9 patch math help
 

I want to make a 9 patch that will finish up at 5 inches. I have so many charms and want to put them with the 9 patch. My math is horrible and I can't figure out what to to cut the squares to make the 9 patch.

I think 2" squares will give you a 5" finished 9-patch. Cute idea.

I drew the block in EQ7. These are the rotary cutting instructions for a 5 inch finished block. You should cut each patch at 2 1/8".

Either cut your blocks a "generous" 2-1/8 inch or sew with a "scant" quarter inch seam.

The theoretical result of using squares cut into 2-1/8 inch is 4-7/8 inches. (3 x 1-5/8 = 4-7/8)

Make a couple of test units to see how you need to adjust it.

Sewbizgirl has it right - use 2" squares to make your nine-patch. Your blocks will be 5" unfinished/ 4.5" finished, which is what you need if you want to combine them with 5" charms. 2 1/8" squares will give a 5.5" unfinished/ 5" finished block, which will be too big for your plan.

As others have mentioned, it is very difficult to make any block that is made up of three section. Hence most 9 patch pattern will be 3", 4.5", 6", 7.5", 9" or 12" in size. It is one of the short comings of charm squares. You might go look thru charm square patterns if you don't want to waste too much of the fabric:
https://www.google.com/search?q=char...w=1024&bih=622

I'm making a warm wishes quilt with 5" blocks and my strips are 2" x 5" strips. They match up nicely with the 5" squares. Should work for your 9 patch as well. Sew a sample and measure to see if you need to tweak your seams any. Good luck! (0:

I don't think I understood the original post correctly - and sewbizgirl and Jennifer23 did -

What I think was meant - wanted the "unfinished" 9-patch units to be 5 inches square - to go with her 5-inch charm squares.

Might want to verify the measurements of the charm squares before getting too far into the project.

I'm just viewing the answers.

Yup, use 3 (2") squares per row. 3x2"=6.
Subtract 1" (4x1/4") for seam allowances. 6-1=5.