30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop: Jungle Crosswalk

Today is my turn to be hoppy for the 30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop by showing you the baby quilt I made with the Crosswalk Block.

When Carla first put out the call early this year for bloggers to participate in the Blog Hop, I knew I wanted to because I just love making quilts with simple blocks.  And the #22 Crosswalk block couldn't be any simpler and what a wonderful block it is to showcase fabrics.

Here is the link to the original TUTORIAL for this block.  Disclaimer:  since I was making multiple blocks in a different variation, I constructed my blocks differently.

I think I have a new favorite pattern for baby quilts thanks to the Crosswalk Block.  As you will see later in this post, my quilt uses two variations of the Crosswalk Block which I did in order to create the colorful checkerboard sashing.

To make my 40" square quilt, I used the following fabrics:

1/3 yd each of two prints for the rectangles each block

1/3 yd each of four different colors for the side squares (sashing)*

1/3 yard for binding

1-1/4 yard for backing (provided the wof is at least 45" wide)

*the original pattern called for two colors to be used for the squares but I wanted to make this quilt as colorful as possible so I chose to use four different colors.

Before making the blocks, the side squares (sashing) need to be made first. From the 1/3 yard of each of the four different colors, cut three 3" x wof strips.  When sewing strip sets, I like to cut my wof strips in half which will give me at least 22" to prevent the strips from warping.  Once you decide on the color order of the strips, make six panels, all in the same order,  which should measures 10-1/2" high by the width of the strips.  Press all of the seams open.  Depending upon how wide your strips are, you may be able to cut seven strip sets from each panel which means you will have an extra panel to save for another project.  You will need 32 strip sets for the quilt.

From each of the two prints, cut eight 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangles.  Decide which print will be used for either the Type 1 and Type 2 blocks; the same print should be used for the same type block.

You are now ready to sew eight Type 1 Blocks and eight Type 2 Blocks.  You will see that the difference between the two blocks besides the different rectangles is the placement of the strip sets.  If you look at the Type 1 block, the strip set with the blue square on the top is on the left side (see red arrow) and and on the bottom on the right side. For the Type 2 block, the strip set with the blue square is on the bottom on the left side and the blue square on top is on the right side (see red arrow).  For both of these blocks, the seams when sewing the rectangles to the sashing squares should be pressed open.

Each row of the quilt consists of two Type 1 and two Type 2 blocks and when the blocks are set in an alternating block layout, you will see that a checkerboard sashing is created.  If you were to sew all of the blocks the same way, the colors squares will not alternate like a checkerboard and you will have two squares of the same color next to each other.

Here's a photo of the quilt and you can see how the checkerboard sashing is creating by alternating the layout of the Type 1 and Type 2 blocks.

For the backing of the quilt, I chose one of the prints from the top as well as for the binding, it's one of the colors used in the sashing squares.  I machine quilted with simple diagonal lines across the blocks and also quilted in the ditch around each block--nice and simple.

Did I mention how much I love this pattern and the resulting quilt.  I thought taking photos of the quilt warranted a visit to the nearby play park and Hubby, my Master Quilt Holder, was able to climb up the jungle gym and stoop down for me to take this photo.  I told him it was good training for him when our granddaughter comes to visit.

I enjoyed participating in the Blog Hop and making this quilt which turns out will soon be going to a new home.  We just found out that our niece is expecting a baby boy in August so the timing was just perfect.  

I hope you find this quilt fast, easy and fun to make and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Here's a LINK to Carla's blog where you will find the schedule of the bloggers who are participating in the 30 Quilt Blocks in 30 Days Blog Hop and to check out their projects.  This blog hop runs until April 30th so there are eight bloggers after me who will be posting their projects.

Thank you Carla for hosting this wonderful blog hop; I am so happy I was chosen to be one of the participants. I've been sewing along and these blocks sure are fun to make and I will be able to share  my quilt made with the 30 blocks soon after the Blog Hop is over.

Hoppy Reading and Sewing!