Cross Design Quilt Block 

Design 03

Cross Quilt Blocks are blocks that have a cross shape as the most dominant feature.  This is usually obtained by subdividing some of the patches into rectangles. 

As you can see from the picture on the left, this cross style block is a 4-patch, that has been further divided into 16 patches. 

The center square covers 4 patches, and is twice the size of the corner blocks.  If you choose to make each patch finish at 2 inches, than the center is cut 4 1/2 inches to finish at 4 inches.

The degree of difficulty with this block is the rectangles.  The rectangles take up the space of 2 patches, but the darker stripes are thinner than the white stripes.

You need to calculate a combination of 3 wider light strips with 2 dark stripes that will finish at 4 inches.  One easy calculation is to make the 3 light strips finish at one inch.  You now have one inch left over for the dark strips.  Since you need two of them, they will finish at 1/2 inch.

If you don't like the proportions,  you can make minor adjustments.

You always have to be careful with cross style blocks.  See Cross Design 01 for a few design tips for blocks with crosses.

Notice in the picture below how well the Sawtooth, another 4-patch quilt block, looks with the 4-patch Cross Block.  The Churndash, a 9-patch block,  doesn't match as well.

Quilting Inspiration