Revisiting a popular technique ... and some new things

At a recent meeting, we revisited the disappearing nine patch - a clever way of making a quick quilt block that looks much more complicated than it actually is, after a few members mentioned that they wanted to make it, but had not seen it done (it hit the internet about 2008, with quite a flourish, although the technique is older, and Janet Wickell says the term was in use by 2002).

There are links to both disappearing nine patch and disappearing four patch tutorials on our Quick links to techniques and resources page, and to a double disappearing nine patch, that is just a bit fancier.

Julie brought in two quilts she made using the disappearing nine patch technique, but using different block layouts to achieve quite different overall designs from the 'standard' one. There are many other ways of placing the blocks to achieve different effects (just Google 'disappearing nine patch' images, and settle in for some net surfing). You can also see how using border fabrics of differing values changes the look of the quilts. Thank you for sharing your beautiful quilts, Julie.

Julie's red, black and white quilt is a sophisticated rendition,
achieved by both the block placement and the controlled
colour palette. She has aligned the red blocks so that
the somewhat similar vine-like prints run in the same direction.
It does take more concentration to ensure that the blocks
are aligned correctly, but the sewing remains straightforward,
and it is well worth the extra time.

The block layout in this version also requires some concentration,
but is really quite straightforward - you just need to look
carefully to see it (helpful diagram on close-up below). Julie's
use of a single fabric for the 'sashing blocks' in her nine-patch
tricks the eye in locating the four patches.

Val has recently returned from a trip to Japan. 
She says she doesn't need any new fabric, but nevertheless, 
some came home with her - a beautiful collection, ably 
guarded by her planned purchase of a Sarubobo.
'Sarubobo' literally translates from the Japanese
as "a baby monkey". "Saru" is the Japanese word
for monkey, and "bobo" is the word for baby in
the dialect of Takayama.' (Wikipedia)