Sew a Simple 9-Patch Baby Quilt (Free Pattern)! (2024)

Sew an easy Nine Patch Baby Quilt using my free 9-patch quilt block pattern! Let me teach you my fast and easy strip piecing method for sewing multiple nine patch blocks at once. Instead of cutting squares at first, I cut fabric strips. The strips are sewn together in sets of three. Then you will cut your strip sets to make 3-patch units that will be sewn into 9-patch quilt blocks.

I placed a downloadble PDF of this quilt pattern in my PDF library of All SewCanShe Printable Blog Tutorials and Patterns. If you wish to print this free quilt pattern without purchasing the library, simply hit CTRL+P (everything you need is included in this blog post). You can get a free PDF file for the Four Patch block pattern only here.

After I wrote the instructions for an easy nine patch quilt block, I realized that this block would make an adorable baby quilt that is:

• super fast with only 9 blocks
• totally easy patchwork
• perfect for beginner quilters making their first quilt
• great for a last minute baby shower gift
• the perfect size to practice free motion quilting

How to Sew a Nine Patch Baby Quilt

These instructions make 9 nine-patch blocks. Finished quilt dimensions: 44’’ x 44’’. Finished block size: 12” x 12”. My 9-Patch Block Pattern is also available as a free downloadable file. Get it here.

You will need:

• 1 1/4 yards background fabric (suggested: light gray fabric)
• 1/4 yard light colored fabric* (suggested: peach colored fabric)
• 1/4 yard dark colored fabric* (suggested: navy blue fabric)
• 1/8 yard medium colored fabric* (suggested: coral colored fabric)
• 1/2 yard binding fabric
• 2 3/4 yards backing fabric, or enough to piece together a 52” x 52” square
• a 52” x 52” piece of quilt batting
• a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the light gray fabric)

*These are the exact fabric requirements, so I suggest buying a bit more in case the fabric is not cut straight from the bolt or in case there are cutting errors.

Cutting:

• Light Gray (or other background fabric):
  • cut 4 strips 4 1/2” x 42”
  • cut 12 strips 2 1/2” x 12 1/2” (sashing strips)
  • cut 2 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” (cornerstone blocks)
  • cut or piece together 2 strips 2 1/2” x 40 1/2” (side borders)
  • cut or piece together 2 strips 2 1/2” x 44 1/2” (top and bottom borders)
• Peach (or other light fabric):
  • cut 2 strips 4 1/2” x 42”’
• Navy (or other dark fabric):
  • cut 2 strips4 1/2” x 42”
• Deep Coral (or other medium fabric):
  • cut 1 strip 4 1/2’’ x 42’’
• Binding fabric:
  • cut 5 strips 2 1/2” x width of fabric (40-42’’)

Sew Nine 9-Patch Quilt Blocks:

Use a 1/4’’ seam allowance and a short stitch length such as 1.5-2.

1. Combo #1:
Place a light gray strip and a navy fabric strip right sides together. Sew along one long edge. Open and press the seam away from the light gray fabric.

Place a peach strip on top of the light gray fabric and sew along the long edge. Open and press the seam away from the light gray fabric.

Tips:

• Pressing your seams away from the light gray fabric enables you to nest the seams in step 4.
• Sewing with a scant quarter inch seam allowance will ensure your blocks are the right size, plus you’ll have enough to square them up at the end.

Sew two strip sets in Combo #1.

2. Combo #2:
Place a light gray strip and a deep coral fabric strip right sides together. Sew along one long edge. Open and press the seam away from the light gray fabric.

Add the third strip: place another light gray strip on top of the deep coral fabric and sew along the long edge. Open and press the seam away from the light gray fabric.

You only need one strip set for Combo #2.

3. Trim the ends of the strip sets to make them even. Sub-cut each strip set into 4 pieces that are 4 1/2’’ wide. There will be a bit of fabric leftover from each strip set.

You will need 18 pieces from Combo #1.

You will need 9 pieces from Combo #2.

4. Sew three pieces together as seen above to make a nine patch block.

By pressing the seams in your strip sets away from the light gray fabric, you will be able to nest your seams and not use pins! I use this trick when sewing my rows together too.

You may now press your seams as desired (to the side or open).

Repeat to make 9 nine-patch quilt blocks. Trim and square your blocks to 12 1/2”, if desired.

Assemble the Quilt Top

1. Sew three blocks together with 2 1/2” x 12 1/2” sashing strips in between. Press the seams toward the sashing strips. This is one row.

Repeat to make 3 rows.

2. Sew three 2 1/2” x 12 1/2” sashing strips with 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch squares in between. Press the seams toward the sashing strips. This is a sashing row.

Make 2 sashing rows.

Note: You may use a 2 1/2” x 40 1/2” strip instead of a sashing row, but I do not recommend it. Sashing rows with cornerstone squares make it much easier to keep your blocks in even rows and columns without using pins because you can nest the seams!

3. Sew the quilt block rows together with the sashing rows in between.

4. Sew the two 2 1/2” x 40 1/2” border strips to the sides of the quilt top.

5. Sew the two 2 1/2” x 44 1/2” border strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top.

Finishing the Nine Patch Baby Quilt

1. Cut or piece together a 52’’ x 52’’ piece of backing fabric and make a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting, and top.

2. Baste together with fusible batting, pins or basting spray.

3. Quilt as desired. Straight line quilting with your walking foot would be fast and easy.

4. Cut 5 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

The Four Patch Block is part of our Kitchen Sink Quiltalong

Get ready to sew all your favorite quilt blocks this year! This is the year that we are going to sew everything but the kitchen sink in our Kitchen Sink 2022 Quiltalong.

This bold graphic quilt is perfect for learning new quilt making skills that build on one another, or for putting skills you already have into a big beautiful quilt.

Click here to learn about our Kitchen Sink Quiltalong.

xoxo,