Churn Dash Tutorial

Let's make some butter today!

(Special Thanks to Jan from Sew Sow In Love for getting that "code" stuck in my head today on Twitter!)

Ok today I am going to teach you all to make butter (the Churn Dash quilt block that is).

Tools:

* Acrylic Rulers: I used a 2-1/2" square, 2-1/2" x 16" rectangle, and a 4-1/2" square.

* Sewing machine

* Neutral Thread: I use Aurifil #2000

* Rotary cutter and mat

* Iron and Ironing board

Ingredients needed:

* Scraps from 2 different fabrics (see measurements below for amount needed).

I am using 1800s Civil War Reproduction fabric in blue (background) and red (focus).

Let's get Churning!

Step 1: Press fabric to get the wringkles or creases out.

Step 2: Cut fabric. Remember measure twice, cut once!

From blue fabric: (1) 2-1/2" square, (1) 1-1/2" x 12" strip, (2) 2-7/8" squares.

From red fabric: (1) 1-1/2" x 12" strip and (2) 2-7/8" squares.

(I'm missing my 2-1/2" square of blue fabric in the above picture. I had forgotten to cut it out when I took it.)

Step 3: Draw a diagonal line on the blue (lighter fabric) fabric.

Step 4: Place one blue square on top of one red square and repeat with the other squares. Also place the strips on top of each other.

Step 5: Sew 1/4" along one long side of the strips. Sew 1/4" on each side of the drawn lines on the squares. After you have sewn the seams for the squares, cut down the drawn line to make 2 Half Square Triangles from each set (total of 4 HSTs).

Step 6: Press seams to the dark fabric.

Step 7: Square the end of the strip and then cut (4) 2-1/2" squares.

(Make sure that when you measure to make the 2-1/2" squares seam centered on the ruler.)

Step 8: Square up the HSTs.

Step 9: Layout all of the squares in their correct spots according to the pattern.

Step 10: Sew the rows together and press seams toward the red (darker fabric).

Step 11:  Sew rows together and press seams toward the red (darker fabric).

This is a super easy block. It took me maybe 30 mins to make (including time it took to take photos and get my kids stuff). This could also be easily made into a signature block too!

Happy Sewing!