Spirit of Christmas - Table Runner

One of the first patterns I tried when I started on this quilting journey was the disappearing 9-patch block. Ultimately, it's still sewing basic squares together, but to make this block a little more fancy, we chop up the 9 patch block, rotate the pieces for fun results.

Going through my stash of Christmas fabrics (I really need to do some Christmas stash enhancement shopping!) I found some pieces of a FQ bundle which I'd won from a magazine about a bazillion years ago. 

The colours are very traditional and I think I'd used up all of the prettier prints from the bundle and these were the leftovers. They're not my favourite Christmas colours, but I know people who do love the traditional, so I've made a runner that's now all ready to gift.

Many of us are seasoned quilters are very well aware of how to make a disappearing 9-patch block. But in saying this, I do get a lot of newbie quilters visit the blog, who are just learning the craft, so I thought I'd share the steps on how to go about making a table runner like this Spirit of Christmas one.

Begin with 9 x 5" squares. I chose 4 green ones, 1 red one and 4 low volume (or white) ones. Sew them in the order of green, white, green. Then white, red, white. and then again green, white. green. Join to a 3x3 configuration and press. Now repeat this step and make 2 more 9 patch blocks. You'll end up with 3 altogether.

The next step is to measure and cut the 9-patch blocks right through the middle - use the image below as the example. 

NB: I just place my ruler on the seam at the 2.25" mark and cut there.


From those 3 x 9-patch blocks, you end up with 12 blocks.

Now the fun begins... playing with the layout.

Here are a few layout options that I experimented with before deciding on the one that I finally used for Christmas Spirit.

OPTION ONE

This block layout makes this table runner below (the one that I made).



OPTION TWO




OPTION THREE



OPTION FOUR


If anyone is wondering why I called it Spirit of Christmas... that's what my new seasonal candle is called and it smells wonderful.



17 comments

  1. that is a pretty pattern in the Christmas colors.

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    1. Thanks Karen. I'd forgotten how much I liked the disappearing 9 patch block.

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  2. Pretty tablerunner. Love the fabrics/colours. Hugs, xx

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  3. great again all season table runner

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  4. I dont quilt anymore as find it difficult to sew, but I do remember the nine patch disappearing pattern and what innumerable ways you could use them depending on pattern etc. This is so pretty. Traditional but yet very good.

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    1. Thanks Mystica. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed playing around with this block and all of its possibilities. Hope you're well xx

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  5. Thank you for the explanation! I never understood what was the disappearing part.

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    1. I'm glad I could help. When I first saw a quilt made with these blocks, I didn't know why it had disappearing in the name either - until I made my own.

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  6. D9P may be simple one to sew but it always is fun and turns out so great.

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    1. Thanks Vicki. It's such fun to play around with

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  7. I made my first Disappearing 9-Patch a couple of months ago. It was supposed to be a “quick and easy” project, but my brain was running on empty that day and I kept messing up again and again…. Your runner looks great and I love that you named it after your scented candle. I love seasonal scents for my home as well — and it gives me some peace of mind to know that right now, when someone walks through my front door they are smelling “Pumpkin Chai” from Nest Home Fragrances instead of Mouffy Wet Dog Who Rolled In Leaves And Then Dried Off On the Carpet!

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  8. Also, thanks for linking up with me for TGIFF!

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  9. Beautiful table runner. Thank you for the tutorial. I love the Disappearing 9 Patch block. Your layout options are very modern and pretty.

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