If you are sewing a block together that has a simple 9 patch with alternating colors, the fastest way to sew it together is by using a technique called "strip piecing."
Follow the step-by-step instructions below. The video will guide you along as well.
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Cut strips for your block or patch. The width of your strips depends on the size patches in your block (or patch). If you want 2 inch finished size squares, cut your strips 2-1/2 inches wide. If you want the dark fabric in the corners, you will need twice as many dark fabric strips as light fabric strips. |
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Sew sets of strips together. Remember to reserve some strips of each color to attach to these strip units. |
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Add strips onto the sides of each of the strip pairs. Add a light strip next to a dark strip to make a Light-Dark-Light unit. Add a dark strip next to a light strip to make a Dark-Light-Dark unit. You will need extra Dark-Light-Dark units to complete your 9 patch block or patch. |
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Once you have the units sewn together, press the seam allowances on the strips toward the darker fabric. Doing this will allow these units to nestle in nicely with each other as you cut them apart and sew the 9 patch block or patch together. |
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Nestle the strip units together. The center strips should fit together, and the raw edges on the side should line up. |
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Now you are ready to cut units off of the long piece. Cut these units the same width as your strips. If your plan is to have 2 inch finished size squares, you will cut these 2-1/2 inches wide - just as you cut the strips 2-1/2 inches wide. |
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Now cut pieces off of the Dark-Light-Dark strip. The pieces will be the same size as you just cut from the other strips. These will be added to the pairs to complete the 9 patch. |
| Sew the pairs together - on either side. |
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Once the pairs are sewn together, open them up, and attach the remaining row. This is the Dark-Light-Dark unit you cut from the single strips. Attach this next to the Light-Dark-Light unit. |
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Sew the final unit onto the "bottom" of the 9 patch. Be sure you attach it to the correct side. It will fit next to the Light-Dark-Light unit. |
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As you can see, this is a pretty easy process. And, of course, you can reverse the colors so that the light squares are in the corners.
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The finished strip-pieced 9 patch. |
Watch this video for a step-by-step view of the process:
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Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
Master Quilter
