How to Sew the Swiss Cross Quilt Block (12" x 12") – August Block of the Month 2025
It’s not too late to Join the Exshaw Quilts Block of the Month series where we make a sampler quilt together!
Last month we made A Ohio Star Block—radiant, classic, and just a little bit magic. If you haven’t yet made it, click here.
Alright, let’s learn how to make the 12" x 12" Swiss Cross quilt block in this beginner-friendly tutorial. This is the August 2025 installment of our Block of the Month series—featuring simple piecing and cozy, timeless style.
Let’s dive into August’s block, shall we?
Want to join in? Subscribe to the newsletter below to get each block free as its released. As a thank-you, you’ll also receive my Crescent Moon Quilted Potholder pattern—a little gift to get your needle warmed up.
Let’s quilt something meaningful, together.
August’s Block: The Swiss Cross
The Swiss Cross quilt block may be beloved today for its clean lines and minimalist charm, but its roots run deeper than modern design trends. The bold, balanced cross shape draws direct inspiration from the Swiss flag—a white cross on a red field—and by extension, the recognizable emblem of the Swiss Army. Both symbols have long represented neutrality, precision, and protection, giving this block a quiet sense of strength and calm.
In North America, the motif gained even more heartfelt significance during World War I, when quilts became more than just blankets—they became lifelines. Across the U.S. and Canada, quilters created Red Cross signature quilts to support the war effort. Individuals and local businesses donated a small sum to have their names embroidered or inked onto the quilt, which was then raffled or auctioned to raise funds for the American Red Cross. The cross motif—often stitched in red on white—stood as a powerful symbol of healing, hope, and community care.
These early 1900s quilts weren’t just fundraisers. They were community records. They carried hundreds of names, each one stitched with intention, generosity, and love. Today’s Swiss Cross block continues that spirit in a quieter way—offering comfort, making a statement, and reminding us of the many hands that have used this simple shape to do something meaningful.
Quilt Along Details
Project Timeline: July 1 – March 1
What We’re Making: A baby sized sampler quilt (9 blocks) measuring 36” x 36” finished
Block Release: One block per month, right here on the blog (project updates send through the newsletter so make sure you subscribe here!)
Block Size: 12" x 12" finished (unfinished— which means before it is sewn up into a quilt top/stand alone block— measures 12.5” x 12.5”)
Skill Level: Beginner-friendly with a few gentle challenges
Style: Traditional patchwork with room to play
UPCOMING PATTERN FEATURING A VARIATION OF THE THE SWISS CROSS (9 ½ X 9 ½ blocks)
What You’ll Need
Fabric Requirements for One 12 X 12” Block:
(4) 4 1/2" × 4 1/2" squares in Color A (e.g., black)
(2) 4 1/2" × 4 1/2" squares in Color B (e.g., white)
(1) 12 1/2" × 4 1/2" strip in Color B (e.g., white)
How to Assemble the Swiss Cross Block
Why Join This Quilt Along?
There’s something special about having a gentle project on the go—one that doesn't demand perfection or rush, but simply waits for you whenever you’re ready to sit down and stitch.
This Quilt Block of the Month is meant to be just that: a low-pressure, creative thread running through your seasons. Whether you're piecing in the quiet of a morning, with a cup of tea nearby, or squeezing in a few seams after dinner, there's no deadline—just rhythm. Just joy.
Each month, you'll receive a new block pattern along with a little note from me—a story, a memory, maybe a tip or two—meant to keep you inspired and feeling connected to something cozy and creative.
You don’t need fancy fabrics or a trip to the quilt shop to get started. Scraps, stash pulls, naturally dyed bits, even those odd prints you’ve been saving “just in case”—they all have a place here. The charm of this quilt comes from its variety. Its heart comes from you.
And if you're craving a bit of connection? You’re not stitching alone. Use the hashtag #exshawsampler to share your blocks, peek at others’ layouts, or simply say hello. We’re building something beautiful together, one block at a time.
Free tutorials, bonus tips, and a few surprises will pop into your inbox throughout the quilt-along, too—just little extras to help you along and make the journey sweeter. Join here!
Let’s sew something soft, slow, and story-filled—together.
How to Sign Up + Get the Free Potholder Pattern
Joining the Quilt Block of the Month series is as easy as threading a needle.
Just subscribe to the Exshaw Quilts email list, and you’ll be all set to follow along. I’ll send you a gentle nudge before the 1st of each month with that month’s featured block and any helpful notes or tutorials I’ve stitched together for you.
As a thank-you for joining in, you’ll also get immediate access to my Crescent Moon Quilted Potholder pattern—a sweet little make inspired by a quiet night drive and one of my all-time favorite designs.
Along the way, you’ll get the occasional blog update packed with things like:
Tips for natural dyeing your own quilt fabric
Hand quilting tutorials (my personal favorite part of the process)
And maybe a few stories from my cabin in the woods
If you decide to share your blocks as we go, I’d love to see them. Use #exshawsampler or tag @exshawquilts so we can all cheer each other on. This is meant to feel like stitching beside a friend—so pull up a chair and let’s get quilting.
A Quilt Made in Moments
This isn’t a race. It’s a rhythm. One block at a time, one month at a time. Whether you’ve been quilting for years or this is your very first block, the Quilt Block of the Month is meant to feel like a gentle nudge toward your sewing table—no pressure, no perfection needed. Just you, your fabric scraps, and a little thread pulling you back into the rhythm of making.
We’re stitching together more than just blocks here—we’re stitching memories, slow mornings, and a bit of old-fashioned joy. And if you don’t have a sewing machine? Don’t fret. I’ll be sharing a hand piecing tutorial soon, so you can join in no matter how you like to sew.
By January, you'll not only have a quilt top—you’ll have stitched up six quiet chapters of your own story. I hope this quilt-along feels like a gentle nudge to keep creating, even when life is loud. A reason to sit. A reminder that small things add up.
So go ahead—sign up, pour yourself something warm, and gather those pretty bits of fabric you’ve been saving. On July 1, we’ll sew our first star together. I’ll be here with my kettle on, my thimble nearby, and a story or two to keep us company.
Until then, happy cutting, dreaming, and nesting.
—Kim
P.S. Got a friend who might love this? Forward them this post and invite them to join us! The more the merrier.
Welcome to the blog—I'm so glad you're here.
I'm Kim, quilting and dyeing from an old cabin in the woods. This is where I share beginner-friendly tutorials, slow craft tips, and stories from a life stitched by hand. I hope you find something here that feels like home.
