Once we have gone over the very basics of sewing with a sewing machine my daughters start asking (incessantly) when they can start sewing their own lap quilt.
Nine patch quilts are timeless. The patterns can vary greatly with no rhyme or reason for some or definite patterns for others. The pattern I like to use also involves a popular logic puzzle – Sudoku. I like this way of making a nine-patch quilt because there is a definite order to it but the finished quilt still looks ‘random.’
In a Sudoku puzzle the numbers 1-9 are are not repeated in a 3×3 grid, nor are they repeated in the same row or column.
Following a Sudoku puzzle for a nine patch quilt means there are nine different fabrics in each nine patch block, but also each row and column will only contain each fabric only once. (See Brownie’s quilt above)
The next several sewing posts (every Tuesday!) will cover how to sew a Sudoku or Sew-doku quilt with your beginning sewer.
This week we cover the materials and preparation needed to get started.
- 1 Sudoku puzzle completed correctly
- 9 different fabrics – 1/2 yd. each
- rotary cutter
- self healing mat
- paper
- pencil
- stapler
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| Fudge’s choices for fabrics. My children look forward to this as we make a special trip to the fabric store just for them to choose whatever fabric they want! |
Wash and dry your fabric. Iron if needed. Cut nine square blocks from each piece of fabric. We cut ours 6in x 6in as that’s the size of our ruler. It makes for easy measuring!
Find a Sudoku puzzle and complete it together with your child. This site has easy ones! Or you can use the one I posted earlier in this post.
Next on a piece of paper write the numbers 1-9 in three columns. Using leftover scraps of fabric, assign one fabric to each number and staple.
Keep all your materials – fabric and papers – together, either in a tote box or gallon sized ziploc bag.
Next week we start sewing!
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This looks really doable. I’ve been really intimidated by patchwork in the past, but I’ve always wanted to do one. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
What a great idea! My daughter and I bought fabric this summer to make a quilt. Only 5 fabrics though. We’d have to pick out 4 more, but that is a great idea. And she likes Sudoku!!
What a great idea! Now I wish I had a kid who could sew already. Maybe I’ll have to do one myself as I’ve never really made a quilt before. Shocking really for someone who calls herself Holly Homemaker! I’ll have to get busy and try this.
Time to dust of the sewing machine. I’m suppose to be starting Christmas pajamas, but now I want to make a quilt.
I’m a great procrastinator.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
PS I think I need a Chocolate name. You shall now call me Nutella! Or Nut, cause I am…a nut.
Oh, I love, this. It is beautiful and something that looks possible. I think you did a great job!
What a great way to figure our block placement. Wonderful idea!
LOVE! My boys are totally addicted to sudoku (and another one called Kakaru?). This would be a hit at our house!
What a beautiful quilt, and what a wonderful thing you are doing teaching your children these important skills. I wish I had learned as a child, instead of teaching myself now, so I can teach my little ones.