Free Pattern - Hot Cross Quilt Block

Today let's sew together this traditional quilt block called Hot Cross. I assume it's named after hot cross buns but that's only a guess! It looks more difficult than it is so let's get started!

Fabric Requirements:

• Medium 1/Pink: 4 - 1.25" squares, and 8 - 1.25" x 9" rectangles
• Medium 2/Blue: 4 - 3” squares, and 2 - 6" squares cut in half diagonally for a total of 8 triangles
• Dark/Black: 5 - 1.25" squares, 4 - 1.25" x 3" rectangles, 4 - 1.25" x 3.75" rectangles, and 4 - 1.25" x 9" rectangles

Sewing Directions:

Step 1:

Strip Sets:

Using the picture below as a reference, sew together a Medium 1/Pink 1.25” x 9” rectangle, a Dark/Black 1.25” x 9” rectangle, and another Medium 1/Pink 1.25” x 9” rectangle along the long sides.  

Step 2:

Press seam allowances toward the Dark/Black strip as shown below. The strip set should measure 2.75” in width.  Repeat for a total of 4 strip sets.  Square up one short end – the other end will be trimmed off later.

Step 3:

Nine-Patch Center:

Using the picture below as a reference, arrange 5 Dark/Black 1.25” squares and 4 Medium 1/Pink 1.25” squares in a nine-patch pattern.  Sew the squares into rows. Press seam allowances toward the Dark/Black fabric. Sew the rows together. 

Step 4:

Press seam allowances toward the outside of the patch as shown in the picture below. You can find my tutorial on making the Nine-Patch block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-nine-patch-quilt-block

Step 5:

Triangle Unit:

Using the picture below as a reference, sew a Dark/Black 1.25” x 3” rectangle to one side of a Medium 2/Blue 3” square.  

Step 6:

Press seam allowance toward the Dark/Black rectangle as shown below.  

Step 7:

Using the picture below as a reference, sew a Dark/Black 1.25” x 3.75” rectangle to an adjacent side of the Step 5 unit.  

Step 8:

Press seam allowance toward the Dark/Black rectangle as shown below.  

Step 9:

Using the picture below as a reference, sew a Medium 2/Blue triangle to the Step 7 unit.  

Step 10:

Press seam allowance toward the Medium 2/Blue triangle as shown in the picture below.  

Step 11:

Using the picture below as a reference, sew a Medium 2/Blue triangle to the Step 9 unit.  Repeat Steps 5 through 11 to make a total of 4 Triangle Units.

Step 12:

Press seam allowance toward the Medium 2/Blue triangle as shown in the picture below.  

Step 13:

Using the picture below as a reference, sew one Step 12 unit to each side of a Step 1 unit, aligning the edges as shown and taking care that the Dark/Black strips line up in the same spot on each side of the Step 1 unit.  

Step 14:

Press seam allowance toward the center as shown in the picture below. Repeat for a total of 2 units.

Step 15:

Using Diagram 8 as a reference, sew one Step 1 unit to opposite sides of a Step 3 unit.  

Step 16:

Press seam allowance away from the Step 3 unit as shown below.

Putting It All Together:

Step 17:

Sew one Step 13 unit to each side of a Step 15 unit as shown in the picture below.  

Step 18:

Press seam allowances toward the center as shown below.

Step 19:

Square up the Hot Cross quilt block, trimming off excess but making sure to leave a .25” seam allowance so you don't lose your points. In a perfect world, the block will measure 12.5” square.  

In Conclusion: 

While this Hot Cross block is not a beginner block, it is not too difficult either. Just take your time and it will turn out great! This should be stunning in a quilt - diagonal strips and diamond shapes. I'll have to make up some layouts of this block on the computer and share them with you.

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. I have a placemat pattern that uses this block which you can find at https://www.etsy.com/listing/846138834/x-marks-the-spot-placemat-pdf-quilt