Help with figuring out layout
 

I am trying to duplicate this quilt pattern using a nine patch. I can't figure out how to lay out the colored squares so that I get the zigzag effect of the two different colors.

I think that it would be easy to get graph paper and colored pencils and draw it out. It looks easy to do.

Pardon me, but I am confused
You mention nine patches, which aren't part of the quilt/photo you have shown us.
Not saying it cannot be achieved with 9Ps, but it would sure be a challenge.
Also, you mentioned two different colours, yet I see several in the quilt.

Or perhaps? is the right photo posted?

As Jordan already suggested ... graph paper could be your friend to figure this out!

I think you will get more of a chain effect with 9 patches instead of zig zag.
What makes the zig zag is the long strips.

This is the Falling Charms quilt pattern but with specific colors added to make certain color combination. Most Falling Charms quilts are made with a single background color. Jenny Doan does an excellent job explaining the quilt in this video.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...tail&FORM=VIRE

If you want 9 patches in the quilt, they would probably have to replace the larger charm blocks.
This site shows the blocks very clearly. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/113364...c_v2=1a2Qy6Eip To assemble, you just turn them different ways.

First of all great idea to change the pieces to a 9 patch. I can see easily your thoughts. Graphing it out may be your best bet as others have already said being mindful of each color change. You will find that the patterns will change for each grouping going from one side to the other. How large are you planning to make this quilt? The size will also dictate the layout of the blocks and their colors and placements.

I drew a 3x3 grid on each of the blocks in one row, so you should be able to use that to translate the design into a nine patch.

https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...1311758-s1.jpg

Each of the blocks has only two colors, so that means each of your nine patches would need to have 4 squares of the first color and 5 squares of the second color. (Or you could do very similar colors, say 4 squares of light pinks and 5 squares of dark blues.) If you want the same layout as the original, it would be faster to construct it the way it was made: take a square of fabric the size of four squares in the grid (plus seam allowances), sew a strip to one side, then sew a strip to an adjacent side. (Each strip would be the width of one square in the grid, plus seam allowances.)

Falling Charms as Barb in Louisiana said.

I assume you want to do it as a disappearing nine patch, right? I'm posting from my phone, so I can't draw a picture, but here would be the process:

Make a 9p with a plus-sign of light blue (or yellow), and the peach (or navy or print) in the corners. Cut as usual.

Personally, I would use strip piecing instead. Join a 2.5 inch WOF strip of light blue (or yellow) to a 5 inch strip of peach (or navy or print). Cut into 5 inch sections, and add a 7x2.5" strip of light blue (or yellow) to complete the block.

This quilt is an excellent example of how there are many ways to reach the same end result!

This is how my "mind" would lay out the units/blocks and then assemble the units into a top - however they were made -

Make the units
Lay them out
Label each unit for location
Sew together in rows
Sew rows together
Add borders

The rest of it:

I'm with QuiltE on this--seems it would be easier to go together with the 2 different rectangles and the large square. Unless you have a bunch of 3.5 " sqs sitting around and want to use them up?