Quilt Block: Arkansas Crossroads Quilt Block Tutorial

This would have to be a favourite quilt block for me. The Arkansas Crossroads Quilt Block is quick and easy to make and looks awesome when you put 6 of them together. It forms two patterns – a cross pattern and a square in a diamond pattern.

The instructions below will make a 10″ finished block (10 ½” unfinished)

• Colour 1
  • 2 @ 5½” x 5½” squares
• Colour 2
  • 4 @ 3″ x 3″ squares
  • 1 @ 3″ x 13″ strip – (NOTE: This amount is for one block. If you are creating more than one block, you can cut a 3″ strip by the width of the fabric.)
• Colour 3
  • 1 @ 3″ x 13″ strip – (NOTE: This amount is for one block. If you are creating more than one block, you can cut a 3″ strip by the width of the fabric.)

Watch the video ( or scroll down for written instructions).

• Take one of the 13″ long strips and lay it face down on top of the other long strip, right sides together.
• Sew down the long edges on one side with a ¼” seam.

• Press the seam to the ‘dark side’.

• Your strip should now measure 5½” in width.

• Cut this strip into 3″ blocks.
• This strip will give you 4 blocks.

• And here is how your small blocks look once they have been cut.
• Just put them aside for the moment while we work with the other squares.

• Turn your 3″ squares over so that the wrong side is facing up.
• Draw a line with a fabric pen, from one point to the other point diagonally across the square.
• Do this to all four squares.

• Take one of the 3″ squares and lay it, right sides together, on the corner of one of the 5½” squares.
• Match the edges and pin in place.
• Do this to the other edge as well.
• Repeat on the other square.
• Sew along the diagonal line for each square with a ¼” seam.

• Trim the excess fabric from the corner a ¼” from the seam line.

• This is how your blocks look now.

• Open out the triangle pieces and press open.

• Now we are going to make our 4 patch block.
• Take the four patches we made earlier and place them on the mat so that you have alternating colours.
• Take one patch and lay it right sides together,
• Sew together with a ¼” seam.
• Do the same for the other two patches.

• Lay your patches out on the mat.
• Make sure you have the dark squares running down the middle.
• Place the two top squares one on top of the other with right sides facing.
• Sew together with a ¼” seam.
• Do the same with the bottom two squares.

• Now lay the two top blocks over the bottom two blocks, right sides together.
• Sew them together with a ¼” seam.

• Your block is now complete!

Some ideas for using the Arkansas Crossing Quilt Block