Cross-Stitched Quilt Block // Technique Tutorial Tuesdays

This post is part of the Technique Tutorial Tuesdays Series. Click here to see all of the posts and learn more about the series. Yesterday I shared the Cross-Stitched Heart Quilt that I made for my swap partner. I took photos for a tutorial while I was working on it thinking it would be fun for this series, and based on feedback from yesterday I decided to make it the first technique tutorial.

The Tutorial

Checkout the revised version of this tutorial here.

This week we will be making a Cross-Stitch block. Now really this is just an X block, but the reason I am calling it a "Cross-Stitch" is that this little block can be used to act as a cross-stitch in a much greater pattern. It finishes at 3" and then 2.5" when sewn into a quilt. In the Cross-Stitched Heart Quilt I used these blocks to make a cross-stitched heart. The possibilities with this block are really endless, you could use them to create any words and shapes or even follow cross-stitch patterns like this…

Mid Century Modern "Love Heart"pattern by tinymodernist

or even something like this…

Sampler Motif by crossstitch.about.com

Here is what I had made…

Material/Cutting List (for 1 Block)

• 1 - 4.5" x 1.5" piece of fabric (used for X)
• 2 - 2" x 1.5" pieces of fabric (used for X)
• 2 - 1.75" square pieces of fabric (used for background)

Lets Begin

We will be using 1/4" seam allowance and pressing ALL seams open.

• Step 1: Cut out the fabric per the Material/Cutting List above.
• Step 2: Cut all the 1.75" squares in half to create two identical triangles.
• Step 3: Lay the pieces out using the photo as a guide for how they will be sewn.
• Step 4: Place the first triangle on one of the 2" x 1.5" pieces, lining the top of the triangle up with the edge that will be closest to the center of the X.
• Step 5: Sew the triangle in place.
• Step 6: Finger press your seam OPEN.

• Step 7: Lay the next triangle out on the same 2"x 1.5" piece and repeat steps 4, 5, and 6.
• Step 8: You should now have a 2" x 1.5" piece that has two triangle "wings". Lay that piece on top of your 4.5" x 1.4" piece centering it in place. Sew in place.
• Step 9: Finger press your seam open.
• Step 10: Lay the next winged piece on top and just as in step 8 and sew in place.
• Step 11: First finger press your block with seams open, and then lightly press with a hot iron and starch.
• Step 12: Using a 3” ruler, line up the 1.5" mark on the ruler with the exact center of your X and trim the block to a perfect 3".

You now have an exact X block that should be 3" x 3" and after sewn into a quilt will be 2.5" square!

This is a fun easy block to make. I can't wait to see what you make with it. I would really love it if you would share your projects at the Pile O' Fabric Flickr group!

Alyssa