How to Make 9-Patch Blocks Any Size
How to Make 9-Patch Quilt Blocks Any Size
This Double Friendship Star is made of nine patches.
- 5 of them: Just Squares
- The other 4 are a combination of HSTs & QSTs sewn together:
The color-coded breakdown also shows how many
of each piece you will need to make all nine patches:
5 Squares
4 HSTs
8 QSTs
What size block do you want to make?
6" Block
9" Block
12" Block
The finished patch size is all you need to make the entire block:
Finished patch size: 2"
Finished patch size: 3"
Finished patch size: 4"
These are common finished sizes for 9-patch blocks
like this Double Friendship Star,
but you can pick any size you want.
In Finished-Size Quilting, you can make any 9-patch block finish at 9" using just the 3" line on your ruler.
Finished sizes are that simple:
3" + 3" + 3" = 9"
Simply set the Fabric Guide to the finished patch size: 3”, and let the Seam Allowance Additions automatically add the precise amount of seam allowance for you.
The seam allowance is automatically included when you cut along the edge of the Addition instead of the edge of the ruler.
Seam Allowance Additions not only eliminate the complicated seam allowance math, they also let you make your triangles more accurate than you can using just a ruler alone.*
Click here to learn more about seam allowances for triangles.
The S Addition adds a 1/2", which is the exact amount you need for Squares.
Cut five squares.
The H and Q Additons add the precise amount for Half and Quarter Square Triangles. *On a ruler alone, you have to round up to the nearest 1/8" making your triangles less accurate.
Cut two squares &
cut
them once diagonally.
Cut two squares &
cut
them twice diagonally.
Your Squares, Half and Quarter Square Triangles
will automatically include 1/4" seam allowances all around.
After sewing the pieces together, your block will measure 9 1/2".
(9" finished with a 1/4" seam allowance all around.)
You’ll always have the extra 1/4” you need to sew the pieces, rows and blocks together.
Sew First Method:
How to Make the 2 HST Patches
Line the squares up and sew the diagonal seams first:
How to Make the 4 QST Patches
Start the same way as we showed to make 2 HST patches:
Then, repeat the steps above,
starting with the two new squares you just made:
Cut First Method:
Cut the squares that you made, using the H Addition, in half diagonally once to make eight half square triangles.
Cut Quarter Square Triangles:
First, attach the Q Addition to the edge of the Ruler.
Leave the Fabric Guide set on 2¼" line & cut 8 squares. (4 dark fabric - 2 light fabric)
Then cut the squares diagonally twice to make 32 quarter square triangles.
After cutting the squares into HSTs & QSTs, pre-trim their points,
so it will be much easier to line them up and sew them together.
Using a point trimmer like the Prep-Tool ensures accurate pre-trimming:
HSTs: Use Short Side Trim
Line the Prep-Tool along the short sides of the half square triangles.
QSTs: Use Long Side Trim
Line the Prep-Tool along the long sides of the quarter square triangles
The video below shows how to trim points, using the Prep-Tool:
How to sew the triangles together
There are 3 combinations of triangle squares:
Made of 2
half square triangles
Made of 1 half square triangle and 2 quarter square triangles
Made of 4
quarter square triangles
Includes 3-Part Triangle Squares
Includes 2-Part and 4-Part Triangle Squares
2-Part Triangle Squares:
Line 2 HSTs up
right sides together.
Sew together with a
scant 1/4" seam allowance.
Press them open with
the seam to the dark,
purple side.
3-Part Triangle Squares:
Line 2 QSTs up right
sides together & sew.
Line the 2 sewn QSTs up with an HST & sew.
Press them open with
the seam to the dark side.
4-Part Triangle Squares:
Line 2 sets of 2 QSTs up
right sides together & sew.
Line 2 sets of 2 sewn
QSTs up together & sew.
Press them open.
To make sure the points on your triangles stay pointy in your finished block,
you want to sew them together with a scant - slightly less than - ¼” seam allowance.
Learn More
How to use the Super Easy Seam Guide Setter
to align the Seam Guide at a Scant ¼” on your sewing machine.
The Super Easy Seam Guide Setter comes with
every Finished-Size Quilting Set.
How to Make 9-Patch Blocks Any Size
This Double Friendship Star is made of nine patches.
