Tutorial for making 4” economy (thrift) blocks

I’m working on my 4” blocks for the #scrappymeetsthriftchallenge that I’m doing on Instagram. If you would like to join us, follow Taryn of @reproquiltlover and sign up. She’ll send you all the info. You’ll get foundation paper patterns that work for 3 sizes. I chose the largest. The main reason was, I didn’t want to foundation piece and this acrylic template gave me the same size. 

I thought I would put together a demo of sorts. I use the SQUARE ON SQUARE TRIM TOOL from creative grids. They have a video online … but I thought this might help too.

I use the corner window (see above) to fussy cut a 2-1/2” square for my center. I have a lot of cute 30s and vintage fabrics that I’d like to use, but you could just cut with any regular 2-1/2 ruler.

I’m making what the trim tool calls the “A” block. This is for the 4” block. The tool also makes a 8”. There’s a little area on the trim tool that tells me what size to cut squares, then these are sub cut on a 45 degree angle.

So these are the triangles for round one or the first border of your center square. They are oversized and will be trimmed after I stitch them to the center.

First triangle attached, pressed, and roughly trimmed. I trim away the excess triangle piece that’s hanging past my center square, as I go.

Attach the pieces in the order you like. I do top, bottom, side and side.

Now give it a spray and a good press so it’s nice and flat before trimming.

Using the trim tool, center the lines of A-1 over your center block like above. If it doesn’t line up perfectly, that’s okay. Center the best you can, then trim the two overhanging side. 

Now flip the block, recenter it on A-1, and trim the two remaining sides.

You have a perfect “triangle border” on your center. Now pick out a second fabric. I like to use something that matches but contrasts a bit. 

Here is a bunch of my blocks with round one on them so I’m matching up fabrics for the next set.

I’m trying to use only scraps because but sometimes (like that brown one) I just can’t find a scrap that works. That’s fine. I’ll dig through my larger pieces of fabric..pretty is more important than sticking to the rules 🤫

For this block I had scraps that would work just fine. The trim tool says to cut (2) 3-1/2” squares then cut in half.

I have a 3-1/2” template with a diagonal line so I’m lining up the fabric straight edge with the 45 degree line on the ruler and cutting triangles that way. 

NOTE: I’ve found that you can also cut a 5” charm on the diagonal, twice, to get 4 triangles that work. Those will have bias edges though, so I give them a heavy dose of spray starch to keep them square.

SO…back to this…using half the square ruler gives me the same size triangle as if I had used the whole square and sub cut it. 

The other two scraps will work because they were on a different block that I did an OOPs 😬 on. I saved these two, ruined two others. I set the pieces on my ironing pad, next to my machine so that I don’t make a mistake in how I want them arranged.

I put the matching pieces across from each other.

Sew them on, spray, and press.

Now I’m ready for the final two cuts. 

This time, line up the first border of triangles with A-2. Double check that you are lining this up correctly…my earlier OOPs was from improperly lining up the template (and not having my coffee b4 cutting anything 🤣)

Trim the two sides.

Then the two remaining sides.

Your block is finished!

Now, this might just be me but I like to cut the remaining scraps from making that block, into sizes I save. I keep 1-1/2” squares in a tin for making scrappy nine patches.

I am getting quite a collection so another 9 patch scrap quilt is probably in my future.

This is the last one I did…just needs quilting 🫣

Doing another scrap challenge quilt

This is my latest project….. it’s going to be a very scrappy quilt using mostly 30s, shirtings and novelty scraps in softer colors. This is a scrap challenge I’m doing through IG @retroquiltlover

She organized a nine patch scrap change last year and this year it’s these economy (or thrift) blocks.

I bought a new acrylic template to make cutting/trimming these blocks easier. I cut the center using my 

2-1/2” template then cut 2 three inch squares which I then subcut on a diagonal. Those are added to the 4 sides of the center piece. I  press then my new template is used to trim. 

 

 

After trimming I add 4 more triangles and use it to trim again. It gives me perfect little 4” economy blocks. 

I’ve decided that I’ll need about 250 of these blocks to make my quilt. So far I have 70. And of course that hasn’t made a dent in my scrap basket🫣

But I’m having a great time digging through these …making fun little blocks. 

Tomorrow I’ll probably put these away so I can make my next RSC2025 block (rainbow scrap challenge). Plus it’s time to pin baste the thousand pyramids quilt!

Architectual quilting

If any of you are on Instagram, check out robertkaufman today. They are featuring my daughter Lisa's quilt blocks. She finds pictures of buildings that she likes and turns them into quilt blocks.

 

You can also she all her quilting on her instagram, @lizafranfran on Instagram.

Since Al and I returned from vacation in Florida I've been catching up on projects started before our trip. I finished all my scrappy blocks and finished quilting my Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt.

Now I have to decide on a binding....

I might do something very dark or very red...so that it stands out.

Now this quilt top below is the UFO of the month that has to be finished. I am pushing myself to have it done by the end of the month. That leaves me what?...3 or 4 days? Sounds reasonable..

And this is the paper pieced stars that I took to Florida and worked on. I was able to add on about 2 rows. It needs a couple more stars in the row on the left and then one row on the bottom. After that I have to figure out how I'm finishing it and IF I'm hand quilting. That's the way I'm leaning.

Getting near the end of Farmers Wife blocks

 Our class is on month 19 of 21 months making our Farmer's Wife blocks. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The one above is called Hovering Hawks 52, the one below is Strawberry Basket 91.

This one above, is Hovering Birds 51.

And below is Steps to the Altar #89.

Can't remember the name of the one below..?

Above is Birds in the Air #7 and below is Grape Basket.

Above is Boxed Star and below is Honey's Choice #50.

Above is Farmer's Daughter #32 and below is Fruit Basket.

And finally, Star of Hope #88

I haven't been on my blog in a while but as you all probably know, there's a new little man in my life...and I just can't get enough of him. Al and I are also working on our new house...not much to report yet... the hole will be dug this week and then the basement is getting poured a few days later. When we start getting somewhere with it, I'll post pictures.