Easy Signature Cross Quilt Pattern: Includes Accuquilt and Rotary Cutting

Sew a classic signature quilt with my free fat quarter friendly quilt pattern! This throw sized signature cross quilt pattern is fast and easy to make. It’s the perfect quilt project for a beginner or anyone who wants a fun weekend quilting project.

I’m including rotary cutting instructions PLUS optional AccuQuilt cutting instructions for the fastest most accurate cutting and piecing ever. Sew through your fabric stash with all my free quilt patterns.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Signature Quilt Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

I have added this pattern to my list of 10+ Fat Quarter Friendly Quilt Patterns.

This Signature or Cross Quilt Pattern ticks off all the boxes for the perfect weekend quilt project:

• It’s fast and easy to sew.
• It is designed for fat quarters.
• It’s Accuquilt friendly if you own an Accuquilt fabric cutting machine.
• The 60” x 60” throw size can easily be quilted on a regular sewing machine.
• You can easily resize it to make it bigger or smaller if you need a different size.

What is a Signature Quilt?

The traditional Signature Block got its name because it was used for memory quilts. A group of quilters would contribute a block with their signature (or a message) written on the elongated hexagon shape. Those signature blocks were sewn together in various patterns and the finished quilt would make a thoughtful gift.

This quilt uses the same signature block in a more bold and graphic layout with alternating print and white ‘X’s.

How to Make this Quilt Larger or Smaller

One fat quarter together with the background fabric will make two 12” (finished) quilt blocks (one with a print X and one with a background X). My 60” square quilt used 13 fat quarters.

You could make this quilt smaller by using only 8 fat quarters and making 16 blocks. That would make a 48” square lap quilt. Or use 5 fat quarters to make 9 blocks for a 36” square baby quilt.

You could easily make the quilt larger by using more fat quarters to make more blocks. Here is a reference for standard quilt sizes.

Another way to make this quilt larger would be to add 3” sashing with 3” square cornerstone blocks from the leftover print fabrics. I used EQ8 quilt design software to show you what this variation could look like. This design makes a 78” square quilt and requires 2 extra yards of background fabric.

In case you were wondering, the fat quarters I used were from Sarah Watt’s Florida Collection. The original Florida Collection is hard to find now, but her new Florida 2 Collection is just as gorgeous. My background fabric is Kona Snow.

If you would like to use your AccuQuilt fabric cutter, you will only need 2 dies for this whole quilt:

• The 6” finished Signature Block Die #55732 (also found in the Go! Qube 12″ Companion Set-Corners set)
• The 3” finished HST Die #55009 (also found in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 12″ Block set)

If you are not using an AccuQuilt, that’s just fine! You can sew blocks that look exactly the same using the snowball corner method (just like my Fat Quarter Fancy quilt pattern). I’ll show this method first because I don’t want to assume that everyone has an Accuquilt.

What is this Signature Cross Block?

Let’s break it down! The Signature Block can be arranged in lots of different ways. The main features are an elongated hexagon center piece and triangles at two corners. My 6” signature squares are arranged in sets of 4 to make the signature cross blocks. It’s that easy!

After you make 25 Signature Cross Blocks, we’ll sew them together and finish the quilt.

So let’s get started!

How to Sew a Signature Cross Quilt

Finished quilt dimensions: 60’’ x 60’’. Finished block size: 12” x 12”.

For this Signature Cross Quilt Pattern, You will need:

• 13 fat quarters (or quarter yard cuts) of fabrics that coordinate
• 2 1/4 yards background fabric
• 1/2 yard binding fabric
• 4 yards of backing fabric, or enough to piece together a 64” x 64” square
• a 64” x 64” piece of quilt batting
• a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and mat
• a fabric marking pen
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the background fabric)

Rotary Cutting Instructions:

From each fat quarter, cut:

• 4 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” (52 total)

From only 12 of the fat quarters (leave out your least favorite), cut:

• 8 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” from each print (96 total)

From the background fabric, cut:

• 48 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
• 104 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”

Alternate AccuQuilt Cutting Instructions:

From each fat quarter, cut:

• 4 pieces using the 6” finished Signature Block Die #55732 (52 total)

From only 12 of the fat quarters (leave out your least favorite), cut:

• 8 pieces using the 3” finished HST Die #55009 (96 total)

From the background fabric, cut:

• 48 pieces using the 6” finished Signature Block Die
• 104 pieces using the 3” finished HST Die

How to Sew the Signature Cross Blocks

Instructions for Rotary Cut Fabrics

Use a 1/4” seam allowance and medium stitch length such as 2 or 2.2. This is the ‘snowball corner’ method.

1. Use the fabric marking tool to draw a diagonal line across all of the 3 1/2” squares. You can draw these lines all at once or just a few at a time as you work. This is a sewing line.

2. Pin a 3 1/2” background fabric square to a corner of one of the print fabric squares, right sides together as shown above. Sew along the drawn line.

3. Cut the extra fabric away from the corner 1/4” past the sewn line. Open the corner and press.

4. Repeat to sew another background fabric square to the print fabric square and make a snowball corner on the opposite side. Open the corner and press.

5. Make 4 matching signature squares. Sew them together to make a 12 1/2” block. Press. Trim to 12 1/2” square, if desired.

6. Use the remaining 6 1/2” and 3 1/2” squares to make:

• 13 Signature Cross Blocks that use large print squares and small background fabric squares.
• 12 Signature Cross Blocks that use large background fabric squares and small print squares.

You’ll need 25 blocks total.

Instructions for Using Pieces cut with AccuQuilt Dies

Use a 1/4” seam allowance and medium stitch length such as 2 or 2.2.

1. Choose a print fabric signature shape piece. Sew two 3” finished HST triangle pieces to the corners right sides together with a 1/4” seam allowance.

2. Open the corners and press.

3. Make 4 matching signature squares. Sew them together to make a 12 1/2” block. Press. Trim to 12 1/2” square, if desired.

4. Use the remaining signature shape pieces and half square triangle pieces to make:

• 13 Signature Cross Blocks that use print fabric signature pieces and background fabric triangles.
• 12 Signature Cross Blocks that use background fabric signature pieces and print fabric triangles.

You’ll need 25 blocks total.

Assemble the Quilt Top

1. Lay your quilt blocks out on a quilt design wall, a bed, or the floor. Arrange them in 5 rows with 5 blocks in each row. Note the alternating pattern of blocks with print crosses and blocks with background fabric crosses.

2. Sew the blocks into 5 rows. Then sew the 5 rows together. Press.

Finishing your Fat Quarter Friendly Signature Cross Quilt

1. Cut or piece together a 64” x 64” piece of backing fabric and make a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting, and top.

2. Baste together with fusible batting, pins or basting spray.

3. Quilt as desired. Straight line quilting or cross hatch quilting with your walking foot would be fast and easy.

4. Cut 7-8 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

There are lots of fat quarter friendly and AccuQuilt friendly quilt designs out there, so if you make quilt using my free Signature Cross Quilt pattern, I would love to see! Post a picture on Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe so I can take a look.

And check out all my other AccuQuilt Friendly Quilt Patterns too!

xoxo,