The Floating Nine Patch baby quilt has eight nine patch quilt blocks within the interior area of its diagonal rows. The top and bottom rows of each block are the same, and the inner row differs. We'll use strip piecing techniques to assemble the quilt blocks.
Make Nine Patch Quilt Block Rows
- Gather two 3-1/2" x selvage width dark hot strips and a lighter hot strip of the same size.
- Sew a dark strip lengthwise to each side of the lighter strip (top left illustration). Press seam allowances towards the center strip.
- Square up one end of the strip set. Cut as many 3-1/2" segments from the strip set as possible (probably 11 or 12).
- Use the (2) 3-1/2" x 26" dark hot strips and the lighter hot strip of the same size to make another strip set just like the first. Square up one end and cut more 3-1/2" segments. You'll need a total of 16.
- Gather the two lighter hot and one neutral 3-1/2" x 29" strips. Sew a lighter hot strip lengthwise to the neutral strip (top right illustration). Press seam allowances away from the center strip.
- Square up one end of the strip set and then cut eight 3-1/2" segments.
- Gather two segments cut in step 2 and one strip cut in step 6. Form three rows with the segments, placing the segment with the neutral center strip in the middle (lower left illustration).
- Sew the rows together, butting seams for a perfect match. Press. The nine patch quilt block should measure 9-1/2" x 9-1/2". Repeat to make a total of eight nine patch quilt blocks.