5 patches are just Squares and the other 4 are a combination of 1 HST and 2 QSTs sewn together:
The color-coded breakdown also shows how many of each piece you will need to make all nine patches:
5 Squares
4 HSTs
8 QSTs
The finished patch size is all you need to make the entire block.
If the block is 6", the Finished patch size is 2".
If the block is 9", the Finished patch size is 3".
If the block is 12", the Finished patch size is 4".
In Finished-Size Quilting, you can make any 9-patch block finish at 9" using just the 3" line on your ruler.
Here's the example, making a 9" block:
Simply set the Fabric Guide to the finished patch size: 3”, and let the Seam Allowance Additions automatically add the precise amount of seam allowance for you.
The seam allowance is automatically included when you cut along the edge of the Addition instead of the edge of the ruler.
The S Addition adds a 1/2", which is the exact amount you need for Squares.
Cut five squares.
The H Addition adds 0.854", which is the exact amount you need for HSTs.
Cut two squares &
cut them once diagonally.
The Q Addition adds 1.207", which is the exact amount you need for QSTs.
Cut two squares &
cut them twice diagonally.
Your Squares, HSTs and QSTs will automatically include 1/4" seam allowances all around.
On a ruler alone, you have to round up to the nearest 1/8", so you will add:
- ⅞" for HSTs: 1/32" more than you need
- 1¼" for QSTs: 1/16" more than you need
This is why you can't make triangle accurately. Click here to learn more about seam allowances for triangles.
After sewing the pieces together, your block will measure 9 ½". (9" finished with a 1/4" seam allowance all around.)
You will have the extra 1/4” you need to sew the pieces, rows and blocks together.
For example, every patch in this Ohio Star block has just Squares and QSTs.
In other words, no patch has a combination of 1 HST and 2 QSTs like this:
For patches with triangles like the ones below (HSTs only or QSTs only), you can cut the squares into triangles first, or you can sew the seams first and then cut them into triangles.
2 Half Square Triangle-Patch
4 Quarter Square Triangle-Patch
Sew First Method:
How to Make the 2 HST Patches
Line the squares up and sew the diagonal seams first:
How to Make the 4 QST Patches
Start the same way as we showed to make 2 HST patches:
Then, repeat the steps above,
starting with the two new squares you just made:
Cut First Method:
Cut the squares that you made, using the H Addition, in half diagonally once to make eight half square triangles.
Cut Quarter Square Triangles:
First, attach the Q Addition to the edge of the Ruler.
Leave the Fabric Guide set on 2¼" line & cut 8 squares. (4 dark fabric - 2 light fabric)
Then cut the squares diagonally twice to make 32 quarter square triangles.
After cutting the squares into HSTs & QSTs, pre-trim their points, so it will be much easier to line them up and sew them together.
Using a point trimmer like the Prep-Tool ensures accurate pre-trimming:
HSTs: Use Short Side Trim
Line the Prep-Tool along the short sides of the half square triangles.
QSTs: Use Long Side Trim
Line the Prep-Tool along the long sides of the quarter square triangles
The video below shows how to trim points, using the Prep-Tool:
How to sew the triangles together for the 9 & 16 patch blocks
There are 3 combinations of triangle squares:
Made of 2 half square triangles
Made of 1 half square triangle and 2 quarter square triangles
Made of 4 quarter square triangles
Includes 3-Part Triangle Squares
Includes 2-Part and 4-Part Triangle Squares
2-Part Triangle Squares:
Line 2 HSTs up right sides together.
Sew together with a scant 1/4" seam allowance.
Press them open with the seam to the dark,
purple side.
3-Part Triangle Squares:
Line 2 QSTs up right sides together & sew.
Line the 2 sewn QSTs up with an HST & sew.
Press them open with the seam to the dark side.
4-Part Triangle Squares:
Line 2 sets of 2 QSTs up right sides together & sew.
Line 2 sets of 2 sewn QSTs up together & sew.
Press them open.
To make sure the points on your triangles stay pointy in your finished block, you want to sew them together with a scant - slightly less than - ¼” seam allowance. Click on the next heading below to see how.
How to use the Super Easy Seam Guide Setter to align the Seam Guide at a Scant ¼” on your sewing machine.
The Super Easy Seam Guide Setter comes with every Finished-Size Quilting Set.
Finished-Size Quilting
Tool Options:
Set Options with 1, 2 or 3 Guidelines Rulers
Set Options for your 12" & 24" acrylic rulers
