Well, it's that time again, for the new April block release. This month is a little different, there are blocks and blocks and more blocks to assemble, as it is time to assemble the border blocks that you cut last month....
so, without further ado, here's the block for this month : The Churn Dash
Start by cutting all of your pieces....
Cut the following :
1 - 4 1/2" square of background (for the center square)
4 - 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" pieces of background
4 - 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" pieces of dark (I used the purple and turquoise print)
2 - 4 7/8" squares of medium accent (I used the purple floral print)
2 - 4 7/8" squares of the background
Once they are all cut out, draw a line from corner to corner on the back side of the 2 - 4 7/8" squares.
Place the background 4 7/8" squares on top of the 4 7/8" purple squares.
Now, sew 1/4" on each side of the drawn line
Then cut on the drawn line, and press towards the dark. You should now have 4 - 4 1/2" squares, which are half purple and half background.
Now, let's make the bars.
Sew the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" strip together, along the 4 1/2" side, You should now have 4 - 4 1/2" squares which are half background and half dark.
Now, lay them out on your board as pictured below.
Now, sew together in rows, pressing away from the bars (towards the triangles or center, depending upon row).
Now, sew the rows together, and press all of it nice and flat. And that is the Churn Dash!!!
And now, we are going to work on the borders that we cut last month.....as you remember, last month we cut the border blocks, now we are going to sew them.....
Here's the stuff we cut.....7 - 3 1/2" strips of background and 7 - 3 1/2" strips of accent. I reused the dark in this one, but in the original I used a navy blue semi-solid batik from Island Batiks. I wanted something to ground the quilt, so it works as an accent border.
Sew the 3 1/2" dark and background strips together using a quarter inch seam allowance. Open and press towards the dark.
Now, square up the strip, and then cut the strips into 3 1/2" segments. Cut 56 segments.
Now, rotate one of the segments, to make a block.
Match the edges and centers, and sew all 56 into pairs. You should now have 28 - 6 1/2" 4 patch blocks.
Now, take out 20 of the 6 1/2" background blocks that you cut last month (there will be a few extras, which will be used later). Lay them out like the picture below, and then sew them. Press towards the large background square. Make 20.
Now, flip half of the units over, and lay them out as below, and sew. Your block should now measure 12 1/2" square. Make 10, and set aside
Take the remaining 8 - 4 patch blocks and the 8 - 6 1/2" background squares, and lay them out as below. These will become your 4 corner blocks.
And now, we're finished for this month. I hope you stayed around, I know this one had a lot more sewing. Next month, we'll have a couple of blocks and we'll prep the side setting triangles.
Until next month, happy sewing!!!
Catherin
