May 2018 – Churn Dash Block

Congratulations to Lorna LJ for winning the Pitcher Blocks.  Thanks to all who brought in blocks.

This month a bit of flair on an old block.  The Churn Dash is one of my favourite blocks.  It is easy and versatile.  It can look different just by varying sizes and colours of components.  For the May block make the background white and the foreground a print in saturated colour.  The white may be solid or white-on-white.  The print may have various colours or one colour.  The directions below are for a 9 1/2″ unfinished block.

MATERIALS

  • 1 – white 3 1/2″ square for the centre
  • 2 – white 4″ squares for the corner HSTs
  • 2 – print 4″ squares for the corner HSTs
  • 4 – white 2″ x 3 1/2″ pieces for the bars
  • 4 – print 2″ x 3 1/2″ pieces for the bars

If you want to cut the bars using strip quilting, cut a 2″ x 14 1/2″ strip of white and a 2″ x 14 1/2″ strip of the print.  Cross cut 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ pieces for the bars.
If you want to make two blocks at once, you could do the 8 HSTs-at-once using 8″ squares.  Directions are in Bloc Loc 8 at a Time.

ASSEMBLY

Using the white and print 4″ squares make four HSTs.  Trim to generous 3 1/2″ squares.

Make the bars.  You may be sewing the pieces together or sewing strips and cross cutting.  Arrange the pieces into a nine-patch.

Assemble by your favourite method.
Using chain piecing I sew the top left to middle, the left middle to the middle, and the bottom left to the middle.  Then I sew the right pieces onto the pairs.  Press carefully.  Sew the rows together.
In the Craftsy directions the top and bottom rows are pressed out and the middle row is pressed in.  That is what I did here.

Trim and voilà, a 9 1/2″ block.  If you find your blocks turn out small, you can make seams a scant 1/4″ and/or cut your 3 1/2″ squares generously.

 

 

 

 

 

RELEVANT WEBSITES

Bring your blocks to the June meeting for a chance to win the lotto!

Have fun,
Marilyn

Back to list of 2017-2018 Block of the Month blocks