This is a variation of my Nine Patch Lattice Quilt. The size and layout are the same, but I've substituted crazy nine patch blocks for conventional ones that I used in the original quilt.
If you want to use crazy blocks to make the Nine Patch Lattice quilt, use the instructions below to make crazy blocks and substitute them for the blocks described in the pattern. All other instructions and fabric requirements remain the same.
Please note that the crazy blocks DO NOT use the same amount of fabric as the blocks in the original pattern. To make enough blocks for this quilt, you will need a total of 27 fabric squares 9-1/2"x 9-1/2" each. For my quilt, I used 27 different scraps from my stash. You could also use 3/8 yard each of 9 different fabrics, cutting 3 squares 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" from each.
Crazy Nine Patch blocks are made in sets of 9, so you'll need to make 3 sets in order to have the 27 that you need for this quilt. Start by dividing your 27 fabric squares into 3 stacks of 9 squares each. If you're using 9 fabrics, make sure that you include 1 square of each fabric in each stack.
How to make Crazy Nine Patch Blocks
These instructions contemplate a 1/4" seam allowance, with all seams pressed open. The instructions below describe how to make 7-1/2" finished blocks from 9-1/2" fabric squares, which is what you'll need for the lattice quilt pattern. For other projects, you can easily vary the size of the blocks by starting with squares that are 2" larger than you want your finished blocks to be.
Stack the 9 squares on your cutting table and make a wonky cut, about a third of the way in from the left side, creating 2 stacks.
Remove one cut piece from the top of the stack on the left and move it to the bottom of the stack.
Sew the squares back together along the wonky-cut edge, matching pieces that are in the same position in their respective stacks. So the striped piece and the tulip piece shown in the above photo get sewn together. The two pieces that are under them get sewn together, and so on, until you again have nine squares, each made up of 2 different fabrics.
Note: If you want to end up with all 9 fabrics showing in each block, it's important to keep the blocks in the same order as you work.
Restack your squares, aligning the seams you've just sewn. Make a second wonky cut, this one about a third of the way in from the right side.
Remove two cut pieces from the top of the stack on the right and place them at the bottom of the stack. Use the same process from the last step to sew the squares back together, along the wonky-cut edges.
Once again, stack the squares on your cutting mat, matching seam allowances as best you can. (You have a little lee-way, so don't stress over it too much.) Turn the stack 90 degrees to the right.
Make another wonky cut, similar to the one you made when you first cut into the stack of squares, creating 2 stacks. If your cutter can't quite make it, finish the job with scissors. Try to make the cut as clean as possible, but don't stress if it's not perfect. This is a very forgiving block!
This time, move three pieces from the top to the bottom of the stack on the left and, again, sew the squares back together.
Restack your blocks and make one final wonky cut, creating 2 stacks.
Move six pieces from the top to the bottom of the stack on the right and, again, sew the pieces back together along the wonky-cut edge.
If you kept your squares in the same order during each step, you should now have 9 blocks that each include a little piece of each of the 9 fabrics.
Square up your blocks to be 1/2" larger than their finished size. If you're making blocks to use with the Nine Patch Lattice Pattern, you'll want them to be squared up to 8" x 8".
Now it's time to admire your pretty blocks!
If you make your wonky cuts similarly to mine, you'll notice that your finished blocks have two overlapping megaphone-like shapes. When I laid out my blocks before sewing them together, I positioned them so that the small or large ends of the "megaphones" matched where the blocks intersected. I think that helped to add some movement to the quilt top.
As always, if you make something with one of my tutorials, I'd love to see a photo in the Flickr Group.
ETA in response to comments: Yes! The crazy nine-patch is an excellent "first wonky block." If you're nervous about trying a wonky block, this is a very low-commitment one to try. (Plus you end up making 9 at a time, which means the quilt comes together fast.)
