SUDOKU QUILTS

          Sudoku puzzles have been around for quite a few years; the modern version invented by Howard Garns in 1979 and published as "Number Place" in Dell Magazines. These logic puzzles became very popular in Japan in 1986, then became an international craze in 2005.      

     So, what are these unique and addictive puzzles? They are logic-based puzzles that center around the placement of the numbers 1 to 9. These numbers are laid out in a 9x9 grid, made up of three 3x3 grids, with no number repeating itself in any 3x3 grid, or on any one line, or in any one column. To put this into "quilting" language, the grid is set up like a nine-patch block! In each "block" are the numbers 1 to 9, too (visualize this as nine different fabrics or colors). So, in order to solve this puzzle (which the person providing the puzzle always gives a partial piece of the puzzle to get one started), close attention needs to be paid to each 3x3 grid, and each row (9 squares wide) and each column (also 9 squares). Just as the numbers cannot be repeated in the 3x3 grid, row, or column, nor can the fabrics/colors be repeated in the 3x3 grid, row, column. Clear as mud? Let me illustrate this with a bright, cheery Sudoku quilt made by Nina from Iowa, which she donated to the "Comforting Virginia" Project this week via the Quilting Passion Forum.  Nina used a finished puzzle as the pattern to where to place the colors in this gorgeous quilt.

      The first thing to notice about this type of quilt is that it is easily recognizable as a large nine-patch. Each 3x3 block is separated in this quilt by a thin black sashing (1" strips), distinguishing the quilt even more. Black is a long-time standard that has been used in puzzles, first beginning with crosswords, however, any color sashing can be used... or no sashing at all. In this quilt, however, the sashing really highlights the color and fabric selections that Nina has used.      

     The second thing you might notice is that each 3x3 block consists of nine different colors and/or fabrics. After studying one of the 3x3 grids, then notice that the other eight blocks are entirely different, each from the other, so that all nine blocks in the quilt are unique in color placement. This not only holds true for each block, it also then follows to hold true for each row and each column.  Nina did not really pay attention when assigning her fabrics/colors to each number.  She states, "I just went for it, not caring about it until it was done".

      How does one go about planning a Sudoku Quilt? There are several ways to accomplish this, including, but not limited to:

 

	Locate a quilt and substitute your own colors/fabrics in place of the ones in the sample you find.
	Purchase a Sudoku Puzzle book and select any one of a number of puzzles. I like this option the best because your quilt can range from "easy" to "very difficult", because puzzles are published in different levels of complexity (Nina's quilt was ranked 4 out of 5 stars in difficulty).
	Purchase a Sudoku Quilt pattern. These are becoming so popular now that there are patterns, and even entire books, devoted to these quilts.

        A few resources for finding Sudoku Quilt patterns at this time include:
 

	Sudoku Quilts by Cyndi Hershey,
	Quick Quilts Magazine,
	Online Sudoku Puzzles.

       Do you have any Sudoku projects to share ?  If so, comments are appreciated and may be left regarding this article on Quilting By Design.

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