Showing posts with label churn dash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label churn dash. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Chubby Churn Dash

This weekend I had the opportunity to take a class with Mary Fons (yes THE Fons and Porter Mary Fons!) When I saw she was going to be teaching at a retreat center 30 minutes from my parents I knew I had to go. The class was aimed at beginners, but I wanted to meet the woman who taught me so much about quilting.  She joined her mom on the show around the same time that I started quilting. It was so nice to see someone my age asking the questions I wanted answered and making the same mistakes I was. We really did learn together.



The class used the half and quarter triangle ruler. I love learning different ways for making HSTs. It seemed weird at first to cut triangles out instead of squares, but I loved being able to press and move on with perfect HSTs. It was also really fun seeing how the quilters all made the same block, but every block was unique. It was so wonderful to get together in a relaxed setting and learn from each other. Most of the ladies and gentleman who were there have been quilting for several years and were there to meet and learn from Mary. (Even though we were experienced quilters who could have made a churn dash on our own I heard everyone say that they learned at least one thing in the class. If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Mary DO IT!!!!!)


I lean towards the modern and while I haven't done improve or wonky, I do choose more modern colors. I decided to do (another) monochromatic quilt that plays on shades of grey. I did push myself though and chose grey prints. I might have a couple that are the same line or designer, but I chose fat quarters so for most of my fabrics I don't have a clue who designed or made it. As I was laying out my blocks they looked a bit flat so I added a pop of yellow to each block. It ties together all of the blocks and really makes everything pop.  I think there will be one yellow churn dash some where in the quilt too. I can't wait until I get the rest of my churn dashes made and get to see this quilt. I think it's going to be a stunning one.


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Farmer's Wife Sunday?

Over the weekend I washed the paint chip quilt. I did have to pick off some fuzzies, but it looks so much better. I'm hoping the weather will cooperate enough this week that I can get some finish pictures and actually have a Friday Finish to write about. Since I got my Farmer's Wife blocks for this week done today I figured I'd share those as my beginning of the week post. Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting her annual hands to help challenge. Today she's hosting a link party of tips and tricks. The Wrench and Churn Dash blocks for this quilt are identical so I took pictures of my method for making churn dash blocks if you're only making one (or making lots of scrappy ones.)

The size of your block will determine the size of squares you start with. Since I'm making 6" blocks I started with 3" squares. Cut four 3" squares of each color. Mark two light squares diagonally for HSTs, and two light squares vertically down the middle. (Sorry I didn't take pictures of the HST part, but there's lots of tutorials out there for that.)

Sew 1/4" on each side of the line you marked.


Here's how it looks all sewn up. (Check out the new ruler I got this weekend. I've been trimming lots of 3.5" blocks lately and love that I won't have to reposition my ruler any more. Plus the tiny ruler is super cute!!!)


Cut on the line and press open. Trim to 2.5". (There is a bit of waste, but I found this easier than cutting rectangles and worrying about having everything facing the right direction.)


Cut a center square 2.5" and assemble block as shown. I'm thinking of using a bunch of charm squares in my stash to make a quilt of giant churn dashes. If I do that then I'll trim my pieces to 4.5" before assembly and my blocks will finish at 12".

#111 Wrench (aka churn dash)

My second block this weekend is #72 Railroad. I really love how this block looks. I'm already playing with it in EQ7 and thinking about making a full quilt featuring this block.

#72 Railroad

28/111
30:05
*It's official. I've made one quarter of the blocks for this quilt!


Confessions Of A Fabric Addict