Disappearing Four Patch Tutorial

                                                     (scrappy disappearing 4 patch quilt)

This is one of my favorite blocks.  It works well no matter what combination of fabrics you use.  My favorite way to build the block is with two different fabrics for each block but it can also be built with three or four different fabrics and still looks good.

The block is called the disappearing four patch because it starts with a standard four path block.  Take four squares of the same size.  The squares in the picture below are 4" squares.

Lay out the block with matching fabrics diagonally opposite each other.  Sew each row (a pair of squares) together with a 1/4" seam and press the seams towards the darker fabric. Then sew the columns.  Match the seams.  They should nestle together and help to make the corners line up.

Press your seams from the front.  Then turn your block over and swirl your seams, in a clockwise direction as shown in the picture below.  You should end up with a tiny four patch in the center.  This is done to reduce bulk in the center of the block.

Once your block is well pressed, you need to measure the width and height. (Which should both be the same)  In this case the block measured 7.5" x 7.5".   Divide this number by 3.  In this case the result is 2.5".  We are going to cut the block in 2.5" strips, both ways.    I measured out 1.25" from the center seams on each side to do the cutting, since that gives the most reliable spacing.  See the picture below.

Here's where the magic happens.  We are going to shuffle the pieces to make the new design.  Switch the top and bottom middle piece and the side middle pieces.  You should get a layout that looks like this.

We now have a nine patch to sew together.  I sew the first column to the second and then add the third column. If you chain piece and leave the connecting threads there, you will have a "webbed" block like the one shown below.  

Press the seams in the top and bottom rows outward and the center row, inward.  Then sew the columns together across the rows.  Match your seam intersections carefully.  The "nine patch" seams should nest to help you on this.

Finish up by pressing the block carefully.  

If you want a scrappier look, you can use four separate fabrics for the four original squares.  The picture below shows a block like that, made from 5" squares.

In this case, the block measured 9.5" x 9.5".  If you divide by 3 you get 3.16667 which is 3 and 1/16.  That's a awkward number, so instead I chose to measure 1.5" out from the center seams.  That makes the center sections 3 inches wide and the outer sections just slightly larger.  I recommend if you

find yourself with similar numbers, make the adjustments in the center sections as I did for this.

Here is the finished block.

You can use any size squares to make this block, as long as they are large enough to allow you to cut and reassemble.  I wouldn't use squares smaller than 2.5" for the initial squares and even those would make a very bulky and tiny finished block.

Either way you set up the colors in it, the disappearing four patch block looks complicated but is actually simple to make.  And leads to a lovely quilt!  Enjoy