From Janet Wickell,
Your Guide to Quilting.
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Get Familiar with the Split Nine Patch

Look closely at the illustration above and read the cutting chart descriptions. Hopefully the pair will help you visualize where the fabrics will be placed.

Miniature Quilt Cutting Instructions

To Make Four Dark Block Halves

Choose two dark fabrics and one medium-dark fabric. One dark will end up in the square on the block's outer corner. The other dark fabric will be positioned along the half-block's long diagonal. The medium dark will create the half block's center diagonal.

• First dark fabric, two 2" x 7" strips; four 2"x2" dark squares (fabric for block's edge diagonal)

• Medium-dark fabric, two 1-1/2" x 7" strips (fabric for center diagonal)

• Second dark fabric, one 1-1/2" x 7" strip (fabric for square on outer corner)

To Make Four Light Block Halves

• First light fabric, two 2" x 7" strips; four 2"x2" light squares (fabric for block's edge diagonal)

• Medium-light fabric, two 1-1/2" x 7" strips (fabric for center diagonal)

• Second light fabric, one 1-1/2" x 7" strip (fabric for square on outer corner)

Wallhanging Cutting Instructions

To Make Four Dark Block Halves

• First dark fabric, two 3" x 11" strips; four 3"x3" dark squares (fabric for block's edge diagonal)

• Medium-dark fabric, two 2-1/2" x 11" strips (fabric for center diagonal)

• Second dark fabric, one 2-1/2" x 11" strip (fabric for square on outer corner)

To Make Four Light Block Halves

• First light fabric, two 3" x 11" strips; four 3"x3" light squares (fabric for block's edge diagonal)

• Medium-light fabric, two 2-1/2" x 11" strips (fabric for center diagonal)

• Second light fabric, one 2-1/2" x 11" strip

Getting Started

Don't try to choose all of your fabrics now. Let's make a light block half to get started, and remember -- color value is what's important - fabrics needn't "match".