The fun thing about Crossroads is that I have been wanting to make it for sometime. You might recall that I designed a block for Quiltmaker's Back to School Blog Party back here. Well, ever since then, I have had it in the back of my mind just waiting for the perfect fabrics for the design. And as soon as I saw Gingham Girls, I knew it was the perfect fit!!! Doesn't it just make you want to have a summer picnic complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, and maybe even some fireworks!!!
And like it says in the title . . . I have written a Quilt Tutorial for Crossroads!!!! Yippee, now you can make your very own Crossroads quilt too :) And it goes together super fast so you can totally have it ready in time for summer!!! So let's get to it . . .
Here's what you will Need:
(2) Gingham Girls 5" Stackers
2 Yards of Gingham Main Navy
2 1/2 Yards of White Solid
4 Yards of a Matching Print for Backing
STEP 1 - CUTTING
From the Gingham Girls 5" Stackers cut:
(16) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares
(128) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares (that is 32 squares cut into fourths)
From the Gingham Main Navy Print cut:
(4) 5 1/2" x width of fabric strips
(4) 3 1/2" x width of fabric strips
(7) 2 1/2" x width of fabric strips for binding (which I actually already sewed and pressed before remember to take a picture ;)
From the White Solid cut:
(4) 2 1/2" x width of fabric strips
(32) 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles
(64) 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangles
(32) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles
(64) 2 1/2" x 4" rectangles
(64) 2 1/2" x 2" rectangles
STEP 2 - STRIP PIECING THE ROWS
Well start by doing a little strip piecing. If you have never done strip piecing before it is just like it sounds. You sew the strips together first and then sub-cut the size pieces you need. And because you are sub-cutting, it helps to turn your stitch length down just a bit.
So we will start by stitching (2) 3 1/2" x WOF Navy Strips onto either side of a 2 1/2" x WOF White strip. And the strips are folded to fit them in the picture, but you want to be sure and unfold them when you start sewing.
Lay the White Strip onto the Navy Strip with right sides together. Align the raw edges as you stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire length of the strip. Repeat to make 2 strip sets.
Now you can add your second Navy strip to the set. Place the second Navy strip onto the now sewn together Navy and White strip with right sides together. Align as you go and stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire edge. Repeat for the second set as well.
Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Navy strips. You will now have 2 strip sets measuring 8 1/2" x Width of Fabric.
And now, you can subcut the strips into the size units we need for the block. Layout both strip sets folded in half on your cutting mat and subcut the units 2 1/2" wide. You will cut a total of (32) 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" strips to make your short rows. If you are new to sub-cutting strip piecing, there is a tutorial right here that will walk you through it in more detail ;)
Now repeat the same steps from above only use (2) 5 1/2" x WOF Navy Strips onto either side of a 2 1/2" x WOF White strip. And again, you want to make 2 Strip sets and press them outwards.
Subcut these strips into units 2 1/2" wide as well. You will cut a total of (32) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips to make your long rows.
So now you have (32) 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" short strip pieced rows and (32) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" long strip pieced rows. You can set these aside for the moment as we move to the pieced rows ;)
STEP 3 - SEWING THE PIECED ROWS
The next rows are all piecing and again there will be a Short Row and a Long Row. For the Short Row layout (2) 2" x 2 1/2" white rectangles, (2) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" print squares, and (1) 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" white rectangles as shown below. For the Long Row layout (2) 2 1/2" x 4" white rectangles, (2) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" print squares, and (1) 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" white rectangles as shown below. You want to make 32 of each row so it is easiest if you just stack an additional 31 pieces onto each pile so all 32 sets of both rows are laid out.
To sew the rows together we chain stitch to save time. If your not sure what chain stitching is I explain it in the next photo. We will start with the Short Row. Place the 2" x 2 1/2" White rectangles onto the 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Print squares and chain stitch a 1/4" seam on all 64 sets (32 on the right and 32 on the left). Then place the right hand pieced units onto the center 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangle with right sides together. Chain stitch a 1/4" seam along all 32 sets. Finally, place the left hand pieced units onto the center pieced 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangle with right sides together. Chain stitch a 1/4" seam along all 32 sets. You will now have 32 Short Rows.
