Nine-Patch Quilts

I love simple nine-patch quilts. A couple of years ago, I bought this small quilt on eBay. It was listed as an antique crib quilt. After it arrived, I could tell that it clearly was not an antique quilt. But it was cheap enough and cute enough that it didn't really matter. I really loved the primitive look of it. I think the blocks may be antique but on close inspection the rest of the fabric doesn't seem that old. The blocks may have been cut down from a larger quilt and made into a small quilt. Anyway, I created a pattern if anyone is interested. Pretty easy to figure out but see my Etsy shop if you need more directions. It's just too cute so I know I have to reproduce it someday. Maybe even make a larger quilt? Hah - like I don't already have enough of those that are unfinished. The pile keeps building.

Anyway, in the Facebook group, we're making some different little nine-patch blocks for fun. Inspired by a fragment of an antique quilt I spotted online. 

The antique quilt used various darker prints for the nine patches and pink squares for setting. So that's what I'm doing. Don't you just love the scrappiness? The squares are cut 1 1/2" for a 3" finished block (3 1/2" unfinished). Then I cut the setting squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".  Such a simple but sweet doll quilt. 

The lines are my marked quilting lines. I used a Clover blue washable marking pen (below). I'll just quilt Xs through the blocks. Hoping to get it quilted soon if I don't get inspired by something else . . . . Lately, my head is all over the place. I've got a million ideas and I want to make everything I see.  I really need to just settle on one project and get that one done. Too many things going on . . . . 

FYI - I use a white Clover washable pen for marking on darker fabrics. Stencils from The Stencil Company. 

YLI hand quilting thread, John James and Richard Hemming needles. Try various sizes until you get a feel for the one that's right for you. Remember that sometimes a longer, sharper needle will work just fine if you can't use a small "between" needle. And the sharper needle will be easier to push through some fabrics. Trust me, the Quilt Police don't really care.