Ultimate Beginner Quilt Block 2: Nine Patch

Welcome to the Ultimate Beginner Quilt sew along! Today Kimberly’s going to show us how to make Block 2, the Nine Patch. If you purchased a kit from the Fat Quarter Shop (#affiliate), you might want to do a little fabric prep. My nieces are using the kit, and I used a Pigma Micron pen to label each fat quarter with the Bella Solids number on the selvage so we would be sure to select the correct piece of fabric for cutting. You can also use the Frixion pen included in the Ultimate Sewing Notions Kit (#affiliate), but be careful not to iron the edge or your notations will disappear.

I’m using Day in Paris fabrics and Moda Grunge. That perfume bottle from my grandma is the inspiration for my quilt.

Watch Kimberly Jolly on YouTube for step-by-step instructions and read her blog for additional inspiration and tips from more quilters.

Piecing Tip: Practice Makes Perfect

If you are a brand new quilter or sewist (sewing artist), I suggest doing some practice piecing. The time spent practicing really pays off! Below is a photo of my niece Miss A’s practice piecing. Notice the difference in accuracy? The block on the right is her most recent practice block. We do a warm up before making one of the blocks for her Ultimate Beginner Quilt. Before she stitched that last block, I added a piece of washi tape to her sewing machine to extend the quarter-inch mark. That extra guide helped Miss A feed the fabric under the needle.

I also assigned some warm-up work to Ms. M so she would feel more comfortable with her sewing machine. Yesterday she learned how to adjust the top thread tension after noticing some stitching inconsistencies. She also set aside the old thread she was using and had better success with the Aurifil thread included in her Ultimate Beginner Quilt kit. (Chester wants to be part of this quilting partnership too. As Ms. M laid out quilt blocks, he helped rearrange them and finally settled into the role of supervisor.)

My Nieces Complete Block 1: Stripes

My sweet nieces agreed to share photos of their quilting journey. Their smiles and feelings of accomplishment make me so happy! See how Ms. M decided to change up the color order of the stripes? Perhaps you also noticed a sneak peek of my completed blocks on the design wall in the background.

The Versatile Nine Patch Block

I love the nine-patch quilt block because it’s so versatile. It looks great on its own or mixed with other blocks, such as the hourglass. I made a small Double Nine Patch Quilt awhile ago and plan to make a larger one in the future.

I hope you consider joining the Ultimate Beginner Quilt sew along! You have plenty of time to catch up with the group or work at your own pace. I have some pointers about Block 1 and teaching children to sew. If you’re an experienced quilter, note that I pieced all my blocks in two days. I was having so much fun that I didn’t stop.

Joyfully,

Tracie