Quilting and Patchwork

Nine-Patch Pillow Pattern

by Mary Emma Allen on July 1st, 2005

The Nine-Patch design is one of the easiest to start with in your quilting venture. I’d also suggest beginning with a pillow. Once you’ve mastered the pillow project, you can make several pillow blocks and sew them together until you have the desired length and width for your quilt.

This design consists of nine squares. They are laid out in three rows of three.

For example, in the first row you’d have a red, then a blue, then a red square. In the middle row would be blue, red, blue. The last row consists of a red, blue, and red again.

These blocks can be of solid color fabric or you can use patterns with predominately red and blue backgrounds. However, you may use any color fabric you desire and mix and match them in a nine-patch design. I also like to alternate solids with print fabrics.

For pillows, a 5-inch square is often desirable, with a 3/8 –inch seam allowance. (Some quilters use a ¼ inch seam allowance. Simply be sure the seam allowance is uniform.)

Make the pillow any size you desire by sewing border strips around the nine-patch before putting on a back and stuffing with polyester filling or foam pillow form.

©2005 Mary Emma Allen

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