![nine-patch](https://www.qgplano.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/quilt-3862002_1920-Crop.jpg)
Nine-Patch Blocks
It is the custom of the guild to make nine-patch blocks for members who move away from the North Texas area. The fabric for the darker color on the X should be something that reads as one color. The light patches can be made from muslin, white fabric, or beige fabric. The blocks are collected at each guild meeting.
A member who moves away will receive 100 nine-patch blocks as a remembrance of the guild and its members. This is a great way to use some leftover fabric and help make a keepsake at the same time - we love getting those nine patches so we are ready when a member moves and must leave our guild!
Nine-Patch Instructions
Cutting Directions
Start with pre-washed, 100% cotton fabric; cut into five 2-1/2 inch squares of a colored fabric (it should read as a solid color, no "conversation" prints) and four 2-1/2 inch squares of light fabric (muslin, white, or beige). See Figure 1.
Sewing - Step 1
All seams are sewn with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. To assemble, sew all "A" pieces to "B" pieces. See Step 1.
Sewing - Step 2
Sew each "A/B" pair to the "C" pieces. See Step 2. Press toward the darker color.
Sewing - Step 3
Sew Row 1 to Row 2 as shown in Step 3, fitting the pressed edges together with your fingers or with a pin to hold in place. Sew Row 2 to Row 3 and press. Check the size to make sure the unfinished block is 6 1/2 inches square.
![Figure 1](https://www.qgplano.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/figure1-250x300.jpg)
![Step 1](https://www.qgplano.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/step1-300x253.jpg)
![Step 2](https://www.qgplano.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/step2-300x239.jpg)
![Step 3](https://www.qgplano.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/step3-300x283.jpg)
Make as many blocks as you desire. You may sign your blocks in one of the light squares if you want, but it is not required.
Former Guild Member Nine-Patch
Former guild member Diane Crandell shared her 9-patch story in January 2015:
I finally got it finished!!
Two or three years before I moved away from Plano, I would make 10 9-patch blocks each month and turn them in. I would sign, date, and write Plano, Texas on the blocks. I *knew* that I was going to move to northwest Arkansas when I retired. I did finally move to Arkansas in 2009. In 2010 I got the envelope with my 100 blocks in it. One of the blocks was from me dated 2007!!! 🙂
In 2013 I put the whole top together and in 2014 Allison Bayer quilted it for me. I just wanted the members to see that I *did* make a quilt from my blocks. Thank you!!!
Diane
![Nine-Patch by Diane Crandall](https://www.qgplano.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/diane-crandell-9-patch-300x268.jpg)