Spicing up the disappearing nine-patch

Apparently not new, but maybe new to many of us, is this variation on the versatile disappearing nine-patch block. The double disappearing nine-patch moves it up a notch in apparent complexity, while still being much simpler to piece than it looks at first glance.

Christina Cameli gives a very clear tutorial for cutting and piecing, and a few variations of the many possible layouts in this 2011 post on her blog A Few Scraps.

Here is an example of just one double disappearing nine patch block, made from Christina's tutorial, that is on its way to being a quilt top for the Fairholme community project.

The pieces for the first 9 patch block were cut 5" square, those for the second 9 patch were 7" square, and the finished block is 19 1/2" square.

12 of these blocks in a 3 x 4 layout will make a 57" x 76' quilt  plus any borders added.
6 blocks laid out 2 x 3 will make a quilt 38" x 57" plus any borders added.

Excellent for using scraps and small amounts of fabrics that play nicely together, and quick to make if necessary.

Added 31st August 2015:

Here is the finished quilt, made up of four double disappearing 9 patch blocks, each with an additional narrow background strip in the centre, both vertically and horizontally, and repeated between the blocks in both directions, making the quilt a little larger. It finished at 54" square ...

Diary date

Click through to the Mad Quilters Gathering website for further information

Community quilts, June 2013

This simply constructed scrap quilt was made by the two Elaines from a stash of donated light, medium and dark value floral fabrics - the staggered piecing gives it graphic impact. Both Elaines worked on the piecing, then Elaine W quilted and bound it

This quilt came to us via the Quilters Guild of NSW as a top, donated by a Guild member who was unable to complete it. The pinwheel blocks are all hand pieced. Jill machine quilted it and bound it with a toning warm brown print, with help from Marilyn, and we will in turn donate to one of our community recipients.

The weather has turned very wintery and grey (who'd have thought, in June?), so these next photos were taken in less than ideal lighting ...

These pretty Dresden plates are actually a single panel - Georgie added the borders and quilted it in a block design.

The red sashing fabric here was an absolute 'find' - a Liberty art print found on sale.  It is much more vibrant than the photo does justice to.  A brilliant choice, Georgie.

Sue C is a blue girl, so these colours were a departure for her, and she says she learned a lot from this quilt.  She is ramping up her machine quilting skills, including a successful venture into free motion quilting in the first round of setting squares.

Taking down the Show ...

Check out this video on Template Free to see a fast forward version of the take-down of the Sydney Quilt Show on Sunday afternoon - it does look familiar, although with 400+ quilts it was a bigger job than our biennial exhibition. The video is 90 minutes compressed into an amusing 1m 27s.

Fairholme Quilters show and tell

Elaine W intended this teddy bears' picnic quilt to be a wall hanging above her grandson's cot ... but he's moving up to a big bed soon!  She has nailed machine applique at her first attempt.

Elizabeth's gorgeous star quilt is so large no-one was tall enough to hold it up without it draping on the floor ...

... and that made for a lot of  lovely hand quilting too. 

Another finish for Elaine W - a three dimensional effect in the piecing, from a workshop with Margaret Cormack in 2012.

Janice so liked Brenda Gael Smith's Tapestry, made in a Power Stripping workshop last year, that she's completed another beautiful version.

Viewers' Choice, 2013 Sydney Quilt Show

The first and second prize Viewers' Choice winners at the 2013 Sydney Quilt Show were announced yesterday afternoon, and can be viewed online on the Quilters Guild of NSW website, here (scroll to the bottom of the page).

First Prize: Soldier On, made by Lucy Carroll, which also won first prize in the Pictorial Quilts (open) section. Lucy was also an award winner in the 2012 under 35s quilters competition.

Second Prize: Rings and Roses, made by Janet Treen, which also won the Best of Show and several other awards.

You can see more photos and news from the show on the Quilters Guild of NSW blog, Template Free

Sydney Quilt Show 2013: award winners

The Sydney Quilt Show is in session until Sunday 16th June. Awards have been announced, and photos are available on the Quilters Guild of NSW website, here.

Scroll down just a little, and you will see that 'our' Elle Wyatt-Spratt has received the Bernina Junior Quiltmaker Encouragement award, for her triptych, Beneath the Waves.

Congratulations Elle - we are very proud of you!

Beneath the Waves was the joint winner of the secondary students' class in the inaugural competition for quiltmakers under 35 years of age, curated by the Quilters Guild of NSW in 2012.

Call for entries - new travelling exhibition

It would be wonderful to see some Fairholme entries in this exhibition that will premiere at the Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne in April 2014:

www.livingcolourtextiles.com