i don't understand the 3 is minimum.? i used 2 different fabrics.. for each block, just like a regular 9 patch before cutting. made a whole quilt like that, then i did one like pictured below..still 2 fabrics, for each block.
then i have done the scrappy one..looks so totally different..but i do keep the center block in in the 9 patch the same in the each one..
2 fabric 9 patch/D9P
[ATTACH=CONFIG]256701[/ATTACH]
scrappy 9 patch/D9P with same centers
[ATTACH=CONFIG]256702[/ATTACH]