The most precise way to make an Economy Quilt Block is to use a fabric cutting machine like AccuQuilt to cut out the pieces for you! I’ve been a huge fan of AccuQuilt for a while now, and this Economy Quilt block tutorial will show you exactly why I love it so much! Making an Economy Quilt block using AccuQuilt is super easy and there’s a good chance you already have the dies you’ll need! Follow the tutorial below to get started and learn all my secrets for making a perfect and precise quilt block.
If you don’t have an AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine, you can still make an Economy Quilt Block using a rotary cutter by following this Economy quilt block tutorial.
Have you ever struggled to sew curves while making a quilt design? Me too! But I’ve learned some secrets to sewing curves that I am just so excited to share with quilters like you! This article shares the easy way to sew curves for making a patchwork quilt!
Learn my tips for cutting & sewing curves perfectly every time, and gain confidence in the quilting technique of sewing curves. Of course, sewing larger curves is a bit easier than tighter curves, but by the end of this quilting tutorial you’ll be ready to take on any kind of curve!
If you prefer to learn how to sew curves from a video, check out all my curve sewing tips here:
The Economy quilt block was popular in the 1930’s and is still a beloved quilt block to make today! This step-by-step patchwork tutorial will show you how I make an Economy quilt block, and hopefully give you the confidence to successfully make your own as well!
While of course Economy Quilt Blocks can be found in tons of traditional quilts throughout time, I like to give them a modern twist in my own patterns. Once example of a modern way to use the Economy block is in the Paradigm quilt pattern, which will be released on January 14th in my pattern shop.
Patchwork and piecing require an immense amount of precision, especially when it comes to sewing a perfect quarter inch seam for quilting! These tips will help you learn how to get an accurate seam allowance for quilting projects every time. Once you work through these steps once, you should be good to go for perfect seams, and you’ll know exactly how to check them if you’re ever unsure.
I’ve been sewing and making quilts for years, but truth be told I’ve still been perfecting my 1/4″ seam. In my opinion, getting perfect seams is one of the most tricky parts of quilting, but also one of the most rewarding when you open up your seams and see points coming together ever so precisely!
If you prefer watching these tips in action, check out this video:
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Learn How to Get Perfect Quarter Inch Seams
1. Start with Accurate Cutting
There’s really no way around it: accurate patchwork seams start with accurate cutting, or to phrase it differently: it’s near impossible to get perfect blocks when you start with wonky fabric pieces! I personally get my most precise quilts when I use my AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine to cut my pieces. (Learn more about AccuQuilt here.)
If a fabric die cutting machine isn’t for you, make sure you get really good with rotary cutter and rulers, because the best way to ensure precision is to start off with precise pieces!
2. Use a Guide Foot for Perfect Quarter Inch Seams
When sewing your quilt pieces together, it helps to have a foot with a 1/4″ line or guide. I personally have been using the one shown in these images that had a line marking the 1/4″ point, but when I first began quilting I used a foot with an actual guide on it that really helped! Using seam tape on your machine is also a good option, so you have something to line your fabric up with to make sure it is straight before feeding through the machine.
3. Measure distance from guide to the needle
Even if you have the correct foot on your machine, it’s possible that it’s not 100% accurate – so, let’s measure! Take your quilting ruler and place it underneath your presser foot. The needle should come juuust to the right of the quarter inch line. If it doesn’t, go on to the next step to learn what to do to fix it!
4. Adjust Your Needle Position
If your sewing machine allows you to adjust the needle placement, moving it to the left and right ever so slightly can make a big difference in your quilt piecing accuracy. Adjust your needle placement so that your needle is just to the right of the 1/4″ mark when lining it up with the presser foot guide.
5. Test it Out
Once you think you have your machine and foot set correctly, sew some pieces together to check out the accuracy. Press them in whatever manner you’d usually press (I tend to press open) and then measure the seam allowances to see how it worked out! You can also measure the total unit to see if it comes to your desired size. If it’s not perfect, repeat the process above until it is!
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Just like most things in life, the more you practice, the better you’ll become and the easier it will be! Keep sewing and quilting and practicing and you will definitely get the hang of the perfect quarter inch seam soon! As someone who has been quilting for almost 10 years, I can say I am still practicing! And I do still have to take out my ruler and measure every once in a while too..
If you enjoyed this tutorial, here are a couple others you might like too!
English Paper Piecing, called EPP for short, is a hand sewing technique used in quilting. It features using shapes of card stock to keep the fabric in the correct sizes and shapes.
If this is your first time trying English Paper Piecing, this video might help you see the two main types of stitches you can use. I’d suggest you try out both and see which way you prefer.
If you’re new to quilting, there’s a chance you aren’t yet familiar with the concept of “chain sewing”. Chain sewing is one of my favorite techniques for quickly piecing many blocks at one time. To put it simply, chain sewing saves time & thread! To chain sew, you simply sew a bunch of pieces one after the other without snipping the thread in between until you’re done.
If you want to see chain sewing in action, check out this fun video:
