Red Cross Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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The Red Cross quilt block is constructed with basic quilting techniques. A sweet design for a beginning quilter.

Simple. Quick.

Just squares and rectangles to stitch. No bias to mess around with!

In this tutorial you'll find:

A cutting chart in four sizes with downloads of the chart and block design

A coloring page to download and print

Step-by-step illustrated instructions

An idea for using in a quilt

No time to quilt? Pin this for later.

It's time to cut up and sew!

General Instructions

If you need help printing this page, you'll find it here.

Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:

SA - seam allowance

RST - right sides together

BAC - background fabric, it can be any value

1/4" SA are used through this tutorial.

Pressing instructions are highlighted in yellow throughout this tutorial to make them easy to find.

When instructed to press, first press the patches in the closed position just as they came off your sewing machine. This sets the seam, melding the fiber in the threads into the fiber of the fabric.

Then press the SA to the dark unless otherwise noted.

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Step 1: Cut patches for a Red Cross block

Red Cross block design

Sample Block Size: 7-1/2" finished / 8" unfinished

Grid: 5x5

Attribution:Nancy Page

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, large center

Please label your patches. We refer to their numbers throughout this tutorial.

To print a copy of just the block design and the cutting chart (below) to use at your cutting table, click here.

NOTE: I've starched all my fabrics before cutting with a 50/50 mix of Sta Flo concentrated liquid starch and water.

Learn how to starch your fabrics here.

			Cutting Chart for a Red Cross Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
Patch	Fabric	Qty	5''	7 1/2''	10''	15''
1	BAC	4	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
2	A	6	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
3	A	1	1½'' x 3½''	2'' x 5''	2½'' x 6½''	3½'' x 9½''
4	BAC	4	1½'' x 3½''	2'' x 5''	2½'' x 6½''	3½'' x 9½''
Unfinished Block Size			5 1/2''	8''	10 1/2''	15 1/2''
Grid Size			1''	1 1/2''	2''	3''

Step 2: Assemble the units for a Red Cross

Center

Make 1

With RST, stitch a #1 to two opposite sides of a #2.

Patches for the center arranged and ready to stitch.

Seam allowances can be pressed open or towards the dark, the choice is up to you. None of the seams in this center unit nest with any other.

Sweet and simple!

For this sample block I've chosen to press towards the darker 'A' fabric (#2 patch).

With RST stitch a #1/#2/#1 unit to each long side of the center #3.

Press towards the #3 patch to reduce any bulk.

Your center is complete.

Block Measurement at this Point
Finished Block Size	Edge-to-Edge Measurement
5"	3-1/2" x 3-1/2"
7-1/2"	5" x 5"
10"	6-1/2" x 6-1/2"
15"	9-1/2" x 9-1/2"

Sides

Make 2

Construct just 2 of this unit.

With RST sew a #2 to both short sides of a #4.

Make 2

Press SAs toward #4 to help the seams nest as the units are added to the center.

Step 3: Assemble the Red Cross block

Arrange the center, sides and remaining two #4's to create the Red Cross design.

Add a #4 rectangle to two opposite sides of the center. Stitch.

Press the SA toward #4 to reduce bulk.

Add the #2/#4/#2 pieced sides as shown below. The SA nest at the corners.

Press this last pair of seams away from the center.

Our Red Cross is complete!

Using the Red Cross block in a quilt

A simple block.

So what do Red Cross blocks look like set into a quilt?

To separate the blocks, a simple sashing strip in white and a red cornerstone are added. (The center of the 9-patch that's formed is the cornerstone.) The only thing to match in the construction of this quilt are at the corners of the sashing.

The blocks are laid out in a straight set, 5 across and 7 down.

I've removed the block outlines from this drawing so that you can better see the quilt design.

What will you make with your Red Cross blocks?

Return to the Free Quilt Block Pattern Library for more blocks to make.

What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 215+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes: