Organizing for the Tiny Nine Patch Challenge

I LOVE vintage quilts! Creating patterns and recreating quilts inspired by vintage quilts has been on my Quilty bucket list for a long time. I have a ton of vintage quilt pics saved on Pinterest, Instagram, and my desktop that I really want to recreate. So when I saw Taryn’s post on Instagram for the #tinyninepatchchallenge recreating a vintage nine patch quilt—I knew I would join.

Plus, a tiny nine-patch block sounded like the perfect challenge to tackle in 2024. But, to my surprise, it hasn’t been a challenge at all! I am completely addicted to sewing little tiny nine patch blocks!

I chose to make the 1 1/2” finished blocks. Which means we start out with 9-1" squares to make the tiny nine patch. I also chose to make my blocks with all blue and white scraps from my stash.

I started off by using one of my design boards as a way to keep my 1 1/2” squares organized. But I knew that wouldn’t work for the long term. I started looking around the house for something to store my 1 1/2” squares and keep them fairly organized.

I’m not sure how I came up with the idea of ice cube trays (we don’t have any ice cube trays around here; our ice comes from our ice maker in our fridge, LOL).

But for some reason an ice cube tray popped into my brain. I got on Amazon and found some that were the right size, price, and color! (blue and white, of course, to match my blue and white fabrics!).

And these trays came with lids too! Ha! I ordered and waited. They came and they worked!

And they come in Pink & White and Yellow & White too!

I spent some time this weekend getting totally organized for the challenge. And I’m ready to sit down whenever the mood strikes, to do some simple sewing of my tiny nine patches.

Ice cube trays to keep my 1 1/2” squares in ☑

Big canning jar to keep the trimmings in ☑

Blue & White Ruler Pal to hold the two rulers I use the most when making the tiny nine patch blocks ☑

My favorite Aqua Rotary Cutter ☑

Cute little dish to photograph blocks every two weeks ☑

Design Board with blocks layed out ready to sew ☑Next week I’ll share how I’m sewing up my blocks and what I have found that works best for me. Hint…. I wouldn’t want to attempt cutting, storing, and sewing tiny little 1” squares without starching them first!

2 1/2” scraps from my stash, starched, (half sta-flo & half water) drying, ready to press, cut, and sew!