Disappearing Nine-Patch: I-Spy Version

Here's how to make an I-Spy version of the Disappearing Nine-Patch. It's SO EASY, but it looks like you spent FOREVER on it! I am assuming throughout this tutorial that you are familiar with the Disappearing Nine-Patch pattern -- I have previously posted specific step-by-step instructions on that quilt pattern, which you can find here.

What you need:

~ 88 - 4" I-Spy squares (From time to time I host swaps where you can join in and trade with others to collect these!)
~ 1 1/8 yd fabric for sashing (mine is white)
~ 1/3 yd fabric for setting squares (mine is blue)
~ 1 7/8 yd fabric for backing
~ 3/8 yd fabric for binding
~ crib size (45"x60") batting


What to cut:

From sashing fabric:
~ 88 - 4" white squares
~ 17 - 2"x4" white rectangles

From setting square fabric:
~ 22 - 4" squares
~ 20 - 2" squares

From binding fabric:
~ 5 - 2 1/2" strips -- sew end-to-end to create one long strip

Finished Quilt Size:
41 1/2" x 56 1/2" (nearly crib size)

Here is the KEY to setting up your blocks -- the lower right corner's I-Spy always needs to face the same direction no matter which way you turn the block. I made my lower right corner's I-Spy always right side up.

STEP ONE: Sew together the center rows on all your blocks. Start by sewing a white square to every blue square. Then sew another white square to the opposite side of every blue square -- creating 22 rows of white-blue-white.

STEP TWO: Place your stack of I-Spy squares right side up (with the bottom edge of the I-Spies closest to you) to the right of your stack of white squares. Fold one I-Spy over one white square like shutting a book, and sew the right side seam with a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat until you run out of white squares.

STEP THREE: Open all your sewn squares and stack them with the I-Spy square on the left. Place your I-Spy squares to the right, with the top edge of the I-Spies lined up to the edge of the white square, as shown in the photo.

STEP FOUR: Take the top I-Spy square from the right hand pile and fold it like closing a book over the left hand pile. Sew the right side seam with a 1/4" seam allowance.


STEP FIVE: Press your rows! Press the seam allowances toward the darker fabrics (toward your setting square fabrics and toward your I-Spies).

STEP SIX: Set up your rows as shown. CAREFUL -- It DOES matter which way those rows are set up! Close one I-Spy row over one setting square row like shutting a book. Sew right seam with 1/4" seam allowance, matching seams on the rows.

STEP SEVEN: Set up your rows as shown -- again, be CAREFUL! It matters which way those rows face! Close right side I-Spy row over the left side like shutting a book. Sew right seam with 1/4" seam allowance, matching seams on the rows.


STEP EIGHT: Press seam allowances to one side. (I pressed mine towards the I-Spies.)

STEP NINE: Cut your nine-patches into quarters as shown, measuring and cutting carefully. Your sashing and setting squares are DONE -- with the exception of the bottom row of your quilt and the right side vertical row of your quilt -- which you will piece together using your white rectangles and 2" squares.

You're ready to lay out your squares and sew them together!!


Wasn't that EASY??

(I never could decide whether I would have preferred an additional border on this quilt -- but it would be simple to adapt the pattern to allow for it!)