Crosses and Losses Quilt Block Pattern

New to quilting? Check out our beginner quilting class covering all the basics.

How to Sew a Crosses and Losses Quilt Block

The Crosses and Losses quilt block is a classic design that has been around for many years. It's made up of four half-square triangle units arranged to form a bold cross pattern using two contrasting fabrics — perfect for beginners and experienced quilters alike.

Materials Needed

• Fabric of your choice (two contrasting colors)
• Sewing machine and thread
• Rotary cutter and cutting mat
• Ruler
• Pins
• Iron

Step 1: Choose Your Fabrics

Select two contrasting fabrics — one main color and one accent color. Choose fabrics that complement each other well to make the cross pattern stand out.

Step 2: Cut the Fabric

Cut two squares of fabric, one of each color, the same size. The size depends on your desired finished block. For a 12" finished block, cut two 6½" squares.

Step 3: Make Half-Square Triangles

1. Place the two squares right sides together and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of one square.
2. Sew a ¼" seam on each side of the line.
3. Cut along the line to create two half-square triangles.
4. Press the seams open.

Step 4: Trim the Half-Square Triangles

Use your ruler to trim the HSTs to the desired size. For a 12" finished block, trim to 3½".

Step 5: Arrange the Half-Square Triangles

Lay out the four HSTs in the Crosses and Losses pattern — two HSTs arranged diagonally from each other, with the accent color in opposite corners.

Step 6: Sew the Block Together

1. Sew the two diagonally opposite HSTs together. Press the seams open. Repeat with the other two HSTs.
2. Sew the two smaller units together to form the complete block. Press the seam open.

Step 7: Repeat and Assemble

Repeat these steps to make as many Crosses and Losses blocks as needed. Sew the blocks together to form your quilt top, add batting and backing, and quilt as desired.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on your finished block size. You can base this on doubling a pattern, cutting it in half, or working with your available fabric.

Note: When working from a pattern's cutting instructions, remove the seam allowance before scaling. For example, if your pattern calls for 3½″ squares, subtract the seam allowance (½″), double the finished size (3″ → 6″), then add the seam allowance back (½″) — giving you a 6½″ cut piece.

Resizing Square Blocks

Add ½″ to your finished block measurement. For a 4″ finished square, cut a 4½″ square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks

Add ½″ to both the length and width. To double a 3″ × 4″ block, cut a 6½″ × 8½″ rectangle.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks

Add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. For a 4″ finished HST block, cut 4⅞″ squares.

Resizing Quarter Square Triangle Blocks

Add 1¼″ to the desired finished block size. For a 4″ finished block, cut 5¼″ squares.