BLOCK OF THE MONTH

JUNE: THE DOUBLE X 9-PATCH

A traditional American block pattern, this arrangement of 9 patch pieces plays with colour and tone to great effect, using half-square triangle techniques to make contrasts.

Note: When your pieces are ready to be sewn together, make sure to trim them all to the same size to ensure they fit together correctly.

1. ORGANISE AND CUT THE FABRIC YOU'LL NEED

Choose 3 different colours of fabric, preferably a light, a medium, and a dark. Cut four 4.5” squares from each colour.

2. MATCH FABRICS FOR HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLES

Pair up your fabrics and pin together.

You should have two sets of fabrics 1 & 2, two of fabrics 1 & 3, and two of fabrics 2 & 3.

Make sure you have the squares matched up correctly before cutting anything!

3. SEW HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLES

Pin the right sides together of your squares of fabrics 1 & 2.
Mark a line diagonally across the squares and then stitch down either side of this line, using your machine’s presser foot as a guide.
Cut in half using your marked line as a guide, and press open. You should have four squares.

Repeat with fabrics 1 & 3 and 2 & 3, to create 12 squares in total.

4. ARRANGE THE PATTERN

Using the illustration as a guide, arrange your half-square triangles in a 9-patch configuration.

You will have 3 squares left over – set these aside, as they can be used for your next Double X block, or for another project.

5. SEW THE BLOCK TOGETHER

Join your squares together in rows of three, pressing the seams in opposite directions as you go.

When you have 3 rows, double check the pattern is in the correct order, and then join these together, pressing well.

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