• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog
  • Home
  • Tutorials
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Tutorials
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Tutorials
    • Shop
    • FAQ
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Economy Quilt Block Tutorial

    Last Modified: January 7, 2023 by Amy · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 28 Comments

    The classic Economy Quilt Block (also sometimes known as Square in Square) is one of my favorite traditional quilt blocks for a controlled scrappy quilt. Here’s a simple tutorial for making an 8″ x 8″ (8 ½″ x 8 ½″ unfinished) size Economy Quilt Block including a free printable version you can download. 

    Riley Blake Wonderland Quilt

    This version is a sweet little Easter mini quilt that I made a few years ago using Melissa Mortenson’s fabric collection for Riley Blake, Wonderland. (Now out of print but some Wonderland prints are still available to find on Etsy.)

    Economy Quilt Block Tutorial

    Essex Yard Dyed by Robert Kaufman, all Denim TEN-462-42

    These blocks whip up so quickly. I made 9 blocks for this mini quilt, but make 25 and you’ll have a quick baby quilt!

    Free printable version of this Economy Quilt Block Tutorial HERE.

    Block requirements

    For each 8″ x 8″ finished (8 ½″ x 8 ½″ unfinished) quilt block you’ll need:

    • a center square of 4 ½″ x 4 ½ (I choose to fussy cut some of those rabbits for a few of my blocks)
    • 2 squares 4″ x 4″ – cut once on the diagonal to make 4 triangles (if you like more room for squaring up, cut 4 ¼″ squares)
    • 2 squares 5″ x 5″ – cut once on the diagonal to make 4 triangles (if you like more room for squaring up, cut 5 ½″ squares)Square in a Square tutorial 3

    Center the long sides of two of the triangles from the 4″ x 4″ squares and sew them to opposite sides of the center 4 ½″ x 4 ½″ square. Press seams toward triangles and trim overhanging tabs.  Repeat with 2 triangles on remaining sides of the center square. Press seams toward the triangles.

    Quilt Block tutorial part 4

    Square up pieced section to 6 ¼″ x 6 ¼″. Be careful to square evenly on all four sides.

    Quilt block tutorial 5

    Repeat the process with the four triangles from the 5″ x 5″ squares. Add to two opposite sides, press seams away from center. Trim tabs and add final triangles to remaining sides. Square up block to 8 ½″ x 8 ½″

    You can download a free printable version of this Economy Quilt Block Tutorial HERE.

    For this little mini quilt I make nine blocks. I cut three strips 2 ½″ x width of fabric to use for my borders and 3 strips 2 ½″ x width of fabric for the binding. Backing required just under a yard. My mini quilt finished at 28″ x 28″.

    If you’d like to find cutting and piecing instructions for more sizes of Economy Blocks, you can find them available in 6″ x 6″ and 12″ x 12″ sizes here.

    Tulips

    More Economy Block Quilts

    See more quilts I’ve made using this tutorial: Pemberley Economy Block quilt

    Economy Block Crib quilt using Pemberley Fabrics for Riley Blake

    and Dorothy’s Journey quilt using fussy-cut prints.

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

    Related

    « A Quilt That is Loved – Economy Block Baby Quilt
    Liberty + Jane Austen Union Jack Quilt »

    Filed Under: Baby Quilt Tutorials, Quilt Block Tutorials, Quilt Blocks, Quilt Tutorials Tagged With: Economy Blocks, fussy-cut

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Little Quiltsong

      March 17, 2016 at 5:58 am

      Love this Mini!!

      Reply
    2. Patricia Cash

      March 17, 2016 at 6:35 am

      So cute! Thank you.

      Reply
    3. Phoebe Ingraham

      March 17, 2016 at 7:34 am

      Thanks for this tutorial! The measurements are so helpful! I l this fabric and your mini is perfect for it! Happy St. Patrick’s Day too!

      Reply
    4. Terry

      March 17, 2016 at 12:23 pm

      Such a sweet quilt. Thanks for the tutorial.

      Reply
    5. cindy-liveacolorfullife

      March 17, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      This fabric line has such cute prints in it.

      Reply
    6. Doris

      March 17, 2016 at 5:04 pm

      So sweet 🙂

      Reply
    7. Tracy

      March 17, 2016 at 5:32 pm

      Adorable! Thank you for the tutorial, those blocks look fun and easy 🙂

      Reply
    8. Karen Seitz

      March 17, 2016 at 6:18 pm

      Sew very sweet!

      Reply
    9. Lora

      March 17, 2016 at 11:15 pm

      A very nice mini for the Easter holiday, Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Mary

      March 18, 2016 at 7:44 am

      Such a sweet mini quilt!

      Reply
    11. Lara B.

      March 18, 2016 at 6:13 pm

      That little quilt is darling Amy! What a pretty sight it makes with the tulips too. Thank you for the great tutorial!

