Economy Blocks Tutorial + Printable Quilt Size Chart

Hello friends! I hope this email finds you well. Lots of good quilting fun and inspiration to share this week!

First of all apologies to anyone who had trouble clicking on links last week - there were technical issues with my website. Good news - they are resolved! 😅 But I'm sorry for anyone who was frustrated. Thanks for your patience with me! Man, technical issues are not my strength. Let's get back to talking about something I feel more confident with!

Free Printable Quilt Block Pattern

One of the quilts I love puling out this time of year is this Spring Mini Quilt I made a few years ago using a traditional Economy Quilt Block.

The Economy block (sometimes called a Square in a Square block) is one of my favorite quilt blocks to make - it's perfect for playing with color combinations within a fabric collection, or fussy-cutting favorite prints for the center square. It's also great for scrap-busting!

And they're really fun and easy to make. Click below for a tutorial with free printable instructions to make 8" x 8" finished Economy blocks. (The post also includes links to 6" x 6" and 12" x 12" block variations as well!)

And pictures of more scrappy Economy Block quilts for your inspiration.

Make a Quilted Tote Bag from Any Quilt Block

Have any orphan quilt blocks left over from projects where you changed the plan or ran out of steam? This week, Tamara Darragh of Remi Vail Studio shares a brand new post with a detailed step by step tutorial for making a quilted tote bag using any quilt block.

I'm feeling inspired to make a couple of new tote bags for gifts (and/or for myself) this spring!

Free Printable Quilt Size Chart

Melanie Collette shares tips for resizing a quilt to fit a bed of any size. She also has designed a free-printable chart with standard quilt sizes (as well as comparable mattress sizes.)

I can't count the amount of times I've Googled "Quilt Sizes" in the past. Having this chart has been such a handy reference and time saver! Click below to read Melanie's tips + print your own size guide.

Fun Finds on the Web -

Is your ironing board cover in need of a refresh? Amber Johnson of Gigi's Thimble shares a tutorial to make your own cute Ironing Board Cover. And I love that she used a cheater print!

Heather Peterson of Anka's Treasures took one of her quilt patterns and made hooked rug version. What a fun idea! I'm feeling inspired to try something like this with one of mine.

Last Minute Deals from National Quilting Month

Here are a few quick deals as National Quilting Month Comes to a close as well as some of my favorite products on Amazon's Spring Sale that ends 3/31.

Maker Valley is having a mix and match Sale on t-shirts and fabric bundles.

My favorite rechargeable mini vacuum for my sewing room is on sale. I bought one last year and I LOVE it. Use it almost every day. It's 33% off right now on a limited time deal.

My new favorite clear storage drawers are 50% off. I have already bought three sets of these and I think I'm going to buy another. They're fabulous in my sewing room because they clean up the clutter, but still make it easy to find tools and notions that I'm looking for.

A bunch of my favorite Quilting Pattern books are also marked down. Would be a great time to get a Mother's Day gift on sale!

The Fat Quarter Shop has all Sewline Notions 25% off (fabric pencils, erasers, glue pens + refils)

Here’s a little bit of a heartwarming story for your weekend. 🥰 (We could all do with a little bit more of heartwarming, right? 😅) This is my amazing friend and Hmong neighbor Xiong Li. We have been friends for over 12 years and became kindred spirits because we both love to sew. 🧵 Her Hmong handwork and reverse applique is mind blowing! 🤯 You can see more detailed photos of her incredible applique here.​
​
As she has grown older her eyesight won’t let her do what she used to do, but she still loves to sew. So for the past few years she’s been using her sewing skills to make flannel receiving blankets. I’ve gathered donations and provided a lot of the fabric and she’s done all of the sewing.

She just turned 98. (!) In the past year she has made around 100 blankets. In the past 10 years, probably close to a 1000. These receiving blankets have been donated to local hospitals and causes in our community, the Navajo reservation in southern Utah/AZ, and to refugees around the world.
​
That one feels extra poignant to me as Xiong arrived in this country as a refugee herself about 40 years ago with her husband and children after a horrific escape from the communist regime in Laos that had vowed to torture her family and exterminate the Hmong people. (Her husband had risked his life to rescue downed American pilots during the war in Vietnam.)
​
Her daughters and their families live in my neighborhood and take care of their beloved Grandma. They are some of the best people I know. Our neighborhood and community and I are better because of them. 🙏🏻💗 And so are 1000+ babies. 🥰

I feel so grateful for this this friendship and for the love of sewing that brought us together. I know that many of you and people that you love are sewing for great causes too. You are doing so much good. Bless you all in your own good works!

xo,

Amy

If you would like to stop receiving this content, please click unsubscribe below. Please do not mark as spam. xo

This newsletter occasionally contains affiliate links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay and helps support Diary of a Quilter. Thank you for using my links! ❤

​Visit my Pattern Shop Here​

​​​​

​