Quilt block · Nine-patch · Intermediate
Scottish Cross quilt block
Four hourglass units sit around a light cross, framed by background strips with medium corner pieces.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
2 strips, 6 side pieces, 2 squares and 8 hourglass triangles
- G2 squares 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D2 rectangles 2″ × 1½″
- E2 squares 1½″
- C2 rectangles 3½″ × 1″
- B4 rectangles 1½″ × 1″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 hourglass triangles
- G2 squares 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 corner strips
- A4 rectangles 2″ × 1″
- B4 rectangles 1½″ × 1″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
3 cross pieces
- F1 rectangle 3½″ × 1½″
- E2 squares 1½″
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
2 strips, 6 side pieces, 2 squares and 8 hourglass triangles
- G2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D2 rectangles 2¾″ × 2″
- E2 squares 2″
- C2 rectangles 5″ × 1¼″
- B4 rectangles 2″ × 1¼″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 hourglass triangles
- G2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 corner strips
- A4 rectangles 2¾″ × 1¼″
- B4 rectangles 2″ × 1¼″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
3 cross pieces
- F1 rectangle 5″ × 2″
- E2 squares 2″
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
2 strips, 6 side pieces, 2 squares and 8 hourglass triangles
- G2 squares 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D2 rectangles 3½″ × 2½″
- E2 squares 2½″
- C2 rectangles 6½″ × 1½″
- B4 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 hourglass triangles
- G2 squares 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 corner strips
- A4 rectangles 3½″ × 1½″
- B4 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
3 cross pieces
- F1 rectangle 6½″ × 2½″
- E2 squares 2½″
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 sections, 1″ × 2½″
Sew a Medium B rectangle and a Background B rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1″ × 2½″ (½″ × 2″ finished).
- Make 4 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Dark G and Background G triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 1½″ × 2½″
Sew a Background E square and a Light E square together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1½″ × 2½″ (1″ × 2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 sections, 1¼″ × 3½″
Sew a Medium B rectangle and a Background B rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1¼″ × 3½″ (¾″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 4 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Dark G and Background G triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 2″ × 3½″
Sew a Background E square and a Light E square together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2″ × 3½″ (1½″ × 3″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 sections, 1½″ × 4½″
Sew a Medium B rectangle and a Background B rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1½″ × 4½″ (1″ × 4″ finished).
- Make 4 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Dark G and Background G triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 2½″ × 4½″
Sew a Background E square and a Light E square together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2½″ × 4½″ (2″ × 4″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 12 × 12 grid lands on the ⅛″ marks at 6″, 9″ and 12″, so every piece measures with a ruler at all three. It also cuts cleanly at 15″ and 18″. In Quarter Inch you can make it any size, and it says when a cut falls between the lines.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 9 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I), each sewn on its own paper in order and then joined with straight seams. In Quarter Inch, the Foundations tab prints its papers at true size (with Quilter).
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an intermediate block: 37 pieces in 7 different shapes and 20 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.