Onwards and upwards

Now that I have learned the correct way to do a 9 patch block I started looking around the internet to see what I could do with it.  Youngest daughter had commented on the cushion cover that mother had stolen so I offered to make her one.  Now youngest daughter is on the quirky side so I knew I had to put a bit more effort in for her. 

After scouring around a bit I came across this; http://www.popularpatchwork.com/news/article/disappearing-nine-patch/5294/

It seemed straightforward enough, but went a step further than the basic 9 patch I had already completed. 

I pulled out some more fabric and cut some more squares and sewed them all together as the chipmunk on helium had told me to (ok, I admit, I did sew all three of the squares in each row at the same time, but it didn’t seem to have an adverse effect on the finished product.  If there is a reason for not doing it that way could you please let me know as I don’t want to be messing it up all over again).

The instructions on this site are easy to follow;  make a 9 patch block and then cut it into quarters horizontally and vertically, rearrange the quarters of the block, then sew it back together again.

Here is the finished side of the cushion cover made for the quirky one.

Then I decided that there needed to be another side to this cover and started scouring the internet again.

It was then I noticed that one of the shopping channels on tv(Create and Craft) had quick tutorials on patchwork so I started watching it and was given another idea for a quick and easy challenge (I believe you can still see these tutorials on their website although I haven’t looked).  This time you make a pinwheel block that has finished measurements that are divisible by three (there are many good instructions on how to make one of those so I dont want to pick out just the one).

You then make cuts horizontally and vertically at thirds across the finished block.  This gives you 9 new squares.   You rearrange these squares, sew them together and end up with this;

I put a border around the pinwheel side, sewed it all up and had another finished cushion cover, this time one that daughter took home after I had taken a photo of both sides I am relieved to say.

Please don’t think for a second that I am saying patchwork is easy.  Both sides of this cushion cover were quick fixes using basic blocks that a far more experienced person would have made a far better job of. 

But what it does prove is that even a beginner in this craft can make a half decent patchwork cushion cover.  It also proves that a gung ho idiot like me can learn from some invaluable tutorials on the internet if they look around and pay attention, even if it is by listening to a chipmunk on helium.  If you have ever considered giving it a go then I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Next on my list is an Amish style quilt completely sewn by hand….ok, so I am lying, but I will certainly be having a go at a quilt next as I do believe I may have caught a new sewing bug.