Easy Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Pattern (2024)

How to Make a Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt

Disappearing Nine Patch quiltsare designed by arranging and sewing together nine squares to create a traditional nine patch quilt block. But instead of leaving the block as-is it is sliced into four equal sections to create the disappearing design.

Learn more about the block's history and find additional assembly and design details in adisappearing nine patch quilt block patternthat was originally used for an online quilt block exchange.

Disappearing Nine Patch Terms

• The original nine patch quilt block can be called the parent block
• The four sections cut from the original blocks are called thedaughter blocks

A Few More Facts About the Quilt Blocks

• The outer four corners of the parent nine patch block remain squares in the daughters.
• The center square of the parent block becomes a small square at one corner of each daughter.
• The squares that sit at the inner midpoints of the parent block become narrow bars in daughters.

The parent quilt block on this page repeats onefabric—the paisley in the upper right and lower left corners.Remaining fabrics in the block are unique, but because the midpoint and center squares are divided, even the unique fabrics are repeated in daughter blocks.

If you're making a scrap quilt, the repetition won't be obvious in the finished project unless you sew lots of identical parents. You might even decide to use the same or very similar fabrics in the center of each parent block to tie the design together when it's time to establish a layout.

Choose a Size

Eachfabricin this parent nine patch block is unique, producing a more scrappy layout than the block in the step above, where one fabric is repeated. Squares in corners are not necessarily the same color warmthor color value, adding even more variety to the daughters.

Remember that allDisappearing Nine Patch daughters cut from the same parent will contain the same fabrics in their small squares and narrow bars.

Assembly

• Parent nine patch blocks can be assembled one piece at a timeto create three rows, which are then sewn together and pressed. This method is a good choice for very scrappy quilts.
• Another option is to use strip piecing techniques to create long strip sets of three fabrics each to mimic rows. Strip sets are cut into segments that are the same length as the squaresused to construct the set.

Example Sizes

Squares of any consistent size can be used to assemble the parent nine patch blocks for a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt.

• Parent blocks made with 3-1/2" squares = daughters that finish at 4-1/4" square
• Parent blocks made with 4-1/2" squares = daughters that finish at 5-3/4" square
• Parent blocks made with 5" squares = daughters that finish at 6-1/2" square
• Parent blocks made with 5-1/2" squares = daughters that finish at 7-1/4" square
• Parent blocks made with 6" squares = daughters that finish at 8" square, a standard size that could be mixed with other 8" quilt blocks

Calculate the Daughter Size for Any Parent

1. Multiply the finished size of each square in the parent by 3 to find the parent block'sfinished width and height.
2. Divide the result by 2.
3. Subtract 1/4" to calculate the finished size of each daughter.

Use aquarter inch seam allowanceto sew all seams.

4-Fabric Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt Blocks

This Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block produces two different types of daughters. The like-patches needn't be sewn diagonally from each other. For example, placing a green at each bottom corner and a blue at each top corner would produce the same daughters.

This arrangement is a good option for quilts with a more controlled appearance, and the rows could be strip pieced with ease.

Neutral Disappearing 9-Patch Blocks

ThisDisappearing Nine Patch quilt block ismade from neutral fabrics that are mostly a combination of black, gray and beige.The block's light center square results in small light squares at one corner of each daughter.

Four different dark fabrics are sewn in the parent block's corners, but the midpoint slots repeat the same fabric.

This type of layout would be a good approach if you want a scrappy assortment of large squares in the daughtersbut would prefer identical small squares and bars in the finished quilt.

Strip Piecing a Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt

One of the best things about Disappearing Nine Patch quilt blocksis their versatility. Search for the term online and pull up the images. You'll find all sorts of potential layouts, and you can design even more by shifting daughter blocks around on a quilt design wall.

The example hereillustrates one way to arrange daughters cut from nine identical red and white parent quilt blocks.

Strip Piece Blocks

If you're a new quilter you need to learn how to rotarycut strips of fabric and how to cut patchwork shapesbefore you begin.

To make a scrap quilt, use shorter strips and cut fewer segments from each.

1. Choose the square size for parent blocks.
2. Determine the layout for each row of the parent block.
3. Make a plan for each row of your desired parent blocks. Where will darks, lights, mediums, brights, etc. be positioned?
4. Cut long fabric strips in widths that matchthe parent's square size,and remember that segments will be cut that same size.
5. Repeat to create strip sets and segments for each row.
6. Adjust thestrip length to suit your needs. For instance, in the scenario above, 4" wide strips cut across thefabric's crosswise grain,from selvage to selvage, would be long enough to cut (10) identical 4" segments from the finished strip set—enough for 10 parent blockrows.

Strip Pieced Example

Let's say the top row is similar to the red and white block shown here and you want to create enough top rows for five parent blocks. Your parent square size is 4" x 4".
Cut one 4" x 20-1/2" strip of each fabric (two light red prints and one dark red print)and sew them together lengthwise, with the dark strip in the middle. After squaring up one end of the strip set, you'll have enough leftover length to cut (5) 4" long segments—the top row of five parent blocks.

Pressing the Strip Sets

It's easier to cut accurate segments if you press seam allowances to one side after creating a strip set, and it's more simple to match seam intersections later if the seams butt into each other when rows are aligned before sewing the block.

Consider which row you're working on when creating strip sets and devise a pressing plan. You could press seam allowances in the top, and bottom row strip setsaway from the center, and towards the center square in middle rows.

Make It Fun

Part of the fun of a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt is devising a color scheme and layout.