Assembling Cross-Stitch Quilt Blocks

by Jan Burch
Cross-stitch embroidery creates a charming embellishment for clothing and home accessories.


The challenge when assembling cross-stitch quilt blocks is to highlight the designs while making a distinction between the blocks, which you usually embroider on similar background fabric. The solution is to separate the blocks with narrow bands of a contrasting fabric, called sashing. Choose sashing fabric in a solid color that complements the cross-stitch designs. The finished quilt top shows off the cross-stitch blocks with an attractive framed effect.


Press the cross-stitched quilt blocks face-down on a folded towel on top of an ironing board. Pressing on top of the towel will keep the embroidery stitches from flattening.


Stack and measure the quilt blocks to check that they're all the same size. Using a quilting ruler, rotary cutter and mat, trim the blocks as needed to ensure that the corners are square, and the heights and widths are identical.


Lay the blocks out in rows on a flat surface, such a bed, floor or design wall. A typical arrangement with 20 blocks might be four blocks wide by five blocks high, or five rows of four blocks each. If the blocks have different designs, move them around until you're pleased with the arrangement.


Cut vertical sashing strips, each as long as the height of the arranged blocks. The width of the strips should equal your desired sashing width plus 1/2 inch. For example, if you want 2-inch-wide sashing, cut the strips 2 1/2 inches wide. For each row, you will need one less strip than the number of blocks in the row. For example, use three strips for a four-block row. For a quilt with five rows of four blocks each, you will need a total of 15 vertical strips.


Pin the long edge of a sashing strip to the inside edge of the first block in the first row, right sides together. Sew a 1/4-inch seam along this edge, and press the seam open. Pin the second edge of the strip to the next block; stitch a 1/4-inch seam, and press open. Repeat to join the blocks of the first row, and then repeat to join the blocks in all of the rows.


Cut horizontal sashing strips equal to length of the joined rows of blocks. The number of strips you will need equals one less than the number of rows. For example, use four strips for five rows of blocks.


Pin a long edge of one strip to the bottom edge of the first row, right sides facing. Stitch a 1/4-inch seam, and press the seam open. Pin the remaining long edge of the strip to the top edge of the second row of blocks. Take care to align the rows so that the vertical seams match precisely. Stitch a horizontal 1/4-inch seam and press open. Repeat until all the rows are joined.


Cut two sashing strips equal to the vertical height of the joined rows. Pin the strips to the outer vertical edges of the block panel, right sides facing. Stitch 1/4-inch seams and press open. Cut two more strips equal to the width of the block panel, including the outer sashing strips. Pin the strips to the top and bottom edges of the panel, right sides facing. Stitch 1/4-inch seams and press the seams open.

Things You Will Need

  • Bath towel
  • Ironing board
  • Iron
  • Quilting-weight cotton fabric
  • Quilting ruler
  • Rotary cutter
  • Cutting mat
  • Straight pins
  • Sewing machine and thread


  • Spread a flat sheet on top of a bed or the floor to make a clean surface for laying out the blocks. If you need to interrupt the work before all of the blocks are joined, you can roll up the sheet and remaining blocks to store them.
  • If you don't have a rotary cutter and mat, draw the sashing strips with a washable fabric marker and cut with scissors.
  • After the all the blocks and sashing strips are joined, you can add borders in the same way as the outer sashing strips. Borders can be 2 to 5 times as wide as the sashing strips, and can use printed fabrics to complement the design of the quilt.
  • Complete the quilt with batting, backing and stitching -- the same as for any other quilt. Quilting stitches should be simple so they don't detract from the cross-stitch designs. For example, stitch around the blocks 1/4 -inch from the sashing. Quilting patterns can be used in the borders, if desired.

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