Empire Cross Quilt Block Tutorial

One of my favorite quilt block patterns is this empire cross from fabric406 on YouTube. This pattern may look complex, but it’s actually pretty easy to make and beginner-friendly. I love matching colors whenever I make this quilt, and it always looks stunning. Watch the video tutorial below to learn the step by step instructions.

Materials:

• click here for the free pattern

Light/Pink:

• 4 – 2″ x 5″ rectangles
• 4 – 2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangles
• 8 – 2″ squares

Medium/Green:

• 2 – 4″ squares

Dark/Red:

• 4 – 3 1/2″ x 5″ rectangles
• 1 – 3 1/2″ square

Dark/Black:

• 2 – 4″ squares

Directions:

Step 1

To start, make the pointy units. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of a light/pink 2″ square. Next, place the light/pink square on a corner of a dark/red 3 1/2″ x 5″ rectangle and sew along the marked line. Match up the corners of the light/pink square and press. Now, trim away the excess allowance and re-fold the light/pink triangle. Repeat the previous steps of the adjacent corner of the short side of the dark/red rectangle, then repeat four times to make four pointy units.

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Step 2

Moving on to the half-square triangle units. Using a medium/green 4″ square and a dark/black 4″ square, sew together two half-square triangles. Sew 1/4″ on each side of the marked line, then cut them apart along the marked line. Next, open up the half-square triangle and press the seam allowance toward the black fabric. After this, trim the unit to 3 1/2″ square. Repeat the steps to make four half-square triangle units.

Step 3

Now for the corner units, match up a half-square triangle with a light/pink 2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangle and sew together. After this, press the seam allowance toward the pink rectangle. Next, sew a light/pink 2″ x 5″ rectangle, then press the seam toward the pink rectangle. Repeat the steps to make four corner units.

Step 4

Now, lay out all the units together to make the block (refer to the image below for the exact placements of each unit). Once done, sew units into three rows, then press the seam allowances toward the pointy units. Now, sew the three rows together, then press the seam away from the center.

Empire Cross Quilt Block Tutorial