Hive 2 Tutorial for February: modified disappearing nine patch

This month we're going to make a modified disappearing nine patch block.  We'll be using mostly whites, greys, and blacks with a splash of color.

Fabric

Ideally, you would use all solids.  I really love solid quilts.  If you don't have enough solids, try to use fabric with as little obvious print as possible.

Colors: choose at least two (although ideally four to eight) colors in the white-grey-black spectrum.  Also choose one color to add a pop of color to the block.  For the color, think jewel tones.  Please no pinks, pastels, or darker hues.  I have plenty of solids, so I found eight different hues but you really don't need that many.  Cut at total of 9 squares that are all 4.5" x 4.5".

After cutting, split the eight white-grey-black squares in two groups - light and dark.  Take what you have and split them as you think best, even if they're really all on the dark side or all on the light side.  You'll need either 1) three light squares and five dark squares, 2) four light squares and four dark squares, or 3) five light squares and three dark squares.  I split mine as four by four.

Arrangement

Depending on which grouping you decided on above (1, 2, or 3), the arrangement will be slightly different...

If you chose option number 1 above (three light squares and five dark squares), arrange them so that the five dark squares are in the center and corners.  Put the three light squares and the colored square on the sides.

If you chose number 2 above (four and four) the colored square will be in a corner (or center) and put one group on the sides and one group in the other corners/center.

If you chose number three above (five light and three dark), put the light squares in the corners and center.  Put the three dark squares and the colored square on the sides.

Sewing

Sew as a standard nine patch: sew the rows together, press as desired so that the seams nest when you sew the rows together, and then sew the rows together.

Cut the nine patch as shown below.  The location of the colored block does not matter.  Make two cuts around one seam, 1 3/4" on either side.

Take the middle strip out and rotate 180 degrees and put it on the opposite side of the widest strip.  Sew the pieces back together.  I found it helpful to re-iron some of the seams so that you can nest the seams easily.  

Press the last seams as desired.  The final size of the block will be 12.5" x 11.5".