QAF Block of the Month

February 2006

Red Cross

10 1/2" (unfinished)10" (finished)

QAF's February Block of the Month continues the traditional path with another easy block called Red Cross. Barbara Brackman's "Encyclopedia of Quilt Blocks" says that Nancy Page is the contributor of this pattern. Nancy Page is the name of the quilt column written by Florence LaGanke Harris, whose Nancy Page columns began in 1928, some of which were published in newspapers all over the country. This pattern is undated, but you can be sure it is an old standard.

Since we have been swapping batiks a lot lately, and I am sure you have lovely white fabrics left over from last month's BOM, that is what we will use for this Red Cross block.

You will need ONE batik and ONE good white fabric, such as Kona Cotton White or good-quality bleached muslin for this block. The batik can be a print, but should be tone on tone. You may use any bright colored batik.

Helpful notions for making this block are your 6 1/2" square-up ruler, and your 12 1/2" square-up ruler.

Please feel free to open or join a discussion on the forum about the fabrics and where to buy them, or about the notions, or any other aspect of making your BOM blocks.

This block is so easy to make, and I hope you will make many to enter. You may make up to 3 of each batik to enter for the Block of the Month drawing.

This would be a good and easy block to use to make a two-color quilt, as well.

Cut for each block:

To Assemble Block:

Lay out all your pieces for the block to match the picture of the block, above. Starting with the '9-patch' in the center, stitch the two white squares to either side of the batik square. Do this for twice. Press to the batik. Lay those pieced patches back into your block layout.

Now, starting with the center '9-patch' stitch the two pieced strips to the center batik strip. Press to the batik strip. At this point, square this center 'block' up to 6 1/2", using your handy 6 1/2" square-up ruler. This is an important step in making sure your block will measure 10 1/2" square when you are finished. Place that little pieced block back into the center of your block layout.

Now stitch the top and bottom strips onto the center block. Press all your seams to the center. Now stitch a batik square to the top and bottom of the two outside white 'border' pieces, pressing them to the batik. Sew these two strips to the sides of the block and press to the outside. Square up your block to 10 1/2", using your larger square-up ruler and you are done!!!

Here is a simple setting idea, but there are many ways you could set these blocks, alone or with other blocks for secondary patterns.