Design Your Own 9 Patch Class Reveal

Check out this new class offering.  Design your Own Nine Patch using EQ8 Class starts April 1, 2025 and is now available for enrollment.  The introductory price is 50% off.  You can purchase the class here.

This past week, I learned that a quilt designer  and friend passed away.  My EQ tutorial this week is a tribute to one of her designs that was based on a 9 patch.  Scroll down to learn more. ​

Design Your Own 9 Patch Class Reveal

For those of you who own BlockBase+, you may have noticed that there are multiple categories of nine patch blocks.  Barbara Brackman's method of categorizing nine patch blocks provides a great structure for understanding how to draft your own nine patch blocks.

As you go through the lessons, I will walk you through the categories and show you ways to modify the basic block in the various categories to create new and original designs.

Here is an overview of the lessons in the upcoming class.

Lesson 1 Nine Patch Styles

Start by identifying the three different types of 9 patch blocks as shown in BlockBase+.

Each of those types have a number of sub-categories.  

In Lesson 1 we will focus on the sub-categories that have squares and rectangles in some of the patches for each major category of Nine Patch blocks.  Other than the basic blocks, we will not be redrafting blocks from BlockBase+.  Instead the focus will be on drafting new blocks for each of these subcategories.

​The Lesson 1 video and pdf will give instructions on drafting five new nine patch blocks.  Two of these blocks are considered Equal 9 Patch blocks, one is considered an unequal 9 patch with small center and two are considered unequal 9 patch with large center blocks.

Once you understand the principals of drafting each type of block and the steps to include squares and rectangles in each section, you will be ready to draft your own 9 patch blocks with squares and rectangles.

Lesson 2:  Standard Layouts for Auditioning Blocks

One feature of BlockBase+ that many of us enjoy is the ability to audition any of the blocks in a standard layout.  

​This lesson will teach you how to create a set of your own standard layouts.  We will cover how to create seven layouts and even create a personal library to house them.

Then the layouts will be available for any of your projects (not just the Nine Patch Designs).

Of course you don't need to stop at just seven.  Consider creating additional layouts or modifying the layouts I will share with you to give yourself even more options when auditioning blocks.

One of the beauties of creating these layouts in EQ is the ability to audition blocks in fabrics of your choice.  You are not constrained to the BlockBase+ coloring of a particular block.

Lesson 3 Equal 9 Patch Specialty Patch Redesign

Within the Equal Nine Patch category, Barbara Brackman, identified 12 different sub-categories.  In Lesson 3, we will go over the major characteristics of four of the sub-categories.

​After drafting the primary block, I will take you through one modification (along with a quilt) for each of those categories.

I also talk about how to use two (or more) blocks from the same category in the same quilt. 

Lesson 4:  Equal 9 Patch More Specialty Patch Redesign

We will continue working through the BlockBase+ subcategories with

• Like Hour Glass - In the Hour Glass blocks, the middle patches along each edge are a single patch.
• Like Double Hour Glass - In Double Hour Glass blocks, the middle patches along each edge are half square triangles with all the diagonal lines going the same direction. 
• Like Rolling Stone - The Rolling Stone blocks and variations have an on point square in each of the corners.
• Like Santa Fe - The Santa Fe blocks have single patches in the four corners.

Lesson 5:  Equal 9 Patch Asymmetry and Curves Redesign

Warning.  This lesson can become very addictive.  

When working with Asymmetrical 9 patch blocks, the fun becomes playing with different rotation options on the quilt worktable.

I also discuss how to convert straight lines in a nine patch block to curves for new and different designs.

Of course you can use that same technique for blocks that are not 9 patches.  So I decided to share how to modify a cornerstone and border blocks to complement the curved 9 patch block in one of the quilts included in this lesson.

Lesson 6:  Unequal 9 Patch Small Center Redesign

Using the concepts from the equal nine patch, you will play with two different options when creating  nine patch blocks with a small center.  The center patches between the corners essentially work as sashing for your pieced designs.

The first block is 8" (3" for the corners and 2" x 3" for the patches between the corner).

The second block is 7"  (3" for the corners and 1" x 3" for the patches between the corner).

In this lesson, I will also share how to design a half-block using the same grid that gives the illusion of a border built into the block.

Lesson 7:  Unequal 9 Patch Large Center Redesign

In this lesson we will focus on the sub-category Like Sawtooth/Lone Star.

I will take you through the process of taking the basic sawtooth star block and adding piecing in the flying geese sections, the corners and in the center.  
​
We will also play with the merge option to take advantage of that large space in the center of the sawtooth star.

BlockBase+ includes feathered stars in the unequal 9 patch with large center category.  After spending a day playing with this category, I discovered that not all the blocks included in this category were actually based on a nine patch grid. 

Since this class is about designing 9 patch blocks, we will cover creating your own feathered star block starting with a 9 patch block.

Check out the video where I share the lessons and projects for the stand-alone "Design Your Own 9 Patch with EQ8" class.

As you work through the lessons, your goal is to not only to draft the blocks I designed, but to use the lessons to express your own creativity and design you own modifications using the various 9 patch categories.

Or get super creative and come up with a new category for your 9 patch blocks.

​I look forward to working with you in your design process.

Tribute to Celine Perkins - Tranquility 9 Patch Variation

Celine Perkins

I learned that Celine Perkins, owner of Perkins Dry Goods, passed away this week.  She was an incredible pattern designer who focused on designs for the beginning quilter.  And even had a tool to help quilters with an accurate quarter inch seam.  I have a number of her patterns in my quilt room.

I got to know Celine during attendance at a number of Creative Business Summits in Washington DC.  When I started attending, I was dreaming about starting my own quilting business.  She was a successful pattern designer that served as inspiration to me. 

She was also incredibly gracious and helpful to those of us at the beginning stages of our business and shared a wealth of information that helped me get started with my business.

She was also a member of Tech Know Quilters for a year.

When I heard the news, I pulled out a number of her patterns on my shelf.

I noticed that the block in her Tranquility pattern was based on a 9 patch block.

I thought I would create a couple of variations of her block to honor this talented quilt designer.

​She will be missed.

Celine's block is based on an Equal 9 Patch - Like Ohio Star.  It is fairly close to the Four Corners block in BlockBase+. 

​The Four Corners block was published by Grandma Dexter.

Grandma Dexter published a series of booklets in the early 1930s from the Virginia Snow Studios, a part of the Dexter Yarn and Thread Company and the Collingbourne Mills in Elgin, IL.

Four Corners from BlockBase+

Tranquility Block by Celine Perkins

I drafted a six inch block in EQ8 and colored it using the Maywood Studio-Cottage Flowers fabric collection designed by Susie Hether. 

This collection was Electric Quilts Fabric of the month for March 2025. 

​You can download the collection here.

Here is the first quilt (fairly close to Celine's design).

Tranquility Quilt #1

My first variation, replaced her corners with diagonal lines.  Here is the block and the quilt.

Tranquility Variation 1 Block

Tranquility Variation 1 Quilt

For two additional variations, I decided to use the corner from Celine's block and apply to to another Equal 9 Patch category -- Like Double Hour Glass.  Here are the blocks I came up with.

Tranquility Variation 2 Block

Tranquility Variation 3 Block

Here are the quilts.

Tranquility Variation 2 Quilt

Tranquility Variation 3 Quilt

See the full video tutorial here.

Do you have a favorite Perkins Dry Goods quilt?  Let me know in the comments.

If you decide to draft this quilt or your own variation, I would love to see pictures.

I've set up a dedicated post in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Celine Perkins Tranquility Inspired Designs

Happy quilting.

​Kari

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