Arkansas Cross Roads – August 2021

The first block for August is Arkansas Cross Roads, it was originally posted in the Kansas City Star on March 19, 1941.

This block is actually 4 blocks of the Arkansas Cross Roads block with a sashing, to create this neat block.  It will finish at 15″ x 15″ (15 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ unfinished). 

Fabric Requirements

• White – 18″ x 21″
• Blue – 7″ x 19″
• Red – 12″ x 19″

Fabric Cutting

Assembly

NOTE:  As you sew, use scant 1/4″ for creating this block.  A scant 1/4″ seam – a seam allowance that’s just a thread or two less than a quarter-inch

Step 1 – 4-Patch

Using Pieces A, sew one Color B and One Color C long-sides together (18″) with 1/4″ seams.

Press seams towards the Darker color.

Trim the end of the strip if needed.

Note: there is an extra 1/2″ to help with trimming, and cutting into pieces, so do not worry if you have a little extra.

Cut Pieces of strips of 2 1/8″ wide. Cut 8 pieces. 

Using two pieces, lay one and flip the second, so the colors do not match except.

Sew together, and repeat for 4 sets.

Press the seams.  Make sure as you make all 8 sets that you press them the same, so when assembling the block it is easier to assemble.

Repeat using the other two pieces A to create 4 more sets of the 4-patch.

Square-up to 3 ¾” x 3 ¾”

Step 2 – Half Square Triangles (HST)  

8-at-a-time (Pieces B – 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″)

Use Piece B of Colors A and C (White & Red).

Draw a line from corner to corner on the wrong side on the lighter fabric, creating an “X”.

Stitch 1/4″ on both sides of the drawn lines, creating a double X (Black lines)

Cut vertical and horizontal halfway, and then cut along the drawn lines (red X).

(Cut on the Red lines in picture)

This will create the Eight HST, you will need to square up to 2 1/8″ x 2 1/8″.

See Square-up HST blog for the different methods.

You will need you to repeat this step to create an additional 8 HST.

Step 3 – Red/White 4-patch

Using the HST created in Step 2 and Piece C of Color A (White), layout in the following layout.

Make sure that Color C triangles are on the opposite sides away from each other.

You will create 8 sets of these 4-Patch blocks.

Step 4 – Four Corners

Using the pieces created in Step 1 and Step 3, layout the pieces in the following layout.

Sew the 4-patch together.  Press seams.

Create a total of 4 of these 4-patch blocks.

Step 5 – Final Assembly

Using the four pieces created in Step 4 and Pieces D and Piece E.

Layout the block in the following layout.

Best Practice is to sew the blocks in rows across or down, basically making sewing like a 9-patch block.

Press Seams.  I pressed seams towards the white strip (Piece D), to reduce the bulk of the block.

You have now completed the Arkansas Cross Roads, block finishing at 15″ x 15″ (unfinished 15 1/2″ x 15 1/2″)

I look forward to seeing all your wonderful blocks!  Make sure to post on the Facebook group!  Remember to add the hashtag #ArkansasCrossRoads.

Click Here for a PDF of the instructions.