Assembling Cross Stitch Quilt Blocks

Cross stitch squares can be assembled into a special quilt top.

Quilts with cross stitch blocks come and go in popularity within the quilting community, but their handmade charm remains. The extra work involved in embroidering these quilt blocks shows that the quilter truly cares about her work and the recipient of the quilt being created. Many of these quilts are destined for new babies or newlywed couples. Create a cross stitch quilt classic, and you may have an heirloom for decades to come.

Things You'll Need

• Cross stitch blocks
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Background fabric
• Pins
• Sewing machine or needle and thread

Instructions

1. Lay out your quilt blocks to decide how you want them arranged in the quilt top. Many blocks have a theme, so you might keep that in mind when arranging them.

2. Measure your quilt block. The size of the embroidered blocks will determine the size of the background fabric pieces. Subtract 1/2 inch from the total for seam allowances.

3. Take the size of your quilt blocks and divide by four. This will be the size of your background strips, plus the 1/2 inch seam allowance. For example, if your blocks are 12 1/2 inches square, subtract 1/2 inch for the seam allowance. This leaves 12. Divide by four and you are left with 3 inches. Add the seam allowance, and you will need strips 3 1/2 inches wide.

4. Cut strips of your background fabric the required width. Make the strips as long as your fabric is wide. You will cut the length of the strips as you attach them.

5. Pin together one strip and one quilt block, right sides together. Pin the strip to one side of the block, not the top or bottom. Sew this strip onto the block. When the strip is secure, fold the two pieces of fabric together and cut the strip so that it is the same length as the block.

6. Pin the side of a second block to the other side of the background strip. Sew this seam to secure the two fabrics together. You will now have two quilt blocks, connected by a strip of background fabric.

7. Continue adding strips and blocks in this manner until you have connected all of the blocks that you have chosen for the first row.

8. Connect the remaining blocks in rows until you have used all of the blocks.

9. Sew one background fabric strip to the bottom of the first row of connected blocks. Trim this strip to the same length as the connected row after you have sewn this together. Sew the second row of connected blocks to the strip sewn to the first row. You now have two rows connected by a background strip.

10. Continue adding rows until you have connected all of the rows into one quilt top.

11. Cut strips of background fabric the same width as your original block measurement. If you measured 12 1/2 inch blocks, the strips will be 12 1/2 inches wide. These will be the border strips on your quilt.

12. Sew one border strip to the top of the quilt, trimming off the strip at the end to measure the same length as this edge. Sew another border strip to the bottom of the quilt, trimming the strip the same way.

13. Sew border strips to the sides of the quilt top, beginning with the border fabric from the top edge and continuing down the side edge until you reach the end of the bottom border. This will create a rectangle or square design, to finish your top.

References

• Quilter's Review: How Do I Add Sashing to My Blocks?