Mar 17, 2022

Partial Seams

I don’t know about you, but a “partial seam” sounds like an oxymoron to me! However, just like my favorite oxymoron, a “plastic glass”, a partial seam can come in very handy. A partial seam is especially useful when a center unit in a patchwork block is surrounded by pieces that extend beyond it on all sides as in Mayberry Square.

My first experience with a partial seam came very early in my quilting career with a popular little block called Bright Hope.

Bright Hope could be considered a Nine Patch block. Coming soon ...I can’t wait to talk about it... we will be combining a Bright Hopes block with a Nine Patch Snowball block to make some wonderful quilts. And our new two-piece Nine Patch Companion Tool set has measurements so you can cut half square triangles and “double wide” Nine Patch strips in all 7 sizes of Nine Patch Rulers! What? You didn’t know about the Nine Patch Rulers? But, I digress...please enjoy using the partial seam trick to make the Mayberry Square block.

quilt block partial seams

Learn Your Lines—Nine Patch Lines, that is!

The lines on all 7 sizes of our Nine Patch Rulers perform the same job. If you know how to use the lines on one Nine Patch Ruler, you know how to use them all.

2ʺ, 4ʺ, 5ʺ and 8ʺ are not easily divided by 3—We’ve done the math for you and added 1/2ʺ for seam allowances! Accurate 1/4ʺ seam allowances are included where needed—one strip, 3 strips, fussy cut squares, and finished size.

Finished Size	ProductNumber
2ʺ	7111
3ʺ	7101
4ʺ	7102
4-1/2ʺ	7112
5ʺ	7103
6ʺ	7104
8ʺ	7105

Measure strip width “the Marti Way.”

Measure strip width “the Marti Way.” Cut these strips on lengthwise grain wherever possible!

Use the outside edge to measure strip width, and cut squares the size of your finished Nine Patch block.

Use the upper right square to fussy-cut one square for this size Nine Patch block.

Use the upper right square to fussy-cut one square for this size Nine Patch block. Also cut individual squares for this size Nine Patch, and even measure strip width.

These lines also measure “second cut” of 3 strips. Horizontal lines are positioned on the seams.

Use the center square and outside edge to confirm size of completed Nine Patch. Use outside edge to true up block and nip corners and to position the template for fussy-cutting a square the size of your Nine Patch.

Use the center square and outside edge to confirm size of completed Nine Patch.