Thrifty Quilt Block Pattern

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How to Sew a Thrifty Quilt Block

The Thrifty quilt block is a scrappy, budget-friendly design that makes excellent use of fabric scraps and remnants. It's a wonderful way to use up your stash while creating something beautiful!

Four Patch Technique

The secret to the perfect four patch is pressing seams so they butt together when joined. You can make it by cutting individual squares for a scrappy look, or use the faster strip-piecing method.

Cut two A squares and two B squares. Using chain piecing, join one A square to one B square, right sides together, with a scant ¼" seam allowance. Press toward the dark fabric.

This is also the result of cutting across pre-joined strips to create two units. Press all seams toward the dark fabric so they butt up. Place the two A/B units right sides together, butting seams. Pin if needed, join with a scant ¼" seam allowance, then press.

You can apply this technique to all kinds of four patch blocks. As long as a block has a 4×4 grid, the basic principles apply. Keep pressing seams in pairs of opposite directions and piecing becomes easy.

Nine Patch Technique

The secret to a perfect nine patch is pressing seams so they butt together neatly when joined.

1. Cut 5 A squares and 4 B squares. Using chain piecing, join a B square to 3 of the A squares, right sides together, with a ¼" seam allowance.

2. Join the remaining A and B squares to these units using chain piecing, right sides together, with a ¼" seam allowance.

For the faster strip method, cut A and B strips, join into A/B/A and B/A/B units, and cut across the pre-joined strips to create the units needed:

Press all seams toward the dark fabric. Join the B/A/B units to your A/B/A units with butted seams, right sides together, with a ¼" seam allowance. As long as a block has an underlying 3×3 grid, this principle applies.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on your finished block size. You can base this on doubling a pattern, cutting it in half, or working with your available fabric.

Note: When working from a pattern's cutting instructions, remove the seam allowance before scaling. For example, if your pattern calls for 3½″ squares, subtract the seam allowance (½″), double the finished size (3″ → 6″), then add the seam allowance back (½″) — giving you a 6½″ cut piece.

Resizing Square Blocks

Add ½″ to your finished block measurement. For a 4″ finished square, cut a 4½″ square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks

Add ½″ to both the length and width. To double a 3″ × 4″ block, cut a 6½″ × 8½″ rectangle.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks

Add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. For a 4″ finished HST block, cut 4⅞″ squares.

Resizing Quarter Square Triangle Blocks

Add 1¼″ to the desired finished block size. For a 4″ finished block, cut 5¼″ squares.