Guidelines for the "9-Patch Variation" Block Exchange

PREPARE FABRICS

For this exchange, you need a 1930's reproduction fabric and a white-on-white fabric (about 3/4 yard of each). Select high-quality, 100% cotton, quilting fabrics that you would be delighted to receive in return. Pre-wash and press fabrics.

CUT FABRIC INTO STRIPS

Cut 6 - 2" strips and 3 - 3-1/2" strips from both fabrics. After every 2 or 3 cuts, check the crosswise edge of the fabric to be sure it's square.

SEW STRIPS SETS TOGETHER

Sew 6 strips sets:

3 strip sets of 2" 30's repro to 3-1/2" white to 2" 30's repro	3 strips sets of 2" white to 3-1/2" 30's repro to 2" white

While sewing, measure your seams allowances frequently to be sure you are sewing an accurate 1/4" seam allowance.
Iron all seams away from the white fabric. This will allow the seams to "lock" together in the next step.
To get a better seam match, feed the strips into your sewing machine so that the top seam allowance is folded away from you, the bottom seam folded towards you. Since most machines push on the top fabric and pull on the bottom fabric, this pushes the top seam and pulls the bottom seam together, allowing the seams to "lock" together.

CUT STRIP SETS INTO SECTIONS

cut 30 - 2" sections		cut 30 - 2" sections
cut 15 - 3-1/2" sections		cut 15 - 3-1/2" sections

Square up your strips every two of three cuts so that your sections measure the same at the top and bottom.

SEW BLOCKS TOGETHER

Make 15 "regular" blocks with the 30's repro fabrics in the corners and in the center. Make 15 "reverse" blocks with the white fabric in the corners and center.

15 regular blocks

and 15 reverse blocks

The seams should "lock" together - one seam facing in one direction, the other facing the opposite direction.
SQUARE 'EM - Measure your completed blocks. They should measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square.

DIVIDE BLOCKS INTO SETS FOR SWAPPING

PAIR 'EM - 1 set is 1 "regular" block and 1 "reverse" block. Place each set into a zip-lock bag - you'll end up with 15 bags with 2 blocks in each bag. Label each bag with your name (address labels work well for this).
Place all 15 sets into one large bag. Again, put your name on the bag. You'll use this larger bag when passing to hold all your exchanged blocks.
Bring your blocks-in-bags to the Guild meeting and we will exchange the "sets" the night of the meeting. You will exchange your 15 sets with everyone else and take home 30 blocks total.
Your blocks have to be present at the meeting or they won't be included in the exchange. If you're not attending the meeting, send your blocks with someone who is.

If you have any questions, please contact Kaaren Courtney or Patty Merry.