Thursday, April 23, 2009

Nine Patch Testing

There was a lot of interest in a nine patch swap, so I'm trying to figure out the logistics and details.
I made three little blocks this morning, just grabbing fabrics from the scrap bin too see what I might get in a swap and how it would turn out.
The light is awful this morning so excuse the dullness.
This would involve using "mostly whites" and darks.
Nine Patch Swap test patches
It doesn't look like much with only three blocks, but I think it would be very pretty.
Step back a little from your screen and you'll get a better idea of the bigger picture.
Note that the center block is different from the other two.
Nine Patch Swap test patches
Another option would be to go totally scrappy, but then you won't be able to do strip piecing and we're going to need quite a few blocks to be able to make a quilt.
I played with some layouts in EQ5.


To make this an interactive project I put a poll in the sidebar. You should check up to 3 options.
Questions are:
1. Totally scrappy OR only two fabrics per block?
2. All blocks the same (as in the examples above) OR alternating positions of the lights and darks as in my sample blocks?
3. Mostly white OR solid white (which would involve everyone having to use exactly the same fabric for the white)?
If you have any other ideas or opinions, please leave a comment.
Thanks!

25 comments:

  1. My vote would be two fabrics per block.



    Mostly white.

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  2. I voted in the poll and have a comment regarding the whites. Since it will end up looking like a scrap quilt anyway, I wouldn't think it would matter if the whites were all different. I am just not wild about using "lights". Am I making any sense? :)

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  3. So excited about this! When I joined my guild they were just finishing a nine-patch exchange. I have wanted to do one ever since.

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  4. I like the last EQ version that you showed. My vote would be for whites - not a solid white fabric. I could do some serious stash busting with the white variations (warm and cool whites). I just finished a swap where we swapped cut out blocks, not finished nine-patches.

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  5. i voted.
    i like the 2nd layout better, but that's just moi.

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  6. This sounds like such a great idea. I'm very excited about it.

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  7. I really like the scrappy one on point.

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  8. I voted.
    The cesond one is my favourite.

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  9. I voted...like the 2nd pattern with 2 fabrics and mostly whites. I am excited about this swap...haven't participated in one before...in fact, many times I can't even post to some blogs... it just won't go thru...How many blocks do we swap?

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  10. Thanks so much for the poll - I just voted!

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  11. I would go for tone on tone myself. I played a little on Eq6, I posted a picture of what I was thinking.

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  12. Size wise, Are we thinking the individual squares are 3.5 in. cut, with unfinished blocks at 9.5 in., for 9 in. finished? I'm OK with there being a little color/design in the white squares. Also, I think only two fabrics per block looks nice in your pics.

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  13. I voted. I am excited about this. It will be my first swap. I too am curious how many and what size. I love the first one, on point.
    ~a

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  14. I voted and it looks like my votes are in line with others. I like the first layout the best. I just like the blocks on point.

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  15. I like the two fabrics per block design. I'm flexible on the solid color, whether it's white or cream or something else. I really need to get EQ cuz it looks so handy!

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  16. Sorry...I don't understand. If it's just swapping the blocks then surely each person making up the quilt can decide whether to put them on-point or straight up? Have I missed something? I've not done a swap before so don't really know how they work!

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  17. I voted and am still interested in participating.

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  18. I love the layout of the second pic, with the solid white blocks between each 9 patch block. I'd love to be part of this swap - sounds like fun! As I'm in Australia it may be hard for me to use the same white fabric as everyone else though...
    Best wishes,
    Jenelle

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  19. Very interesting! I voted -- This looks like such a fun project!

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  20. I also voted and I like the second layout better. I'm excited about this project. I love nine patches!

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  21. I voted. Sounds like fun! Thanks.

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  22. I like the second lay-out. I have been using so many scraps lately that I'm eager to use only a few different fabrics in my next big project.

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  23. hmmm I voted before it closed, but my less than awake morning brain is thinking...were there sign-ups that I missed somewheres?

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  24. I missed the voting but if it is not too late, I vote for 2 fabrics per block, one of which is white or mostly white.

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