Polaroid 9 Patching

Natural Disasters

It's nearly February again and I am Queen Bee for the month in my QCA Bee. January 2011 was all about floods in Australia and January 2013 is all about bushfires. Many houses have been lost in Tasmania and New South Wales. With an Australia-wide record heatwave, fires are burning out of control in four states and two territories. 

Quilt Salve

There are a couple of drives to get quilts out to folks who have lost everything. There's something lovely about a quilt gift to comfort in a disaster. So here's a great block for my bees to make and I will turn it into a gender neutral quilt to donate to an upper primary school child who has lost their home and possessions.

Finished 9 Patch Block size = 14.25" square
Finished Polaroid Block size = 3" x 3.5"
Finished Border Block Size = 5" square

Regular border width = 1.5"
Wonky border width = 2.5"

Material

2.5" square fussy cut centres = novelty or interest prints
Polaroid sashing = Spotlight white homespun OR Kona 'white' 
Solid border = Choose either Dark grey, Light grey, Orange OR Aqua (similar to Kona Turquoise, Peacock, Lagoon or Robin Egg) I expect different variations between the colours and will group 3 of each colour into a stripe across the quilt.

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First - I must acknowledge the fabulous polaroid block tutorial put together by CapitolaQuilter. 

Follow ALL the steps in her tutorial until you get to STOP HERE.

Second - I must acknowledge the wonky  polaroid block put together by Jane of Where Jane Creates.

We will use Jane's method to make ONE wonky block.
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Method

1. Measure each of your 9 polaroids to 3"x3.5". I used a 4.5" square ruler (my new best friend) to centre the fussy cut square. Remember that the bottom is wider (1 inch).

2. Trim the white sashing to 1/2" on top and sides and 1" on the bottom. *Set ONE polaroid aside for a Wonky block later.

3. Cut 1.5" strips WOF (width of fabric) of the solid. Oops I should have ironed mine first!

4. Chain piece the top of EIGHT polaroid blocks with the solid.

5. Separate each block and repeat with chain piecing on the bottom. Press and trim.

6. Add the sides to the border.

7. Centre the polaroid section of the block. This time I used a 6.5" square ruler.

8. This time cut an even 5" square around the block.

Now for the Wonky One.

9. Take your *LAST polaroid and add the 1.5" border to the top and bottom. (You can add a 2.5" border for more wonk).

10. Now add a 2.5" border to the sides.

11. Tilt your ruler to add the wonk. Make sure the 5" square section is within the border.

12. Cut a 5" square from the border. Voila! Wonky block heaven.

Assembling the 9 Patch

13. Lay all of the 5" blocks into a 3x3 array. Move them around until you are satisfied with the layout.

14. Sew the columns, nesting the seams as you go.

25. Lastly sew the rows together. 

Concept block in dark grey.

Concept block in aqua.

Link Up

If you try this block, I'd love to see your results. Free to link up your Flickr or Blog post below.