Diving into your scrap stash can be fun but also a little overwhelming if you don’t know what you want to do with it. One of my favorite quilt blocks to make with my scraps is the nine-patch block. It can be made from small squares and comes together so quickly with some chain piecing!

Now, none of these are official layouts (& all of the names I made up as I went), but I had some fun playing around with them & I hope that they can spark some creativity for you to start using up that stash! Each one can be made from any size squares. For guidance in calculating how many blocks you will need to create depending on your square size, check out my blog post Create Your Own Scrappy Quilt.

1. Super Scrappy

If you are wanting a completely scrappy quilt, this is your block! Have fun with it and make your nine patch blocks at complete random. For the final layout, I suggest adding in alternating squares of neutral fabric that are the same size as your blocks so that you can show off each one. 

2. Color in Corners

If you feel overloaded with low volume or neutral scraps, try out this layout! For each block you would need:

1 square – color family one

1 square – color family two

7 squares – low volume or neutral

3. Inside Out

This block is best paired (in my opinion) with a complementing block that has the opposite layout. For each block you would need:

1 middle square

9 outside squares

4. Cross

This is a very common nine patch block layout and an easy way to use up a bunch of scraps from the same color family! For each block you would need:

5 squares – color family one

4 squares – low volume or neutral

5. Corner Covers

Like the Color in Corners layout, but you have a bit more of an equal stash? Try this layout & see what happens when you rotate the blocks! For each block you would need:

3 squares – color family one

3 squares – color family two 

3 squares – low volume or neutral

6. Cross with Colored Corners

A fun a spin to the standard cross that you see in nine patch blocks. For each block you would need:

2 squares – color family one

4 squares – color family two

3 squares – low volume or neutral

7. Inside Out Cross

Another fun play on the cross nine patch that we so often see. If you aren’t one with an abundance of low volume scraps, this one is for you! For each block you would need:

4 squares – color family one

4 squares – color family two

1 square – low volume or neutral

8. Diagonal

Create multiple blocks in the same color family or blocks of every color. When laying them out, make sure to rotate for a fun design. For each block you would need:

3 squares – color family one

6 squares – low volume or neutral

9. X

Real creative name, huh? This block can be as simple or scrappy as you would like. It is another block that I would recommend alternating with squares of the same size for your layout. For each block you would need:

5 squares – color family one

4 squares – low volume or neutral

Don’t forget, if you need any guidance in calculating how many blocks or squares you need for a certain size quilt, check out Create Your Own Scrappy Quilt.