Stitching the Lone Star: How to Cross-Stitch Pre-Printed Quilt Blocks Into a Heirloom Quilt
Some quilt blocks are pieced from cut fabric. Others are built stitch by stitch on a printed ground — and that second tradition is exactly what the Lone Star Quilt Blocks 18in set is for. Each block arrives pre-printed on white broadcloth with a Lone Star design for cross stitch and quilting marks already in place, so you can spend your time stitching rather than transferring a pattern, and finish with blocks that are ready to set into a quilt.
What This Set Makes
One package contains six blocks, each 18 inches by 18 inches. That generous square lets the Lone Star motif read clearly and makes your cross stitch the focal point of the block.
A single package is a starting point, not a finished quilt on its own. Joined together, six blocks can become a small lap quilt, a wall hanging, or the start of a larger project. For bed sizes, the product guidance is clear:
- Twin: 3 packages
- Full: 4 packages
- Queen: 5 packages
- King: 5 packages
Planning by package helps you buy enough matching blocks at the start.
What's Included — and What You Add
Included in each package are the six pre-printed 18-inch blocks in poly/cotton broadcloth, in white, with a cross-stitch-only design and quilting marks. The floss requirements are included, so you know what colours and amounts the design calls for before you begin.
It is not an all-in-one kit, and knowing that upfront makes planning easier. You will also need:
- Backing and batting to finish the quilt
- A hoop to hold each block taut while you stitch
- A needle, floss, and thread
That split is typical for printed-block sets: the accurately printed blocks are done for you, while finishing materials come from your supplies.
Skill Level and Time
If you can make a basic cross stitch, you can work these blocks. There is no pattern to enlarge, trace, or transfer, and the quilting marks give you guidance for the finishing stage. The patience part is real, though: cross stitch is a counted, repetitive handcraft, and an 18-inch block is a satisfying but substantial piece of stitching.
Think in terms of evenings and weeks, not a single afternoon. Most stitchers complete one block at a time. It is a portable, unhurried project you can work on steadily in a hoop.
Tips for Success with Printed Broadcloth Blocks
Use the hoop every session. Poly/cotton broadcloth is smooth and stable, but a hoop keeps tension even so your crosses lie flat and the block stays square. Move the hoop as you work rather than stitching a loose, unsupported area.
Follow the included floss requirements. Buy or gather the listed floss before starting the first block. Using the specified colours across all packages keeps the repeated Lone Stars consistent — an important detail when three to five packages will sit side by side in one quilt.
Keep your crosses going the same way. Cross stitch looks neatest when the top leg of every X leans in the same direction. That single habit does more for a polished finish than stitching faster.
Protect the printed lines. Handle blocks cleanly, avoid unnecessary washing before the stitching is done, and keep the printed design and quilting marks visible until you need them. The quilting marks are there to guide your final quilting once the top is assembled with batting and backing.
Finish in order. Stitch all your blocks first, press them gently from the back, check that they measure consistently, then join them, layer with batting and backing, follow the quilting marks, and bind. Taking that last stage slowly is what turns a set of stitched squares into a quilt that will be used and kept.
Shop the Lone Star Quilt Blocks 18in at Linda's Electric Quilters.