      Reply
    12. Edith Gorzo

      March 19, 2016 at 10:35 am

      Your mini quilt and the fabrics are so adorable.

      Reply
      • Amy Smart

        March 19, 2016 at 7:26 pm

        Thank you. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Janne

      March 25, 2016 at 12:01 am

      Thanks so much for the tut for this adorable quilt, I’m fairly new to quilting but your tut makes it sound easy to understand. I’ll be making this for a new grand child due in August & can’t wait to choose some fabrics & get started.
      Kind regards, Janne

      Reply
    14. Karen Sowards

      January 17, 2020 at 7:43 am

      I am definietely a 4.5″ square girl, then square it up…! Thank you for the tip, it changed my frown upside down!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Amy

        January 17, 2020 at 1:54 pm

        Me too. You’re welcome!

        Reply
    15. Wendy Benton

      January 30, 2020 at 5:35 pm

      Very cute, it would be nice be able to print it off without the ads showing.

      Reply
      • Amy

        January 31, 2020 at 5:37 pm

        We are on the same wavelength! I just created a printable version and linked to it in the post. You can also find it here:
        https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-e2riVUhP7MTwtViTRgHr_sHGMdRLL4l/view?usp=sharing

        Reply
    16. Carmen Montmarquet

      February 01, 2020 at 6:11 am

      Thank you for sharing this totally cute mini! Love the colors in this happy quilt!!

      Reply
      • Rebecca Hurst

        March 20, 2020 at 6:58 pm

        I have what may seam like the silliest question ever. I cannot find reference to it in this post… but as my Oma allways says, the only dumb question is the one not asked. What is the seam measurement/ how deep do you sew all the joins.
        Thank you in advance from a long time dress sewer, first time quilter.

        Reply
        • Amy

          March 21, 2020 at 8:05 pm

          That is a great question, especially coming from a dressmaking background. All seam allowances are 1/4″ in quilting. You start at one end and sew to the other and you don’t need to backstitch at either end.

          Here is more about beginning piecing: https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2010/10/how-to-make-a-quilt.html

          Reply
    17. Angeleigh

      June 02, 2020 at 3:55 pm

      This is just so sweet! You’ve completely inspired me to have another go at patchworking with triangles!

      I have a piece of fabric I’d like to fussy cut for the centres, but the print would work best with 3″ squares, cut at 3.5″. I’ve been tangled up in Pythagorus trying to work out what size the other two squares of fabric would be, but I can’t do the maths with the seam allowances too. Are you able to give me the measurements or provide a formulae to help? Thank you so very much!

      Reply
    18. Dana

      December 30, 2020 at 4:16 pm

      Hello! I just LOVE your style and fabric selections on your baby lattice and economy block quilts!! I would love to make the economy baby blanket in the same size you did, however as a new quilter,I’m having difficulty knowing how much fabric to purchase for this? Could you tell me how much total yardage is needed to complete such a quilt? Thanks in advance for your time!! 🙂

      Reply
    19. Jacqueline Harper

      April 09, 2022 at 8:54 pm

      Jacquie

      Reply
    20. Kay

      April 15, 2022 at 3:27 am

      Thank you for a simple tutorial. Some tutorials really confuse me but this is easy to understand and follow.

      Reply
      • Amy

        April 15, 2022 at 11:57 am

        You’re welcome. I’m so glad!

        Reply
    21. mlpenoyer

      December 04, 2022 at 8:34 am

      Thank you! This was just what I was looking for to help me with my first attempt at making this block. The tutorial was easy to understand and I love the tip for trimming down! Not enough others provide that extra little step that can make such a huge difference in the finished product. Definitely going to look around your site and see what other helpful tips you can provide. 😀

      Reply
      • Amy

        December 06, 2022 at 7:57 am

        I’m so glad!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    My name is Amy Smart and I'm a quilter, pattern and fabric designer, wife & mom. Excited to have you here!

    more about me →

    THE PERFECT PLACE TO START

    I SEW WITH

    Baby Lock Sewing Machines

    MY FABRIC COLLECTIONS

    Fabric Collections by Amy Smart for Riley Blake Designs.

    FAVORITE FABRIC SHOPS

    COME SEW WITH ME CRAFTSY CLASS

    Pre-cuts Shortcuts Video Craftsy Class with Amy Smartma

    SEARCH

    Top Posts & Pages

    • Valentines Day Project with Perfectly Pieced
    • Diary of a Quilter by Amy Smart - a Quilt blog
    • New Quilt Pattern: Land That I Love
    • My #1 Quilting tip: what is a Scant 1/4 inch?
    • 25 Favorite Charm Square Quilts & Projects

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    PRIVACY POLICY

    DISCLAIMER

    TERMS & CONDITIONS

    ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

    NEWSLETTER

    SIGN UP for weekly emails & updates!

    CONTACT

    FAQ

    This site uses affiliate links:

    I make a small commission on some purchases with no additional cost to the reader.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Diary of a Quilter - a quilt blog