Quilting Block #1 - Nine Block

I'm so excited to show you my first quilted block! Granted, this was an easy one. I changed it up a bit with a focal center block. My daughter helped me pick the fabrics and arrange them. Here's the process if you want to make your own Nine-Block. (I was working with my camera phone as I'm missing my normal camera downloading cord, so I'll apologize upfront for the grainy pictures.)

Here's what you need to get started...

You'll need 3 coordinating fabrics with nine squares measuring 5-1/4" x 5-1/4". I used four squares of two different fabrics and one square for the center fabric.

After you've cut your squares, lay out your pattern. Make sure that the fabric squares lay all the same way.

Begin by sewing one row together. You'll do this by taking one square as laid out above and sewing it to the next. I used a 5/8" seam. Continue this with the next square. You'll do this with each row separately.

When you're done, press your seams open and it should look like this.


Continue by pinning the top row to the second row front sides together (like so!) making sure the seams from Row #1 and Row #2 match up.

Here is what it looks like...

Pin the next two rows together front sides together and continue sewing Row #2 and Row #3 together.

Once you've sewn your three rows together, you'll want to press the backside seams open. It will look like the above picture.

And, "Ta-Da!" here's the finished block. I love the centered "coffee" square. This block represents me in so many ways. I love pink, polk-a-dots, geometric designs, and of course, Coffee! This project took a quick one hour from cutting to finished product.

Quilting Blocks - Part 1

So, as part of my new year's resolutions, I am challenging myself to create a new quilting block each week for the month of January for a total of 4 weeks - maybe longer, but I'm starting with January so as not to overwhelm my resolutions. Clearly, I'm already behind, but I've picked an easy block to start with and should have it completed by tomorrow. I'm great at starting things and not so good at finishing. Here's the super simple Nine-Patch block I'm starting with.

I'm using 2 alternating fabrics for a total of nine 5-1/4" squares and I'll be sewing using a 5/8" seam throughout to form a 12-inch x 12-inch total quilting block. Since I'm starting at this size, all of my quilting blocks will need to be this size. (That's more of a note to myself!)

If you'd like to join with me in quilting a block per week, please do! I love working alongside people... even if it's online. Maybe we can share pics. Eventually, my goal is to create a sampler quilt with all of my blocks.