Chunky Churn Dash Re-Write!

This pattern/tutorial was first uploaded to my blog in 2005.  Long before the Essential Triangle Tool was even a dream.

I am teaching this class in just a few weeks in Michigan, so it was time to do a re-write and get things up to par, and written more in pattern form.  There will be more pattern revisiting and refreshing and updating in the days to come as time allows.

I hope you enjoy this little bit of archival scrappiness!
 
You can download the new printer-friendly PDF file for this pattern HERE.
 

Chunky Churn Dash!

A Quiltville Design

©2005 Bonnie K Hunter and Quiltville.com

Block Size: 6’’

Quilt Size: 79’’ X 79’’

What could be more fun than simple little 6" blocks repeated in favorite scrap fabrics?

We are all familiar with the traditional 'churn dash' block that has half square triangles in the corners. It has long been a quilter's favorite. What if we were to leave those triangles out and piece the corners as squares instead? The result is TOO CUTE!

I have a system of cutting down leftover fabrics into strips in widths of 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3", and 3.5". Anything smaller than a 'strip' gets cut into squares of the same various sizes. This gives me a way to keep things always at hand, always ready to sew together when inspiration hits me!

This darling quilt was made using strips from the 1.5" bin and the 2.5" bin. The centers for the blocks came from the bin of light scrap 2.5" squares, though you could just as easily cut them from your strips if you wanted.


For each Chunky Churn Dash block you will need:
1.5" X 11" strip of background
1.5" X 11" strip of 'rail' fabric
(4) 2.5" squares for block corners
(1) 2.5" center background square (can be scrappy or can match the other background strip.)

Assembly:

Start by sewing the 11" strips with right sides together along one long side.
Press the strips open with the seam allowance going towards the darker fabric.



Fold the pieced strip in half and square off one edge. Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut the strip into (4) 2.5" sub sections.



Lay out your block pieces as shown and sew the block together as you would a 9 patch....sew the block pieces into three rows, and then sew the three rows together. Don't you agree these blocks are just TOO CUTE?

My pile is growing!

(Old 2005 photos are grainy!)

This quilt has 61 chunky churn dash blocks, and
60 hour glass alternate blocks.

Hour glass alternate blocks are GREAT because they make the blocks look like they are set 'on point', when they aren't!


*OPTIONAL!* This quilt was made in 2005, 11 years before my Essential Triangle became available.



If you want to work easier and smarter, these hour glass units can be made from 3 1/2'' strips using my new Essential Triangle Tool!

Traditional Rotary Cutting Method:
To make the alternate blocks you will need:
(30) 7 1/4" squares light background
(30) 7 1/4" squares dark focal fabric.

Layer the squares light and dark with right sides together. Cut the matched pairs of squares corner to corner twice with an X. You will get 4 matched pairs of triangles from each set.

Joining block halves.

Pieces are cut this way so that when the triangles are sewn into the hour glass blocks, the straight grain of the fabric is on the outside edge of the block all the way around.

Stitch pairs into hourglass halves. Press seams to the darker fabric. Join halves to complete each unit. Press. Trim dog ears. Make 60.

Loving how these are coming together.

The whole center on my living room floor

Lay out blocks in desired position, watching which way the hour glass units turn to complete the design.

Join blocks into rows and join rows to complete the quilt center. Press.

Inner border:

From neutral print cut 8 1 1/2’’ strips across the fabric from selvage to selvage.
From blue print cut 8 1 1/2’’ strips across the fabric from selvage to selvage.

Join the 8 neutral border strips end to end on the diagonal to make a border length approximately 310” long. Press seams open. Repeat with the 8 blue strips.

Place the long border strips with right sides together and stitch a center seam into one long border length.

Quilt Assembly Diagram

Lay the quilt center out on the floor, smoothing it gently. Do not tug or pull. Measure the quilt through the center from top to bottom. Cut 4 inner borders this length.

Add a 2 1/2’’ cut cornerstone square to each end of 2 of the borders. Press seam toward the border, away from the cornerstones.

Sew the side borders to the quilt sides with right sides together, pinning to match centers and ends easing where necessary to fit. Press seams toward the borders.

Stitch the top and bottom inner borders to the quilt center, pinning to match centers and ends, easing where necessary to fit. Press seams toward borders.

Outer Border:

From border fabric cut 9 5’’ strips across the fabric from selvage to selvage.
Join the 9 border strips end to end on the straight of grain to make a border length approximately 360” long. Press seams open.

Add the outer borders in the same manner as the inner borders were added, using 5’’ squares for cornerstones.


It's not a quilt until it's quilted! I machine quilted this quilt with beige thread using an edge to edge design by Willow Leaf Studios called "Rhapsody".

The quilt is bound in blue and is a favorite snuggle quilt my family fights over.

I hope you enjoyed making Chunky Churn Dash and take the time to discover all the other free quilt patterns and scrappy fun happening on my blog, Quiltville’s Quips & Snips at Quiltville.blogspot.com

I’m busy on Facebook and Instagram and always searching for something more to piece together and quilt up!

And don’t forget that all important label!
©2005 Bonnie K Hunter and Quiltville.com
All Rights Reserved.

 

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