Joyful Daily Stitching, Seam by Seam

Red Cross signature block quilts were used in the early twentieth century to fund the Red Cross during World War I. Typically, there was a donation required to have the quilter embroider the donor’s name or business onto a block, and the finished quilt would be auctioned off to raise more money. This signature quilt is a modern version of the classic Red Cross quilt. It was made from quilt blocks donated by quilters, each of whom signed their name and location.

You may wish to purchase additional yardage or extra fabric pieces to account for some of the blocks not being completed or returned by group members.

Red: 7¼ yards or 40 large fabric pieces 10˝ × 12˝, 10 fabric pieces 2¾˝ × 9½˝, and 82 small fabric pieces 7˝ × 7˝

Signature Plus is well suited for group quilts, as the blocks can be made oversize and then trimmed down.

To make Signature Plus, you can distribute fabric to your quilting friends or sewing-bee mates in order to have all the same fabrics in the quilt, or you can have each quilter use their own fabrics for a scrappier look.

You have permission to make photocopies of this page to distribute to your group block makers.

instructions for group block makers

oversized blocks

Seam allowances are a scant ¼˝ unless otherwise noted. Press all seams open unless otherwise noted.

Have quilters make a total of 40 large and 82 small Plus blocks.

Cutting

FOR EACH LARGE PLUS BLOCK

Cut 4 (A) squares 4¼˝ × 4¼˝ and 4 (B) rectangles 2¼˝ × 2½˝ from 1 large red fabric portion.

Cut 1 (C) rectangle 2½˝ × 6½˝ and 2 (D) squares 2½˝ × 2½˝ from 1 large white fabric portion.

FOR EACH SMALL PLUS BLOCK

Cut 4 (A) squares 2½˝ × 2½˝ and 4 (B) squares 1½˝ × 1½˝ from 1 small red fabric portion.

Cut 1 (C) rectangle 1½˝ × 3½˝ and 2 (D) squares 1½˝ × 1½˝ from 1 small white fabric portion.

Block Assembly

1. Sew 1 D square and 1 B piece together to make a unit. Repeat to make a total of 2 units.

2. Sew each unit from Step 1 between 2 A squares.

3. Sew 1 C rectangle between 2 B pieces.

4. Sew the rows together to make a large or small Plus block. A large Plus block should measure 10˝ × 10˝, and a small Plus block should measure 5½˝ × 5½˝.

Large and small Plus block assembly

If you are making this quilt yourself instead of as a group or bee quilt, you can make the Plus blocks actual size instead of oversizing and then trimming.

Cut 4 (A) squares 4˝ × 4˝ and 4 (B) rectangles 2˝ × 2½˝ from 1 large red fabric portion.

Cut 1 (C) rectangle 2½˝ × 6½˝ and 2 (D) squares 2½˝ × 2½˝ from 1 large white fabric portion.

Cut 4 (A) squares 2¼˝ × 2¼˝ and 4 (B) rectangles 1¼˝ × 1½˝ from 1 small red fabric portion.

Cut 1 (C) rectangle 1½˝ × 3½˝ and 2 (D) squares 1½˝ × 1½˝ from 1 small white fabric portion.

1. Sew 1 D square and 1 B square together to make a unit. Repeat to make a total of 2 units.

4. Sew the rows together to make a large or small Plus block. A large Plus block should measure 9½˝ × 9½˝, and a small Plus block should measure 5˝ × 5˝.

1. Trim each large block to 9½˝ × 9½˝ and each small block to 5˝ × 5˝, if necessary.

3. Sew together 5 pairs of small blocks, 4 large blocks, and 2 red 2¾˝ × 9½˝ rectangles to make 1 row A. Repeat to make 5 rows A.

4. Sew together 5 large blocks and 4 pairs of small blocks to make 1 row B. Repeat to make 4 rows B.

5. Sew the rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 63½˝ × 81½˝.

1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 90˝ × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 72˝ × 90˝.

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Signature Plus was quilted in an overall leaf pattern.

If you wind up with more blocks than needed for Signature Plus, you can use them to make a table runner, pillow, or mini quilt, as shown.