I've started collecting fabric for a quilt that will communicate cherry blossom season here in the Washington DC area -- pinks, off-white, pale ("spring") greens, moving into deep roses and rich olive greens, and possibly into darker magenta and deep forest greens.

I've been debating between a blooming nine patch and a one-block wonder design.

I'm feeling more drawn to the blooming nine patch-- I LOVE the transitions, BUT I prefer the more abstract layout of the OBW.

Which got me wondering (and I've already done some googling on this without success): Has anyone done a variation of the blooming nine patch that does not result in a square or rectangular format?

Thanks!

-- Jillaine

The blooming 9 patch may give you more control of your fabrics placemet...

My thought is to make the 9 patch block, and then cut it to the desired shape, like a half hexagon maybe? :D:D:D

I'm okay about working with standard 9-patch squares; I'm just wondering about laying them out differently than the "traditional" blooming nine patch. The traditional layout is a square or rectangle "blooming" from the center. I'm thinking about something not so square. You know how OBW's can "bloom" from anywhere? Like that. I think. ;-)

or use some random HSTs here an there.
.............
"The blooming 9 patch may give you more control of your fabrics placemet...

My thought is to make the 9 patch block, and then cut it to the desired shape, like a half hexagon maybe?"

It would probably be easiest to make it "bloom" from top to bottom or one corner out but I don't see why you can't change it around. You may have to make each block individually to fit a specific spot instead of making X number of each color combo.

Oy.

Definitely doable. But you'd have to map it out to figure out how many squares of each fabric you'd need.

Since the design most commonly blooms from the center - whether it's a rectangle or a square - it's really easily figure out the amount of each combo you need. I actually made a chart for all the permutations.
I've altered the pattern many times - more fabrics, less fabrics, increased the center portion to elongate it without adding another fabric but increase the size.

But if you decide to start the bloom in, say the upper right corner, will the next bands be wider?
- iow, would you double up?
-would you add a 5 more fabrics to reach the other side?
-would you bloom from the bottom left and have them merge in -the center? (actually - that would be pretty cool.)

If you just take a blank piece of paper and sketch out the abstact shape you want to create. Then it's easy then to figure it out the fabric quantities, and 9 patch combos.

Otherwise, you're making a ton of 9Patches you might not need, or you'll be short of some fabric because you need more.

Very interesting project.

MTS,

(I knew you'd show up... ;-)

What do you mean by having them merge in the center?

Yes, I'm thinking of a bloom from one of the corners (or near corners; don't want to be too symmetrical).

I initially thought of OBW for this, but frankly, I haven't found the right fabric that will give me the variation I want *in the colors I want* -- some of you may recall my ISO for this very thing. (Or if I did find something that might work, it was too outrageously expensive.) The B9P approach allows me to work with more fabric choices.

Is there any reason you couldn't go on and do the OBW only using an array of fabrics to get your desired color gradation?

My thought exactly. Make hexes from each of the fabrics, as long as the fabrics share some of the same colors, you should be able to lay them out to blend.

I've seen quilts that used the OBW shape (equilateral triangles) with different fabrics, so it's not really a OBW but is sewn together in the same fashion. The tricky part is getting the fabrics in the right positions to. You can also use the kaleidoscope block with 8 triangles sewn together (with triangles on each corner to square it off). I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

How about a watercolor-type 9-patch or 16-patch which blends the pinks and greens and sky blue in the right areas of the quilt?
Like Sarah, I'm just sayin' - never done it but it looks pretty!
It's the best days to be in DC,and what a wonderful idea to capture it in fabric!

Interesting concept to do obw in multiple fabrics.
but not sure i even have the right collection (yet) for that. Here's what I've got so far; it's really been difficult to get the colors I want.

For a Blooming, too many solids.

But, again, it depends on what you want. If you're trying to convey the overall feeling of THAT picture to YOU, then having a perfect Blooming (where you never see the 9 patches) wouldn't be an issue.

I've done many where, either at the beginning or the end, you could see some. I probably got tired of looking. But there would be run of 4-6 fabrics where you could see a one.

But the same would be true of those solids in an OBW.

Also, scale is important. If it's too small, it reads as a solid in the Blooming, which doesn't help the blending. Too big, and you have no control over color placement.

Are those some Antique Scroll fabrics from the Lakehouse Hydrangea line? That periwinkle looks very familiar. ;-)

Okay, so I remove the solids (kept in a non-patterned batik) and this is all I got; if I understand correctly (the book's on its way, but I've been googling), I'll need MANY more prints in order to do the B9P. This has been part of my challenge-- finding the right prints. And I'm not jumping up and down about the third from the left.

And yes, that's the hydrangea print you referenced, MTS.

Are you using the pattern from Tradition With A Twist? I have made several quilts from this pattern and they all come out perfect. The designer/author is a friend of mine. Every pattern in this book is a winner. The best looking ones are all floral busy fabrics.

Not sure, but it looks like two of the fabrics are batiks. Normally you can't make a OBW from a batik because the print is hand done, so it's not an even repeat. For a OBW (with hexagons) you would need 6 repeats of your print.

The batiks would be used if I did a blooming nine patch not an obw.

Inspiration picture is gorgeous. Hope it works out in you quilt. Would love to see a picture when it is done.

each fabric should combine the colors of 3 or more surrounding fabrics for the "blend" in a blooming nine patch. I've done both quilts. I have often wondered and even posted about doing a "blooming" one block wonder. My avatar is my sons' wedding quilt and I blended 3 fabrics in that obw. It was a lot of fun to do. Go for it.... please update us on your progress!!

Good idea.

That quilt is STUNNING!!!!

Personally I like the second arrangement, including #3 especially I was told by The Cotton Club that #5 position will be your dominant fabric in the quilt. (They sort of specialize in "Blooming Nine Patch"). IMO you could send them your 2 pics and ask. If they not crazy busy, they'll help you.

You need more pink. I've seen the Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo,Japan. Its a beautiful sight, I was 10.

Have you considered doing a bargello? Of course, that would mean you need MANY more fabrics, but it looks like you need a lot more pinks anyway.

This set-up of fabric looks more like your photo.

I don't mind the third one from the left. The ones I don't think you'll be happy with are the two on the right. The first one the print might be too big and the second one the print is too small.

I was wondering about bargello also...

Just a thought but you could also make a pretty watercolor quilt of that gorgeous photo.

MerryQuilter,

I think what I'm seeking is something between a blooming nine patch and a watercolor. Watercolor quilts scare the beejees out of me, though. Or rather, the idea of trying to make one does.

This quilt sounds like a gorgeous undertaking. Can't wait to see photos of it!

Moda has a new line "Dogwood Trail" with purdy pinks and greens. A suggestion.

I have the old Dogwood line, and maybe I'll use that to do a blooming 9p!! Thanks for the suggestion!! I wouldn't have thought of it.