Quilt block · Seven-patch · Advanced
White Cross quilt block
A border of large half-square triangles frames a dark square with a background X of squares set on point.
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
52 squares and 72 triangles
- A72 squares 1″then cut with template A
- B52 squares 1″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
72 squares and 72 triangles
- A72 squares 1″then cut with template A
- B72 squares 1″then cut with template B
Between the lines. White Cross cuts cleanly at 3½″ or 7″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ³⁄₇″, so they need templates.
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
52 squares and 72 triangles
- A72 squares 1¼″then cut with template A
- B52 squares 1¼″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
72 squares and 72 triangles
- A72 squares 1¼″then cut with template A
- B72 squares 1¼″then cut with template B
Between the lines. White Cross cuts cleanly at 7″ or 10½″. At 9″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ⁹⁄₁₄″, so they need templates.
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
52 squares and 72 triangles
- A72 squares 1½″then cut with template A
- B52 squares 1⅜″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
72 squares and 72 triangles
- A72 squares 1½″then cut with template A
- B72 squares 1⅜″then cut with template B
Between the lines. White Cross cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 14″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ⁶⁄₇″, so they need templates.
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 72 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 14 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 14 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 14 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 72 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 14 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 14 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 14 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 72 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 14 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 14 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 14 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
More like this: Seven-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 14 × 14 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 14″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 14 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M and N), 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 advanced block: 268 pieces in 2 different shapes and 68 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.