• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nikki, In Stitches

Wife, Mom, Maker

  • Blog
  • About
    • Meet Nikki
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Make It Together
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Churn Dash – Your First Quilt Block

Nikki · March 28, 2009 · 3 Comments

Are you ready?  At this point, you’ve practiced cutting your fabric, and you’ve mastered the quarter inch seam.  The only thing left to do is just do it!  I tried to pick a block that was easy, yet also visually interesting.  Churn Dash is this block’s traditional name, but depending on your fabric choices, this block can certainly look modern.  I have included some tips along the way.  They appear in italics.  If you’re new to quilting, you should take the time to read them.  If you are an experienced quilter, you are probably to the point where the suggestions I provide  just come naturally.  This is my first attempt at teaching quilting via my blog, so if there are suggestions for improvements, feel free to speak up.  I plan to do at least eight more of these, and I’d like them to be as user friendly as possible.  As always, questions and comments are welcome!

Enjoy!

Nikki, In Stitches

White tonal:

  • Cut 4 rectangles 4 1/2″ x 2 1/2″

Brown Paisley:

  • Cut 4 rectangles 4 1/2″ x 2 1/2″

White Paisley:

  • Cut 2 large squares 4 7/8″ x 4 7/8″
  • Cut 1 small square 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″

Green Houndstooth:

  • Cut 2 large squares 4 7/8″ x 4 7/8″

1. With right sides together, sew 1 white tonal rectangle and 1 brown paisley rectangle together to make Unit A. Press to the darker fabric. Make 4 Unit A’s.

A note on pressing: “Pressing” and “Ironing” are very different, especially to a quilter. Quilters press. They use an up and down motion, not the typical back and forth motion of ironing. After a piece has been sewn, set your seam by placing the piece dark side up on your ironing surface. Put the iron down on the seam, then bring the iron straight up. Next, lift the top layer up, and moving from right to left, run the iron along the seam with the body of the iron parallel to your sewing. Good pressing skills make quilting easier, so take the time to carefully press your pieces.

2. Draw a diagonal line on the back of each green houndstooth square from corner to corner. With right sides together, place 1 green houndstooth square on top of 1 white paisley square. Stitch 1/4″ on each side of the drawn line. Cut the square into two triangles by cutting on the drawn diagonal line. Press to the houndstooth fabric.

When triangle units are made, there are always “dog ears” that stick out from your seams after they are pressed. Cut these little triangles off before attaching another piece to prevent bulk in your seams.

3. Sew a houndstooth triangle unit to each side of Unit A. Press towards the houndstooth triangle unit. Repeat this with the other two remaining houndstooth triangle units.

4. Sew the remaining two Unit A’s to each side of the small paisley square. Press toward the paisley square.

5. Sew Rows 1 and 2 together, pressing towards Row 2. Sew Row 3 on to the bottom, pressing towards Row 2 again.

The importance of which direction you press your seams should now become apparent. If you have pressed your seams in the directions that were recommended above, they should abut to each other nicely as you sew your rows together. With practice, you will be able to judge which direction to press, but most patterns offer suggestions. When in doubt, press to the darker fabric to avoid any color showing through your finished quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

For other posts from Nikki, In Stitches related to the Relay Quilt, please see the following:

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

Cheap Trick

And For Your Second Block…A Card Trick

Third Times a Charm, or a Sawtooth Patchwork

Back to Blocks…4th: Gentleman’s Fancy?

Block Five: A Dove in the Window

Block Six: A Flower Pot…My Fave So Far

7th Block: Crow’s Foot…And You Can Actually See the Feet!

Block 8: Pinwheel and Squares…Don’t Be Afraid!

Rosebud: The 9th and FINAL Block!

The End is in Sight!

A Quilt Sambo

Bound and Determined

Tagged and Ready for the Relay

Relay Results

Filed Under: Blog, Sewing Tagged With: Quilting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kacie says

    March 30, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Hi, Nikki – Thanks so much for this tutorial! I linked to it on the Churn Dash block page. I know other quilters will find it very helpful, too! Thanks, again!

    Reply
  2. Barb says

    May 11, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    Hi, Nikki – Just found this site, I will start the block as soon as I finish this quick note of ‘THANKS’. Barb

    Reply
    • nikkiinstitches says

      May 11, 2009 at 6:27 pm

      Thank You, Barb!
      I’m so glad you like my site. Hopefully, this week I will finish up the quilting posts with sashing and borders, quilting, and binding. I hope you enjoy all of the blocks and tutorials!
      Nikki

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Wife. Mom. Maker.
A little bit of all of that goes here.
Read more.

Search DIY Tutorials

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • mail
  • pinterest
  • youtube

Categories

On My Work Table Today

I’ve completely lost myself in my current design. I don’t mean like lost my sense of style, or lost my motivation, or even lost track of what direction I wanted to take this piece. I mean like I literally lost myself. I’ve been in my studio for hours on end, draping, drafting, and editing on repeat. I am a complete mess, in every sense of the word. My studio is covered in discarded … [Read More...] about Lost In Design…And Loving It

My Favorite Projects

Curtain Rod Connectors Part 2 – Create Your Own Custom Corner Curtain Rod

December 14, 2021 By Nikki Leave a Comment

Curtain Rod Connectors Part 1 - Give The Appearance Of One Continuous Rod

Curtain Rod Connectors Part 1 – Give The Appearance Of One Continuous Rod

October 27, 2021 By Nikki 1 Comment

Tips For Installing Your Own Picture Frame Molding

Tips for Installing Your Own Picture Frame Molding

October 6, 2021 By Nikki Leave a Comment

My Recommendations

Silhouette Cutting Systems

DeWALT Tools

Oracle Vinyl

Home Decor Project Ideas

Curtain Rod Connectors Part 1 - Give The Appearance Of One Continuous Rod
Tips For Installing Your Own Picture Frame Molding

Copyright © 2023 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in · Privacy Policy