Easy Framed Nine Patch Quilt Pattern

By Janet Wickell

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Intro to the Easy Framed Nine Patch Quilt

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Contemporary Quilt Patterns - Janet Wickell

Framed Nine Patch Quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

This quilt is so simple, and it can be customized to suit any theme. Nine patch units are sewn with two fabrics, a green print and a blue print, and the two prints swap locations in about half of the blocks. Next, frames are sewn around the nine patches. First you'll add a very dark frame to opposite sides. To finish, you'll frame the top and bottom in a light print.

Blocks are flip-flopped when they are assembled into rows, and the change of the frame's orientation creates a stair-step appearance when quilt blocks are sewn together.

Feel free to choose any colors for your quilt, but do keep a high contrast between the pairs of frames or you'll lose the stairstep pathways.

Finished quilt block size: 10" x 10"

Finished quilt size: 70" x 90"

Yardages below are for a quilt made with 10" x 10" quilt blocks. See page 6 for yardages and cutting instructions for a small quilt made with 5" x 5" blocks.

Quilting Fabrics and Other Materials

Border fabrics repeat fabrics used in the nine patch units, but are listed separately so that you can use something different if desired.

Blue print for nine-patch units: 1-1/8 yards

Green print for nine-patch units: 1-1/8 yards

Black with white print for frames 1-1/8 yards

White with black print for frames: 1-5/8 yards

Inner border (shown as blue): 1-1/8 yards for crosswise grain strips pieced together; OR 2-1/8 yards for one-piece, lengthwise grain strips

Outer border (shown as green): 1-3/8 yards for crosswise grain strips pieced together; OR 2-5/8 yards for one-piece, lengthwise grain strips

Binding: about 350 running inches doublefold binding (Quilt Binding Instructions)

Backing: 5-3/4 yards

Batting: about 82" x 102" low loft batting

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Nine Patch Quilt Block Variations

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Two different variations of quilt blocks used in the Framed Nine Patch quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

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Sew the Nine Patch Quilt Blocks

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Nine Patch Quilt Block Patterns - Janet Wickell

Assemble two types of nine patch quilt blocks for the quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Nine Patch Quilt Blocks

You'll make (18) #1 nine patch units and (17) #2 nine patch units. A and B segments are used in each version of the block.

Segments Required:

A segments: 53
B segments: 52

Cutting Instructions

Do not cut all of your fabric until you've made a couple of test blocks.

blue print: cut (12) 2-1/2" wide strips from selvage to selvage
green print: cut (12) 2-1/2" wide strips from selvage to selvage

Assemble the Strip Sets and Cut Segments

Refer to the "A Segments" illustration. Sew a blue strip lengthwise to each side of a green strip. Press seam allowances towards the darker strips.
Square up one end of the strip set and then cut as many 2-1/2" segments from it as possible (likely 16).
Refer to the "B Segments" illustration. Sew a green strip lengthwise to each side of a green strip. Press seam allowances towards the darker strips.
Square up one end of the strip set and then cut as many 2-1/2" segments from it as possible (likely 16).
Make a #1 nine patch by sewing an A segment to each side of a B segment as shown. Press. The nine patch should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2".
Make a #2 nine-patch by sewing a B segment to each side of an A segment as shown. Press. The nine patch should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2".
Sew three more strip sets for A segments and three more for B segments. Cut additional segments as listed at the top of the page to make a total of (18) #1 nine patch units and (17) #2 nine patch units (you'll have extra strip set length, but the extra is often handy since leading edges must typically be squared up more than once when cutting segments from strips).

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Add Frames to the Nine Patch Quilt Blocks

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Add dark and light frames to the nine patch quilt blocks. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Frame the Nine Patch Quilt Blocks

You'll need (70) dark frames that measure 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" and (70) light frames that measure 2-1/2" x 10-1/2".

Cut the Frames

Dark fabric: Cut (12) 2-1/2" wide strips of dark fabric from selvage to selvage. Square up one end of each strip and cut a total of (70) 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" bars from the strips.

Light fabric: We'll cut these a little differently, because your fabric might not be wide enough to cut four 10-1/2" long bars from a narrow strip.

Cut (4) 10-1/2" wide strips from selvage to selvage; cut another strip that's 10-1/2" wide and 16" long. Square up one end of each strip and cut a total of (70) 2-1/2" wide segments.

Sew the Frames

Sew a dark frame to one side of a nine patch block. Sew another dark frame to the opposite side of the nine patch. Press seam allowance towards the frames.
Sew a light frame to the top of the nine patch. Sew a second light frame to the opposite side of the nine patch. Press seam allowance towards the frames.
Repeat until all (35) quilt blocks are framed.

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Assemble the Contemporary Framed Nine Patch Quilt

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Assemble the rows for the Framed Nine Patch quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Sort your quilt blocks into two piles, one with (18) "blue X" units and the other with (17) "green X" units.
Arrange blocks into seven rows as illustrated, each row with five blocks and alternating block "X" types and frame orientation.
Make four rows that match the top portion of the illustration. Make four rows that match the bottom portion of the illustration.
Sew components of each row together. Press seams allowances in adjoining rows in opposite directions and sew rows together, butting seam intersections for a close match.

Use 5-1/2" wide strips to sew the inner border. Apply side borders first. Beginners - don't be tempted to measure your quilt along its outer edges, because it is likely skewed a bit. Borders are an opportunity to square up the quilt before the finishing steps. (Border Instructions)
Use 5-1/2" wide strips to sew the outer border. Apply side borders first.
Press the quilt.
Mark the top for quilting if necessary. Sandwich with batting and backing and quilt. Finish by applying the binding.

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Framed Nine Patch Baby Quilt Pattern

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Assemble two types of nine patch quilt blocks for the quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Framed Nine Patch Baby Quilt Pattern

This version of the framed nine patch quilt is made with 5" square quilt blocks and just one border. It finishes at 30" x 40", and is suitable for a baby quilt. Eliminate the border for a quilt that finishes at about 25" x 35".

Quilting Fabrics and Other Materials

Border fabrics repeat fabrics used in the nine patch units, but are listed separately so that you can change those fabrics if desired.

Blue print for nine-patch units: 3/8 yards

Green print for nine-patch units: 3/8 yards

Black with white print for frames 3/8 yards

White with black print for frames: 1/2 yards

Border (blue or green): 1/2 yards for crosswise grain strips; sew side borders first to avoid pieced border strips

Binding: about 170 running inches doublefold binding (Quilt Binding Strip Instructions)

Backing: 1-1/2 yards

Batting: about 40" x 50" low loft batting

Cutting Instructions

You'll make (18) #1 nine patch units and (17) #2 nine patch units. A and B segments are used in each version of the block.

Segments Required:

A segments: 53
B segments: 52

Blue print for nine patch: (6) 1-1/2" wide strips cut selvage to selvage

Green print for nine patch: (6) 1-1/2" wide strips cut selvage to selvage

Black print with white for frames: (6) 1-1/2" wide strips cut selvage to selvage; cut a total of (70) 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" bars from the strips

White print with black for frames: (10) 1-1/2" wide strips cut selvage to selvage; cut a total of (70) 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" bars from the strips

Follow the instructions on pages 3 and 4 to assemble the quilt blocks, but substitute the strip sizes above for the larger versions. Cut 1-1/2" wide segments from strip sets instead of the wider size given on page 3.

Nine patch blocks should measure 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" after assembly; the completed block, with frames, should measure 5-1/2" x 5-1/2". Assemble rows and complete the quilt as shown on page 5. Assemble and finish quilt as directed on pages 4 and 5.