By Diane Harris, HQ Stitch Brand Ambassador

Make a block with me?!

I made a great big Economy quilt block as the centerpiece for a receiving blanket this week. In doing so I realized that it would make a great practice piece for quilters. It also has strong potential as a scrap quilt, and who doesn’t love using up the fabric she already owns?

Block size: 24″ x 24″

Cutting

For A: 1 square 4-3/4″ x 4-3/4″

For B: 2 squares 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″ cut on the diagonal once to yield 4 triangles

For C: 1 square 7-1/4″ x 7-1/4″ cut on the diagonal twice to yield 4 triangles

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For D: 2 squares 6-7/8″ x 6-7/8″ cut on the diagonal once to yield 4 triangles

For E: 1 square 13-1/4″ x 13-1/4″ cut on the diagonal twice to yield 4 triangles

For F: 2 squares 13″ x 13″ cut on the diagonal once to yield 4 triangles

In the next post, we’ll put the block together.

Analyze on the design wall:

As you cut for each patch, put the fabrics up on your design wall and analyze whether you like what they’re doing.

  • Is there contrast? Can you clearly see the difference between each round?
  • Is there variety in the colors? For a scrap quilt, you want different versions of a color, e.g. many different types of red or blue.
  • Is there harmony? Do the fabrics play nicely together? They don’t have to match (they should not match, in fact) but they must be pleasing together.
  • Do you like the result? If you’re unhappy, that probably won’t improve with time.

Don’t hesitate to cut more fabric into patches. Feel free to abandon fabrics that aren’t working. Keep the rejects because maybe they’ll work elsewhere.

If you enjoy making this block, you might decide to make a whole scrap quilt. Think it over!