Categories: Gifts, Bedding, Decor, Kid Friendly, Pillow, Halloween, Fall

The Disappearing Nine Patch Block is easy enough for beginning quilters and opens up a lot of fun possibilities. You start with a traditional nine patch block and then cut and rearrange the pieces. This can be a great way to use up left-over squares from layer cake projects and or use up Cuddle scraps. Switch up the colors to match your decor or favorite holiday.

What you need to make this project

Materials: Soft Touch® Pillow 30″ x 30″; Nature-Fil™ Bamboo Blend Batting 60″ x 60″ (or 1 Yard if purchased off the bolt); 1 Yard Backing Fabric; 4 Assorted White 10" Cuddle® Fabric Squares; 5 Assorted Colored 10" Cuddle® Fabric Squares in Halloween Colors; 25" section of Dritz Cut-to-Size Zipper or 25" Zipper in Coordinating Color; Coordinating Thread

Supplies: Rotary Cutting Mat, Ruler, and Cutter; Pins

Instructions

Step One

Cut your fabric into 10″ blocks if necessary. Your fabric may be already cut into 10″ pieces if you’re using a left over layer cake pieces. My pillows are a bit scrappy since they’re left over from quite a few past projects. You can also modify this pattern by using smaller blocks for a smaller finished pillow size.

Step Two

Arrange your squares in a traditional 9-Patch Block with matching blocks in opposite corners and an accent color in the center. Middle blocks on the top and bottom and sides should be white.

Stitch with 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Step Three

Cut your blocks in half through the centers of the white square, so that you have four pieces as shown.

Step Four

Exchange one pair of the blocks to achieve the following pattern. Stitch blocks back together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Step Five

I chose to quilt the front of my pillows to give the front a bit more structure and to help flatten the bulky seam allowances. However, since this is a pillow cover, I didn’t use a backing fabric to my “quilt.” I simply layered my pillow block with the batting and stitched just those to layers together. I prefer to use basting spray to layer my quilts. It’s especially helpful when working with slippery Cuddle® fabrics.

Step Six

Trim the batting even with your pillow front. If you’ve used 1/2 inch seam allowances throughout, it should measure 27″ square. Cut a 27″ square piece from your backing fabric. I chose to used the remaining piece of a Cut-to-Size Dritz upholstery zipper remaining from my last project. (Whoever came up with a long zipper with lots of heads so you can cut just the size you want is brilliant!) If you don’t have a cut-to-size zipper though, you’ll want a 25″ zipper. The key to getting a really plump pillow is a slightly larger pillow. Our finished pillow will measure 26″ square, but I’m putting a 30″ pillow inside it.

Step Seven

From this point, I used the Easy Tape-Basted Zippered Pillow tutorial to add the zipper and finish my pillow.

Step Eight

And they’re ready to brighten the decor in your home. I love that done of these are “Halloween” fabrics, but they give a fun Halloween feel to the room.

Step Nine

And if you want a fun coordinating quilt that can be used all year round, head over to the Shannon Fabrics blog for the free pattern for this Disappearing Nine-Patch Cuddle® Quilt. Paired with the throw pillows, it says “Happy Halloween!”