Mini- Square Sudoku Quilt

I’d been trying to figure out what do with those irresistible sets of little squares that are available right now. One day I was amusing myself with a Sudoku puzzle. Hmmmm – Sudoku uses numbers 1 through 9…. There are typically nine different squares in a set. A quilt was born!

Directions:

• Cut your set of squares into nine – 3 ½” squares.
• From your complimentary fabrics cut two 3 ½” strips. From these cut nine 3 ½” squares.
• Assign a number to the picture squares. i.e. #1.  – then number the other fabrics. The easiest way is to write the numbers 2 through 9 on a piece of paper ( leave at least a couple of inches between numbers). Then tape or glue pieces of the complimentary fabrics to the paper beside the numbers.
• Working on one square at a time follow a solved Sudoku puzzle and lay out the squares for the first section.
• Sew them together in rows. Press the seams in odd rows in the opposite direction to those in even rows. (Doing this will allow the rows to be sewn together accurately since the seams will lock – AND it will make it harder for you to sew a row in upside down.)
• Check to make sure your fabrics are placed correctly. Refer to the solved puzzle. Sew the rows together and press.
• Label this unit – i.e. “top left”….. It also helps to mark the top of the block so you don’t accidentally sew it in upside down when you join the units.
• Continue for the other eight sections.
• Cut three 1 ½” strips (width of fabric) of sashing. From these cut two 29 ½” pieces, and six 9 ½” pieces.
• Sew the sashing between the units to complete each row. Keep checking to make sure nothing is upside down!
• Add the sashing between the rows, and sew the rows together.
• Cut four 3 ½” strips from the sashing/border fabric. From these cut two 29 ½” strips and two 35 ½” strips. Add these to the quilt to complete the borders.
• Quilt as desired.

If you want a bit more of a challenge. Try separating the individual squares in each unit – sew ¾” sashing between the squares. Use a fabric a little lighter than than the main sashing and border fabric.

Check newspapers, magazines, or on-line for puzzles. I like the ones in Readers Digest because they do the diagonals as well….. or use this one

More easy quilts.... Sudoku • Ninepatch & Snowball • Easy Panel • Half Log Cabin • Take Two

©Carol Wright 1997 All rights reserved.
Revised: October 23, 2007.