In the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, sewing was more than just a chore—it was a way of life. Ma, Mary, and Laura all spent long evenings stitching quilts by hand, often by candlelight or firelight, using scraps of old clothing to create warm, beautiful, and practical covers for their beds. Patchwork quilting, especially in simple patterns like the nine-patch, was a common pioneer skill and often one of the first sewing projects young girls learned.
Now, it’s your turn to step into Laura’s shoes and design your own nine-patch quilt square—inspired by the colors, patterns, and pioneer spirit of the Little House series!
About the Nine-Patch Quilt Design
The nine-patch quilt is one of the oldest and simplest quilt block designs in American history. It’s made up of nine equal squares—three rows of three—and is a perfect introduction to the art of quilting. Ma and Laura would have used recycled fabric scraps, dyed cloth, and hand-sewn stitches to assemble their designs.
In this activity, you can color, decorate, or collage your own version of a pioneer-era nine-patch block!
What You’ll Need
Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
Optional: Fabric scraps, glue, or patterned paper
Imagination and creativity!
And of course—our free printable quilt template!
Activity Instructions
Download and print the template:
📄 [Download the free quilt block printable – Little House Books Design Your Own Patchwork Quilt]Think like Laura:
What kinds of colors and patterns might she have used? Consider soft prairie colors like dusty rose, sky blue, butter yellow, deep brown, or gingham patterns.Design your own quilt square:
Use the nine-patch format to create your pattern. You can color each square a different color or repeat patterns symmetrically like a real quilter.Optional advanced version:
Cut fabric or patterned paper into squares and glue them onto the template to create a true patchwork effect.Name your quilt:
Many pioneer quilts had meaningful names like Log Cabin, Star of Bethlehem, or Flying Geese. What would you name yours?
Educational Tie-In
This activity is inspired by scenes from:
Little House in the Big Woods – where Ma and the girls sew clothing and quilts for winter
The Long Winter – when Laura helps sew by hand during the months they are snowed in
These Happy Golden Years – when Laura works as a seamstress and prepares items for her hope chest
It’s a wonderful companion project for:
Literature units on the Little House series
Homeschool history lessons about pioneer life and textile crafts
Art projects focusing on folk design and early American traditions
Download the free printable quilt template here: Little House Books Design Your Own Patchwork Quilt
