Easy 6" Churn Dash quilt block Tutorial!!!...

Don't you just love the churn dash block?

It's been around forever and I've seen many made by my great grandma, my grandma and great aunts make them using templates.

But as you know…

I like to rotary cut!

I thought you might be interested to see how I make my churn dash block!

I cut the center square 2 1/2".

(Also cut 4 corner squares and 4 background squares for the half square triangles in the corners at 2 1/2")

The rectangles are cut 1 1/2" x 2 1/2".

After I cut all of the pieces...I lay them out on my mini design board to "audition" them and make sure that I'm happy with each fabric and the placement.

When piecing half square triangles....

I use the same piecing method that I have taught for years and the same method that I use in my pattern instructions...

which is the easy corner triangle method.

I'm sure most of you have heard of this method...

it's been around for years too.

(just like me...ha!)

Basically that means whenever possible...

I cut squares instead of triangles and stitch them from corner to corner and then trim the seam allowance off...

and press the triangles open to

 reveal a half square triangle!

As you know when cutting triangles it's a little more difficult to stitch them accuratly because they are prone to stretching because of the bias cut...

but this way they are stitched across the bias first and then trimmed...

therefore...

no stretching and complete accuracy!

Of course I still cut triangles when I can't use my easy corner triangle method.

I clothesline stitched all of the squares together from corner to corner.

I use the Angler 2 to help keep

my stitching accurate.

 My Bernina is built into the countertop in my studio so it's easy to keep the Angler 2 on it all of the time.

I keep my cut pieces on my design board right next to my machine when I'm piecing...that way...I know exactly how the pieces go together and which piece to sew to what side and all that!

  I came up with the idea to make mini portable design boards in 1999 when I started teaching a series of

8 week beginning pieces classes.

I found that most of the time that my students made a piecing mistake was when the pieces were getting accidentally turned around in between cutting, pressing, sewing, and back over to pressing again.

I thought if they could just put thier cut blocks on a design board...and keep them on there between each step...it would be so much easier and there would be alot less

"un-sewing" going on.

So that's what I did and they worked out very well and I have been making them and using them in my teaching ever since!

By the way...in most of my patterns I have given directions on how to make them.

I clothesline sew everything that I can and then place the pieces back onto my design board.

And pick up the board to take over to my iron all at the same time.

I clip them apart...

and give the half square triangles a quick press to set the seams before I trim off the excess.

When I trim...I don't measure,

 I just eyeball a 1/4" seam allowance.

 No worries...it doesn't have to be accurate because it has already been stitched!

Then I press open my half square triangles ...usually with the seam allowance towards the darkest fabric....and place them back into the proper place on my design board...this is done with a quick glance at the block pattern to make sure all of the pieces are going the right way!

It also helps to have all of the pieces laid out in front of you on the design board so that you can decide the best direction to press your seam allowance's for less bulk within the finished block.

After each segment is pressed...

they go right back onto the design board....

and back over to the machine for more clotheslining...

or chain piecing...

whatever you want to call it:)

And again...from the machine, right back on to the design board....

And back on over to the iron....

And sew on...

and sew on...

And sew on:)

And we have a finished block!....

no pieces turned the wrong direction....

which means no un-sewing...

Which also means no stretching or distorting of pieces....

Which means an accurate block that will fit perfectly into the quilt!...and after all....that's what we all want right?

The mini design boards really do make a difference and I hear from my students all the time about how much they love them and how helpful they are.

So...if you think this looks like fun...and if you are so inclined to try something new in the way that you piece your blocks....and you wanna try it...

CLICK HERE

And I'll show you how to make your very own

 mini design board:)

xx

Lori