Economy Block quilt block
A square in a square, in a square — two rounds of corner triangles turning a small centre into a framed, on-point medallion.
Also known as Diamond in a Square, Sunshine and Shadow unit.
The Economy Block earned its name honestly: it was a way to use very small scraps productively, building outward from a piece too small to be useful alone. It is also a fixture of Amish quilting, where the same geometry at large scale becomes the Diamond in a Square medallion.
Economy Block cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 1 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Background | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 2" × 2" | 4 | finishes 1½" × 1½" |
| Dark | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 5" × 5" | 1 | finishes 4½" × 4½" |
| Background | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 2¾" × 2¾" | 4 | finishes 2¼" × 2¼" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 1 | finishes 5" × 5" |
| Background | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3" × 3" | 4 | finishes 2½" × 2½" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 6½" × 6½" | 1 | finishes 6" × 6" |
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 4 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 8" × 8" | 1 | finishes 7½" × 7½" |
| Background | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 4¼" × 4¼" | 4 | finishes 3¾" × 3¾" |
| Dark | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 4 | cut once on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
How it goes together
Two rounds. Add four triangles to the centre square, square up, then add four more to the result. Squaring up between rounds is not optional — errors compound quickly through two rounds of bias edges.
Tips
- Square up after the first round. It is the single thing that separates a crisp Economy Block from a wobbly one.
- Fussy-cut the centre — a small motif framed twice is the whole point of the block.
- Cut the corner triangles from squares rather than strips so the straight grain lands on the block's outer edge.
How much fabric for a Economy Block quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Economy Block blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 1¼ yd · Dark ⅝ yd · Accent ½ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 2⅝ yd · Dark 1½ yd · Accent 1 yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 6⅜ yd · Dark 3½ yd · Accent 2½ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Economy Block questions
Why is my Economy Block not square?
Two rounds of bias edges compound. Cut the triangle squares slightly oversized, square up after each round, and the finished block lands true.