Sowing Stitches: Calico Dots and Gingham Quilting Bee

Greek Cross

I decided to go 'simple' for this bee block..thinking 'simple' is best for putting the fabrics in the spotlight. Then, I fell in love with this block, (Greek Cross). The block makes up fast with nice clean lines and the fabrics just sing! I'm pretty sure that the next baby quilt I make, the Greek Cross will be my block of choice.

Below you will find the tutorial for this fun little block.

You will need the following:
2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch rectangle template
4 3/4 inch square rectangle template
4 1/2 inch square rectangle template
scissors or rotary cutter
pencil
ruler
iron
pins

Fabric: 3 different pieces:For this bee I selected: calico, dots, gingham

Creating the block:Cutting the fabric you will need to cut and place pieces by unit.

Fabrics stacked and ready to assemble

Cut 1 calico 4 1/2 in square [for center]


Unit #1 creates 4 
Cut 4 calico 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch rectangles
Cut 4 gingham 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch rectanglesUse 1/4 inch seam, press open

Unit #2 creates 4
Cut 2 gingham 4 3/4 inch squares
Cut 2 dots 4 3/4 inch squares

Place facing fronts together using one gingham and one dot fabrics, draw a diagonal line corner to corner then stitch 1/4 inch from the line on each side. After you've stitched 1/4 seams on both sides of the drawn line, cut along line to create two completed units.

Unit 2

Units ready to layout

Ready set Row! Using 1/4 inch seams.

Press seams open.

Why I press seams open. It's a simple tribute to my grandmother who taught me to sew when I was only 4. I have tried over the years to press towards dark or gasp even avoiding the process all together. I just can't, so help me, press my seams any other way than with a hot dry iron pressing the seams open and flipping and pressing the seams from the front as well.

Almost done! There are only 2 remaining seams! I told you this was a quick and easy block. :)
Now for this step, I pin! I'd rather take the few seconds to pin matching seams than to dig out the seam ripper dealing with drifting stitches. I think it might take a total of 45 seconds to pin the rows together matching seams.

Pin matching seams! This prevents drifting stitches!!

Press open your row seams and ta~da! You have a brand new Greek Cross quilt block.


Enjoy!
Happy Quilting!
with love as always,
Carol a.k.a. Beulah