Drafting for the Creative Quilter

GRID-BASEDBLOCkS 11

Five-Patch Drafting

Category
The 5-patch family is different in
that the square is divided into a
5 × 5 grid formation, or 25 equal
divisions, not into 5 pieces. The
square can, however, be divided as
explained with 4-patch and 9-patch,
for example, into 100 equal divisions
(10 × 10 grid formation). The total
number of equal divisions is divisible
by 5, and the divisions are multiples
of 5.

5 × 5 grid formation; 25 equal divisions

10 × 10 grid formation;

100 equal divisions

Seven-Patch Drafting

Category
The 7-patch family is similar to the
5-patch in that the square is not
divided into 7 pieces but rather into
a 7 × 7 grid formation with 49 equal
divisions, or into a 14 × 14 grid
formation with 196 equal divisions.
The total number of equal divisions
is divisible by 7, and the divisions are
multiples of 7.

7 × 7 grid formation; 49 equal divisions

14 × 14 grid formation;

196 equal divisions

How to Determine

the Underlying Grid

Formation

Remember that a grid formation

is based on equal-sized squares. To

help recognize and determine into

which grid formation a block falls,

try one or more of the following

options.

123

Option 1: Count the number

of equal divisions across the top

or side edge of a block.

12 34

Option 2: Count the number of equal

divisions along an edge-to-edge seam.

12345678

Option 3: Identify the

smallest piece and count.

12345678910

Option 4: Follow equidistant

intersections, although they

may not be in the same row.

Once the square has been drawn

and divided into the appropriate

grid formation (5 × 5, 6 × 6, 8 × 8,

7 × 7, etc.), the design is drafted by

referencing your photo or sketch

as you connect corners and mid-

points, drawing lines to previous

intersections or erasing lines over

the grid. This creates shapes such

as rectangles, triangles, parallelo-

grams, trapezoids, and diamonds

that are superimposed over the grid.

Nothing is random or arbitrary.

Erase all unneeded lines so that

the remaining lines are seamlines.

Shapes can occupy the space of only

one grid or of multiple grids. Larger

shapes are often the size of multiples

of the smallest shape.

Square with grid formation

Design superimposed over grid

Seamlines remain.

Center square occupies

(and is the size of) three grids.