So, if you weren't sure about chain stitching, it is simply when you don't clip your threads in between sewing units. So once you have sewn the seam along the edge of your first set, just simply feed the next set through. You will end up with a big "chain" of stitching sets. You can do this for each of the three steps above and it will save you a lot of time and thread ;)
Now with your short rows sewn, you can use the exact same 3 steps as above to sew the Long Rows that you have laid out. It is the exact same except that in the first step you will be placing the 2 1/2" x 4" White rectangles onto the 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" Print squares and chain stitching. You will make 32 Long Rows.
And now, it is time for some pressing!! Press the seam allowances of all of your 32 short and 32 long rows inwards towards the print squares. (Always good to put on a favorite movie at this part ;)
And now you have (32) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" Pieced Short Rows and (32) 2 1/2" x 16 1/2" Pieced Long Rows. Again, these can be set aside for the moment.
STEP 4 - ASSEMBLING THE BLOCK
And now to make the block, it is just simply starting with the center and adding layers to it. Again, we will be chain stitching, so each time you layout your units for the block, you will want to stack them in piles of 16 so it is quick and easy to chain stitch them.
Start by laying out a 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" print square, (2) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" white rectangles, and (2) 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" white rectangles as shown below. Remember to stack 16 in each pile.
Place the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" white rectangle onto the 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" print square with right sides together. Chain stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of all 16 sets.
You will want to chain stitch all 16 sets on the left hand side. Then clip your threads. Then, you are ready to chain stitch all 16 sets of the right hand side. Easy as that.
Press the seam allowances outwards towards the white rectangles. Then you can add the top and the bottom. And it's just like adding the sides. Place the top 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle onto the pieced center with right sides together and chain stitch 1/4" seam along the edge of all 16 units. Then clip your threads and repeat for the bottom 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangle chain stitching a 1/4" seam for all 16 units.
Press the seam allowances outwards again. This makes the first layer of the block. And now, you are ready to add the second layer. Layout 16 Short Strip Pieced Rows on either side of the Center and 16 Long Strip Pieced Rows on both the top and bottom of the Center as shown.
And it is just like before. Place a Short Row onto the Left hand side of the Center with right sides together and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along all 16 sets. Clip your threads. Then place a Short Row onto the right hand side of the Center with right sides together and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along all 16 sets.
Press the seam allowances Open (or to one side if you prefer :) And just like before, you can now add the Long Row onto the top and bottom of the Center. Chain stitch the 16 Top sets, clip the threads, and then chain stitch the 16 Bottom sets.
Press the seam allowances Open again (or to one side) . This makes the second layer of the block. And you are ready for the final third Layer. Layout 16 Short Pieced Rows on either side of the Center and 16 Long Pieced Rows on both the top and bottom of the Center as shown. (and sorry this picture is blurry, don't know what happened there ;)
Your an expert at this now ;) Place a Short Row onto the Left hand side of the Center with right sides together and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along all 16 sets. Clip your threads. Then place a Short Row onto the right hand side of the Center with right sides together and chain stitch a 1/4" seam along all 16 sets.
Press the seam allowances Open (or to one side if you prefer :) And you can now add the Long Row onto the top and bottom of the Center. Chain stitch the 16 Top sets, clip the threads, and then chain stitch the 16 Bottom sets.
And Press the seams Open (or to one side) for the last layer and just like that your Block is done!!! And you have 16 of them each measuring 16 1/2" x 16 1/2" unfinished :) And now it is time to sew up your quilt top!!!
STEP 5 - SEWING THE BLOCKS INTO A QUILT TOP
Start by laying the blocks out in 4 rows of 4 blocks. Mix the block placement around until you get a color placement that is pleasing to the eye.
STEP 7 - FINISHING QUILT
So now it is time to turn that finished quilt top into a finished Quilt ;) Time to Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind It!!! Which is a whole lot in one little sentence. If you are new to quilting, you can see my Finishing Your Quilt Series of video tutorials that will walk you through Basting, Quilting, and Binding step by step ;)
STEP 8 - ENJOY QUILT
Have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!
Linking up this Finish to Amanda's, Sarah's, and Myra's ;)