of your quilt and even the cutting mat match your blog colors. :) Even if it was just a happy
accident, it's still all beautiful together.
Take care,
KJ
Reply October 30, 2006 at 05:02 AM
Jenny said...
How inspiring! I LOVE the fabric colors...they seem to be so you!
Reply October 30, 2006 at 02:55 PM
Jes said...
Oh my goodness! This is really fabulous. I saw a lot of "off kilter" type blocks at a quilt show a few weeks ago and I loved
them. This is really helpful. I love the 30's fabrics too, very nice!
Reply October 30, 2006 at 03:38 PM
Gina said...
How exciting. I love the fabric's and colors you chose. I'm still thinking about starting that first quilt of mine. Thanks for
sharing the step by steps. I can't wait to see the finished quilt unfold, It will sure bring sunshine on those cold wintery days
to come.
Reply October 30, 2006 at 03:47 PM
blair said...
I love the way the colors work together in this. You make it look incredibly easy Jenny, and I know its not.
Reply October 31, 2006 at 08:45 AM
anyberg said...
just lovely!!!
Reply November 01, 2006 at 07:32 AM
Suzy Lorenzen said...
These quilt blocks are amazing! My mother has been a quilter for some time now, and we finally put my artistic talents and
her crafty talents together and she is finishing up a quilt I helped her design. I know nothing about quilting, but can not
wait to see our finished result and I also can not wait to see what your quilt looks like all assembled!!
Reply November 04, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Alison said...
I love your tutorial! I have been quiltling for 15 years and still find that there is always more to learn. I had been wanting to
do this "stack and whack" method for a while. I think when I get my Heather Bailey inventory for my shop I will try this
technique! I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll do for your quilting. Your color/fabric choices are great! I also love
30's inspired fabrics and am obsessed with collecting them. The past few weeks I have been doing nothing but quilting...
it's addicting! Take care and happy quilting!
Reply November 05, 2006 at 11:07 AM
yoonie said...
Just love them to bits!!! Hmmm, sounds like my next tote bag.
Reply November 06, 2006 at 12:07 PM
jen said...
You are as much a GEM for sharing this technique as you were for sharing the Big Top alpha circles :-D Thanks EVER so
much!
Reply November 06, 2006 at 09:00 PM
Angela White said...
beautiful---i have been wanting to start quilting--this actually looks fairly easy---i'm going to make this quilt along with
your tutorial---PLEASE, don't stop til it's done....otherwise....well, i'll have a pile of quilt squares forever. thanks for getting
me off my chicken butt to try this. as i finish the quilt, would you mind if i link yours to my blog and maybe show my
progression?
Reply November 11, 2006 at 08:17 AM
Tami said...
Have you gotten any further on this WIP?? I can't wait to see the finished project.
Reply November 14, 2006 at 06:51 PM
allison strine said...
Wow, I'm impressed! Great colors!!!
Reply November 15, 2006 at 07:46 AM
sara said...
Wow! Thanks for the awesome tutorial. I'm working on my first quilt right now too...it's a lot of fun. I wish I had more
time to work on it.
Reply November 20, 2006 at 09:09 AM
Izzy said...
Hello, your quilt is beautiful, I hope you found QNN on the net and watch the quilting videos 24 hrs a day LOL..
Reply February 07, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Donna Martin said...
I am visually impaired (legally blind) and have stayed away from blocks with corners that must meet but I think I will give
this crazy block a try. I've printed out the turtorial so I can enlarge it on my printer so I will be easier for me to read. I like
that I can make the initial blocks as large as I'd like. For a visually impaired person ssmall pieces can seem too challenging.
I absolutely love the color choices. The blocks do make me smile. I think I may do blue and yellow also with just one red
square for the accent color. thank you so much for the inspirational turtorial.
Hugs and Sunshine Wishes, Miss Donna
Reply February 17, 2007 at 05:49 PM
Pam said...
Thank you! I work with Project Linus (making quilts for children in trauma) and this is a wonderful quilt for that. Thank
you for your clear instructions and pictures. Here is a site for more scrappy patterns; she also includes step-by-step
instructions along with pictures. http://quiltville.com/
This helps so much--thank you! Pam
Reply April 03, 2007 at 07:40 AM
Judy Spencer said in reply to Pam...
HI Pam, I do tons of quilts for LINUS too, and I cant wait to try this, using 4" squares, as that is what I have a bunch of
right now. We have 8 counties that meet here every month, and we average about 300 quilts every month (and need them
all). I am in NC, where are you? Judy
Reply January 24, 2010 at 08:52 PM
jennifer Paganellli said...
way cool pattern!! Thanks for sharing this haven't been by in a long time love to visit it's always exciting...Jennifer
Reply May 08, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Margie newheart said...
I have quilted for 30 years and just looked at this Wendy and I love it..Off to get some fabric, where I don't know but it will
be fun...
thanks : margie
Reply May 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Kim Sherrod said...
Jenny- Is it ok to use this tutorial for the Doll Quilt Challenge ( on Flickr) quilt for August? I think this is a fabulous
tutorial for stack and whack and will allow the doll quilters to learn new skills! Please let me know. Thank you!