Special thanks to CJ AKA Homesteadmamma
Our next block is going to be the Churn Dash. For this block you'll need:
- one light color
- one medium color
- 2 dark colors
You'll notice I used the same colors as the Nine Patch and you might want to do the same so your using some of your material up.
You'll also need your rotary tool, cutting mat, ruler, pencil and sandpaper, and sewing machine or needle and thread and your trusty iron.
Here is the picture of the Church Dash:
First things first. You need to wash your material if your using material other than you've used before or this is your first block your doing. I always wash my material and soak it in salt and vinegar in order to set the colors.
Once your material is washed and dried, you will want to press it. Press lightly (as in the following picture), making sure you don't push the iron across the material because it will tend to stretch it out of shape.
Once pressed, you will want to trim the selvage edges along with the rough edges as is the following picture. Again the selvage is the lengthwise edge of the fabric where the threads are double when woven. It is hard to hand stitch through this so we always trim this as in the following picture:
Now you need to take your medium dark (mine is mint green) and one of your dark colors (mine is dark burgundy) and cut 2 - 2 1/2 inch strips each color from your fat quarters as in the following picture.
Now you can take one of each and sew the strips together. So you'll take a medium colored strip (I'm using mint green) and a dark colored strip (I'm using dark burgundy) and sew those strips together. You'll do this twice.
Once that is done, press towards the dark as in the following picture. Always remember to press lightly and not to push your iron because if you push, the strips and subsequently the blocks will not be square. Always press the back first. I always press the top after, but VERY, VERY lightly.
Now you can take those strips that are sewn together, lay them out and cut 4 - 4 1/2 inch squares. Once cut, measure to make sure they are exactly 4 1/2 inches each.
You will now take your lightest color, the same color you used on your Nine-patch block (if you want) and cut 1 - 4 1/2 inch square.
Lay that aside with your other cut pieces.
Now you need to take 2 colors:
1 - dark color (I'm using dark green)
1 - med color (I'm using mint green)
From here on in, I'll just be saying dark, medium or light color and it will be your choice as to what you choose. Its easier that way and there won't be any mistakes.
Cut a strip of the dark color the full length of your fat quarter 4 7/8 inches wide. Here is where you need to be very careful with your cutting. You might want to practice on a scrap piece of material. Make sure your on the 7/8 inch line. (This is very important!!)
Do the exact same thing with your medium color - the full length of your fat quarter by 4 7/8 inches wide.
Once those 2 strips are done, take your strips and cut them into 4 7/8 inch squares. Again, make sure your exactly on the 7/8 inch line. This is very important!! It is very easy to cut on the 3/4 inch line rather than the 7/8ths. Once done, set those aside.
Please do not cut into triangles.
Before you do this with your material your using for your quilt, you might want to practise with a couple of old pieces of material so you know your doing it right and not using up your good material.
We are now going to make our triangle blocks. Take 2 of your 4 7/8 inch blocks (your light and your dark). Place one on top of each other, making sure they are facing each other the right way. By this I mean the prints are facing each other.
Take your piece of sandpaper and place it on your cutting mat. The sandpaper keeps your blocks from moving when your drawing your line. It is very important in this step. Now place your 4 7/8 inch blocks on top of the sandpaper. Make sure they are matched evenly all around the block. (you might want to measure each of them again just to make sure they are 4 7/8 inches.)
Now as in the picture, take your ruler and with your pencil draw a line corner to corner just as in the picture. I'm using a different ruler than I normally do, but you need to use your regular ruler. Make sure the ruler is lined up properly and then draw a line with your pencil as in the following picture.
Holding your block
Now take your ruler and move it over 1/4 inch from your first pencil line on the right hand side (as in the picture) and draw another line. When that is done, turn your sandpaper around and mark another line on the other side of your first pencil line. You should have 3 lines now (your main line and one on each side of your main line drawn 1/4 inch on each side of your main line).
Take your block to the sewing machine and sew on each outside line, leaving the main line alone. You will have a block that is sewn with 2 lines and the main line will not be sewn!!! Do this so that you have 4 blocks sewn.
When you've sewn the 4 blocks, you will then cut the main line, using your ruler to guide you as in the following picture.
Once the blocks are cut, open them up and you will have your triangles. Press towards the dark side (back first, then front), as in the following picture.
Now do not sew these together yet. I'll give you a little tip to sewing the proper way and a little tip if your off in the triangle blocks.
Now that you have your block finished, the next thing to do is to measure it has in the picture below. Each block should measure 4 1/2 inches. This is called squaring up the block.
Tip: Don't panic if the blocks do not measure exactly 4 1/2 inches. First, press again (back first) to see if the block gets closer to the 4 1/2 inches. If it doesn't and its only out a tiny bit, just leave it and when it comes to sewing together, I'll teach you a little trick that saves a lot of time.
We will now begin to sew the blocks together. Will do the middle row first.
Tip: Always lay your blocks out in the following manner so that you know exactly which blocks your going to sew. In the next tutorial, I'll show you what happens when you don't do this. Make it a habit and you'll have a lot less frustration and won't be using the seam ripper near as often.
Take your middle row (3 blocks) and sew them together. Once sewn together, press both seams towards the middle block. When you've finished sewing and pressing, your row should look like this.
Okay, now were going to sew the top row and then the bottom row blocks together. First a little tip in regards to our 4 1/2 inch blocks.
Tip - if your block is out just a wee bit out (not more than 1/4 inch) and that can be for any blocks you sew together, don't worry about it. When you sew it to another block, place the block at the very edge of the block being sewn to it. Then the side you sew up (1/4 inch seam side), sew your seam, making sure that your blocks do not move. Make sure the shorter block is on top. Sew your 1/4 inch, making sure your 1/4 inch is exactly on. Your bottom block will show 1/4 inch sewn, your top block will be under the 1/4 inch. But when you open it, it'll be exactly the size you need. (Hope that makes sense). You can only do this is your block is not out more than 1/4 inch.
Also often when your blocks are out a wee bit, you just have to re-press.
Now you need to take your 3 - 4 1/2 inch blocks for the top and sew together. Once sewn, press towards the centre block, back first then front as in the following picture.
Your top row should look like this:
You'll do the exact same thing with the bottom row, with your pressed row looking like this:
Now take your 3 rows that are sewn together and lay them out as in the following picture.
Tip - Check your pressing. When you sew these 3 rows together, your going to want to make sure the seams are opposite of each other in each block so that the seams fit together nicely.
Take your top and middle row and sew them together, making sure your seams are pressed opposite and fit into each other.
Bring each row together as in the following picture and then the next picture in the next post will show you how to pin it.
Once brought together and the seams fit into each other, pin as in the following picture.
Tip - always pin together your rows. Doing this will make sure you have no movement and will make for a much more accurate finished block.
Do the exact same thing with the bottom row, making sure the seams fit together.
Once finished press your block, back first then front.
Now that your block is finished, take your 15 x 15 inch ruler (here again is where this ruler is invaluable) and measure your block. If you don't have this ruler, measure with the ruler you have. It should measure 12 1/2 inches. If it doesn't, press from the back again and then the front and you should have it accurate. Again, if it is out just a wee bit, its okay. If its out more than 1/4 inch. you'll need to go back and start over!!
sewcrafty's
Another sewcrafty's
frugalmel's
mylittle4's
mrsengeseth's
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|