Wonky cross blocks

Hmmm, I reckon this is 'getting there'.  It's slow progress as I keep getting diverted into working on other sewing projects.  But I made the blocks for the border today, so it's inching forward.  

Today was a lot milder a day that I'd banked on.  That's the thing about March.  One day you're bundled up in layers of jumpers and a Big Winter Coat, the next you're peeling off a layer and feeling a bit of a Sweaty Betty.  Oh well, there's snowy icy weather forecast for this week, so the mildness won't be hanging around for long.  

I've bought the two still-small fig trees in pots into the conservatory, so they don't get damaged by the cold, and shut the lemon verbena pots in the closed-up cold frame.  You see, I've learned my lesson from leaving the lemon tree outside in December/January.  It's once lovely green leaves are now a shrivelled crinkly brown.  Not sure if it's fatal, or whether there's a chance of recovery.  The poor thing.  I should've either bought it inside or swathed it in fleece, but you live and learn, eh?  Anyway ...

I thought I’d take you, imaginary reader, through the simple process of making what I’m inelegantly calling wonky cross blocks. When I first saw these on a quilt, I’d assume the crosses were appliqued on, but they’re actually pieced together.  

Right, let’s assume you want your block to measure 6 inches square (so when it’s incorporated into a quilt/cushion cover it’ll be 5 ½ inches square, even the ¼ inch seam allowances.)  

Begin with your background material.

This can be plain or patterned.

Consider having a decent contrast between background and cross shape. You want your crosses to stand out, not disappear.  

So, I’ve decided on a cream background and multi coloured scrappy bands for the crosses.

(But you could make life easier for yourself by using the same patterned fabric for both horizontal and vertical lines. Eg: a white background and navy-blue crosses.)

As I’m aiming for a 6 inch square block, I cut two pieces of cream background fabric 3 inches wide and at least 6 inches long. (I tend to cut them about 7 inches long, and trim the block to size later on.) 

Then I cut a strip of scrappy fabric of the same length.   The width is up to you. Some blocks can have chunkier crosses, some have narrow crosses. It’s good to vary them, makes your design more interesting.  

Using your ¼ inch seam, attach the scrappy fabric to each piece of cream fabric. That’s half of your block assembled.  

Now, you're going to repeat the process, cutting your rough square in half and once again inserting a band of patterned fabric.  Try to position the band so that it's a continual line, that both sides match up and form a cross.  

Then it's just a case of trimming your block to size, getting a neat 6 inch square.  Making these blocks is addictive and before long you'll have stacks of 'em.  You can insert the crosses so they're even wonkier, making your crosses more angled and off centre.  Make them extremely skinny, or perhaps have the vertical lines skinny and the horizontals wide.  

Play around.  Have fun.  See how abstract the design can become.  

That's all for now, folks.  Bye!