Disappearing 9-Patch Christmas Tablecloth Quilt



A friend and I each made one of these Christmas tablecloth quilts together.  To make this Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt, I cut nine different fabrics into 8" squares and made 9-patch blocks, with the dark green fabric in the center.  Then I cut each completed 9-patch block into four equal parts, by making a horizontal cut and then a vertical cut through the center of each block.  Next, I took the upper left quadrant and the lower right quadrant of each 9-patch and had them switch places.  Finally, I restitched each block to create the Disappearing 9-Patch block.

Here's how to make a tablecloth to fit your own table:  If you begin with 8" blocks, each Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt block will measure 22" square when finished.  (You lose 2" in seam allowances with 1/4" seams.)  Measure your table in both length and width and then add the amount of drop you want.  If you want a 6" drop, for example, you would add 12" to your length measurement and 12" to your width measurement.  I wanted my tablecloth to fit my table with all of its leaves, so my tablecloth is 3 blocks wide (66") by 6 blocks long (132").  Therefore, I made 18 Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt blocks.  (In the photo, my table does not have any leaves in it, so I've tucked part of the tablecloth under itself.)  
   

 

Close-up views of my Christmas tablecloth.

I backed my quilt with muslin.  Then, each Christmas, whoever is sharing Christmas dinner with us signs their name and the year on the back of the quilt in permanent black marker, creating a Christmas guest book!  The quilt tells a story of our Christmases through the years. 

Here's a recipe for some cookies that my mother always makes at Christmas.  I grew up with homemade cookies always in my home.

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2-1/4 cups flour

Sprinkles in Christmas colors or shapes

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Mix shortening, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until light and fluffy.

3.     Sift together baking soda, salt, and flour and add to shortening mixture.  Mix thoroughly.

4.     Drop on ungreased cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with decorations.

5.     Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/chocolate-lover-variation-quilt-block.html