Simple 9-patch

9-patch blocks stacked
and ready to go

As I said in an earlier post, I like to make traditional quilt blocks reduced in size to make a baby or child's quilt.  In this case, the 9-patch.  The finished block is 3"x3" which means each little component in the block is 1"x1".  If it weren't for strip piecing techniques, I would never attempt to make this block in this small size.  However, Eleanor Burns, quiltinaday.com, teaches wonderful strip piecing techniques.  I urge you to fix a cup of your fav beverage and set aside a couple of hours to poke around her Web sites.  You won't regret it.

Her technique for making these 9-patch blocks is explained very well in her book Still Stripping after 25 Years.  Follow her instructions to the letter and you won't go wrong.  You'll come up with perfect corners almost every single time and that's important to quilting aficionados.  That perfect corner is the goal for every block I make.