The Economy Block

The Economy Block is a square within a square within a square.  It is the perfect place to use your special (aka expensive!) focal fabric in the centre and then build out to give a block twice the size - I guess that was why it got it's name.  However it came about that square in the middle is perfect for fussy cuts.

There are several ways in which it can be constructed, paper piecing, snowballing or adding triangles onto the the squares. There is even a hack to make it from all squares cut on the diagonal if you don't mind losing the points.

Threadbare Creations did several posts on the Economy block including layouts and colour variations

Here, here, here and here

Just Get It Done Quilts gives three methods and three different sizes in this video tutorial

Mustard Fringe creates an 8 inch block

And then there is the "pointless" version from Missouri Star - also called the Exploding Block

ISeeStars also uses the "pointless" technique but takes it out another row

Carol Thelen includes techniques for paper piecing, rotary cutting and also Accuquilt

Cain and Abel

Another complicated looking block that is only half square triangles and whole squares.

 

This tutorial is from Patchwork Square.  There is a pdf to download with instructions for a 15 inch block, 10 inch block, 7.5 inch block and 5 inch block; and a couple of layouts for inspiration.

This one is from Amanda Rolfe and makes a super cute 5 inch finished block

This block is based upon a 5x5 grid

Sister's Choice variation

If you are a fan of the sisters choice block this variation features a centre using quarter square triangles as part of the nine patch in the centre.  This would normally be an Ohio Star block when done on it's own but  when we add the points like in sisters choice it makes a cute star block.

This tutorial is from Patchwork Square and there is a pdf to download for blocks that finish at 15 or 10 inches. There are also a couple of quilt layouts for inspiration.

 This block is based upon a 5x5grid

Sister's Choice

The sisters choice block is a vintage style block based upon a 5x5 grid.  It can be best thought of as a nine patch with star legs.

The colour variations that you can have start with two colours but you can also have a three colour version with the star points in colourway three.

The first tutorial is a written one available for download from Patchwork Square and includes instructions for various finished sizes (15", 10", 7.5" and 5").  Page 2 has a couple of example quilt layouts.

Quilt Codex used the classic two colour version for a block that finishes at 10"

Beth from My Sewing Room went scrap happy using two and a half inch square to give a block that finishes at 10 inches

Candy Cane Ridge has a slightly different variation in terms of colour but it is still the same block.  This time 15 inches finished.

This block is based upon a 5x5 grid

There is a slight variation which incorporates more star points here

indiana puzzle

From the chock-a-block blog this block is 12 inches when finished and uses HST's for the outside units and a snowballed square in the middle to give a square in a square.

Based upon a 3x3 grid

Indian Puzzle Quilt Block

 

From Sunrise Quilt Studio - this is a 12 inch finished block and uses squares, HST's and flying geese.

Based upon a 3x3 grid

Mrs Bryon's choice

 

12 inches finished and uses flying geese and squares only.

Based upon a 3x3 grid

Christmas Star

 One of the many many many quilts/quilt blocks names "Christmas Star" - this one is quite big so would make a great centrepiece with other stars around the outside.

A Video Tutorial of a lovely large Christmas Star from Sunrise Quilt Studio.

For this block you would learn:

Half Square Triangles - two at a time from squares

Flying Geese Units. - one at a time by snowballing a rectangle

Size of block in tutorial - 16 inches

Louisiana pinwheel/Louisiana breeze

 If you are looking for a block named after your state?

This block uses rectangles and flying geese units - all the tutorials snowball a rectangle to make one at a time

A couple of video tutorials for this one

From Cut and Create

Tutorial makes a 12 inch block

From Sunrise Quilt Studio

Again a 12 inch finished block

And also from Fonz and Porter

This uses jelly roll strips so the pinwheel block is 8 inches or 10 with the cream sashing

This block is based upon a 4x4 grid

Orion's Wheel

 Yet again these two channels seem to be going head to head with the same blocks

Made with flying geese and half square triangles.

From Fabric 406 - 9 inch finished block

From Sunrise Quilt Studio - 12 inch finished block

This block is based upon a 4x4 grid

Mrs Taft's choice

One up from a very beginners block that uses just half square triangles and squares.

Video tutorial from Sunrise Quilt Studio - 12 inch finished block made with two-at-a-time HST's 

Tutorial from Fat Quarter Shop's 16 inch finished block uses half square triangle on a roll paper for it's half square triangles

Or from Scissortail quilting .com there is a written tutorial which includes some images of multiple blocks in a couple of quilt layouts

Next Door Neighbour Quilt Blocks

 Couple of variations on this one - the first from Sunrise Quilt Studio reminds me of the Dutchmans Puzzle - it is 12 inches finished and uses Flying Geese and HST's

The second is from fabric 406 and is more of a friendship star variation - also 12 inches finished and again HST's and flying geese are the techniques used.

Both are based upon a 4 x 4 grid