Square in a Square Quilting Hacks from Then to Now
The Quilting Hack That Changed Everything!
Learning how to make a Square-in-a-Square Block is a quilter’s secret weapon. The Square-in-a-Square block is actually a variation of the Economy Block. Depending on the fabrics chosen, it looks quite modern. But its origin comes from a 100-year-old quilting hack born during America’s Great Depression. Designed to use every last fabric scrap, this block combines a center square with outer triangles that form a larger square. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how this Square-in-a-Square block turns your guilty scrap pile into beautiful, budget-friendly quilts. It’s a simple technique that will change how you quilt.
Back in the 1930s, thrifting wasn’t a choice; it was survival. For quilters, this meant every tiny piece of fabric was precious. Quilting provided essential warmth but also joy and creativity. Women used scraps from old clothes and even printed flour sacks to create beauty from necessity. This is where the Economy Block became a star. Its name says it all: it was designed to ‘waste not, want not,’ turning the tiniest leftovers into treasured heirlooms.
Today’s simpler version is even easier! With a single round of outer triangles, this quilt block is a breeze to make. Even better is that is can easily be modified into any size you need!
How to Make a Square-in-a-Square Block
Gathering and Cutting Scrap Fabrics
We’ll start by making a 6.75-inch finished quilt block. That means it will measure 7.25-inches unfinished. My preferred method results in a quilt block with each side cut on the straight of the grain, making it much easier to sew with later. Alternatively, there are methods that use one larger square crosscut diagonally two times. This will give you a block with bias edges which I choose to stay away from as they can stretch far too easily and become misshaped.
Sewing Supplies:
- Basic Sewing Machine
- Quick Change Rotary Cutter
- OLFA Cutting Mat
- Quilting Ruler
- Straight Pins
- Schmetz Non-Stick Quilting Needles Size #12
Fabric Requirements: From your scrap bin, you’ll need:
Twelve 2.5-inch Squares or Three 5-inch Squares:
- 4 Focal Fabrics for the center (may be cut from 1 Charm Square or 5-inch square)
- 8 Background Fabrics; Cut BG Squares in half diagonally (may be cut from 2 Charm Squares)
One 5-inch square cut into four equal 1.25-inch strips
One 1.25-inch cornerstone square
Instructions are for making a single 3.5-inch square in a square block. For the finished mug-rug shown, you will need to complete all four blocks.
Your center square is your focal point, and a perfect place for “fussy cutting” or using any favorite fabrics! For the background triangles, take two 2.5-inch squares and cut each one diagonally in one direction. This will give you four identical half square triangles (HSTs). That’s it! Now you’re ready to sew.
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Free Printable PDF Square in a Square Tutorial Download
How to Assemble a Square in a Square Block
Sew Triangles to Center Square
Begin by sewing two triangles to opposite sides of the center square. Then add the last two triangles to the remaining sides to create a square.
First, mark the center of your square’s edge and one small triangle’s long edge by folding and either creasing or pinning. Match the centers together and sew the triangle to the square. There will be small triangle corners (‘dog-ears’) that extend beyond the edge of the square. These allow for the necessary seam allowance on your finished block and will be trimmed off later. In the same manner add a second triangle to the opposite side. Press the seams away from the center square and trim off the dog-ears. Add the next two triangles to the remaining sides. Press seams away from the center and trim square to 3.5-inches
Then add the last two triangles to create a square.
Finally, the magic step of trimming will reveal your perfect square-in-a-square. I intentionally oversize my triangles to ensure all the triangle points remain intact so trimming is highly recommended.
How to Trim a Square-in-a-Square Block
Align you block within the grid of your cutting mat. Use your ruler along each edge to square it up, trimming down to a perfect 3.5-inch square. Be sure to keep a 1/4-inch seam allowance past each point of the square. This final trim makes everything sharp and perfect, ready to join with other blocks.
From a Single Block to a Finished Quilt
Now that you’ve made one beautiful Square-in-a-Square Block, the possibilities are endless. Make each block a different color or size for a “sampler” quilt that tells a story. Or use solid colors with bold fabrics for all centers against scrappy borders to create a stunning secondary pattern. This block turns your scrap pile from a problem into an amazing palette of creativity, giving you permission to use every piece you’ve ever saved!
This block is more than just a pattern. It connects us to a history of resilience and shows us how to make a square in a square block into beautiful, quilted art without waste. This Depression-era quilting hack is proof that the best ideas are often the simplest. What will you make with the Square-in-a-Square Block? Let me know in the comments. If you found this helpful, please share it with a friend drowning in scraps! Now, go turn those scraps into something amazing.
Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
