The One About the Churn Dash...

As I have written before, the churn dash quilt block is one of my favorites.  I have made a few of them over the years.  Even finished a quilt and a mini made up of them.  Go here and here and here (You really should follow those links, you know...they provide 'can't live without it' info...~grin~).

Several months ago, I received an 'impossible to pass up' offer on a box of Cotton & Steel fat quarters.  Course, I knew not what to do with them...just knew that I needed to take advantage of said offer.  A churn dash quilt was what I decided on...which I started this week.  Certainly not a great time to start a project, but there you have it.  I will work on it this week, and then next week will be devoted to getting everything else done that I have planned to get done before we leave on vacation.  AND, my niece Jody will be here for a visit before we leave.

These are the fabrics I'm using...

And, here's what I have so far...

I have six blocks completed, with six more almost ready.  I was working on them one at a time until it dawned on me that I could work on several at a time...chain-piecing, here I come!  The blocks will finish at 12 inches and I am unsure at this point how many I'll make.  At least 25, which will make it a nice lap quilt.

I have a secret project I need to start tomorrow.  If you never hear another word on it, that will mean I failed abysmally.  Hopefully, you'll see the words 'secret project' again within the next week.  Keep your fingers crossed!  ~grin~

In the meantime, it is almost the weekend.  Enjoy the time!  

Oh, and I ran across this and wanted to share it with you...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Wild Churn Dash...

I finished this quilt top this morning.  Finally.  

There was much more to it than I thought there would be.  More than just fun sewing.  No simple just sew the blocks together, nosirree!!!  Changing out backgrounds and well, you just don't even want to know...and I really don't want to think about it.  ~grin~ Suffice it to say that I am very happy to have finished this in the amount of time it took, which was 11 days.  You know, I am way too anal for my own good.  I try really hard to ignore that about myself, but there are days when it is impossible!  For instance, the cherry backgrounds on two of the bottom blocks bothers me...but that was the lesser of two evils (so to speak), so I will live with it.  

I do actually love this, though.  Why?  Because it's been a wip for 5+ years and it is now finished...and it looks pretty much as I always thought it would.  I love churn dashes and monkey wrenches and I particularly love that big 8 inch half-square triangle border!  It measures 64 inches square...a perfect lap quilt size.  

Now, of course, it will go in with my other flimsies...and one day become a finished quilt!  


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Is This Fun??

Gosh.  What a day Naomi Janome and I had yesterday!  I did as much ripping out as I did sewing.  Trying to not be too anal about color/print/square placement, but sometimes...and much too often yesterday...I had to change things around.  

But, I had a total of 5 blocks done!  I was very happy about that!
Here are the three I did yesterday...

block 3

block 4

block 5

After my bit of frustration, I decided that I am going to do just 9 of these blocks.  

Today, I did just one more block...

ohdear...I just now noticed that the monkey wrench blocks in this row (blocks 4 and 6) are different color, but of the same fabric. Darn! Well, I will decide what to do about that tomorrow.    

I made something for myself today.  The lighting is not good for photo-taking right now, so will get some photos tomorrow.

Have a good night!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

This is Fun!!

When I was going through my fabric the other day, I ran across something I had all but forgotten about.  A  bundle of fabric and some already made blocks.  Here's the story on that.  

About a million years ago...okay, only 5 years ago...I belonged to a block swap.  (Actually, I belonged to several in a 3 year period.  I'll have to think about doing that sort of thing again.)  At any rate, April of 2010 (see what I mean...a million years ago!) was my month to have blocks made.  I opted for churn dash and monkey wrench blocks...one of each was made by the other 11 quilters.  I got back from 10 of them, so I have 20 blocks that are sized at 12 1/2 inches.  The fabric collection is Wildrose by Brannock and Patek for Moda.    

I designated this weekend for fun sewing, remember?  So, I thought...why not?  I spent a few hours yesterday looking at the fabrics and making sure I knew how I wanted to proceed.  And, I cut squares...and more squares!  Lots of squares!  Some to make into half-square triangles and some to make into 4-patch blocks and some to remain as squares.

Here is a photo of the original quilt I was inspired by.  I would happily give credit, but even back then, I lost track of the information.  I apologize for this...it is a beautiful quilt, for sure!   

For some reason, Tag and I were up at 4:00 this morning.  No reason...more his idea than mine.  But, there it is. So, by the time 7:30 rolled along, 90% of the chores I wanted to do today were done.  All that was left to do was laundry (which is still waiting for me).  So, I played.

The first thing I did was to rethink the size of the quilt.  With 20 blocks, the quilt would have 4 blocks across and 5 blocks down.  With the added pieces, the blocks will finish at 16 inches.  Add in the 8 inch borders and the quilt would measure 80 x 96 inches.  Hmmmm...nope.  I have no need for a quilt that large.  Okay, time to think about what I am going to do with the quilt.  Keep it or sell it? More than likely, I will keep it.  Just because.  So, what will I do with it?  More than likely, it will end up as a lap quilt.  I could go 3 across and 4 down...that would put it at 64 x 80 inches...which is a little large for me as a lap quilt.  Well, then...how about 3 blocks across and 3 blocks down?  That would work...64 x 64 inches.  Okay, but I have 20 blocks.  Well, I could make 2 quilts, I suppose. Haha...we shall see.  Let's get one done, first.  ~grin~ 

All of that being said, I am going to play it by ear and just plug away at this until it's where I want it to be.  So.  Here is the first block I completed...  

block 1

 And, here's the second one...

block 2

Remember, the churn dash and monkey wrench blocks were already done.  All I am doing is adding 7 pieces to one side and the top or bottom.  One block at a time.

It is definitely going to be interesting to put this together!  

It is a gloomy, rainy day.  Perfect for sewing and listening to music.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Next Up...

A few weeks ago I showed these fabrics...

 and mentioned that I needed to add to them.

So, I did...

here is what I now have.

Fabrics are mostly Vintage Happy

with a few pieces of Bake Sale,

both by Lori Holt.

 I added in some Riley Blake
checkers, dots & chevrons.

And, I think that I will use them for this quilt...

Click here for more information.

The churn dash quilt block is one of my faves,

so this could be fun. 

I am still working on the wonky charm quilt and I have a few other things in the works.  I will show progress photos soon.  

In the meantime, it's Friday.  Have a great weekend!!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

What Inspires Me...

I see a lot of things I like...and that I would like to make, but not all of them truly inspire me.  This, on the other hand...definitely does.  This quilt is made up of churn dash and monkey wrench blocks...

as well as plenty of half-square triangles.  Isn't it fabulous?  (I apologize...I never noted where I saw the photo so am unable to give credit to the person who made it.)  What I love about this quilt is that there is a method to its madness, yet it looks so random.  It so inspired me that when I belonged to the Bee Addicted 3 block swap two years ago, churn dash and monkey wrench blocks were what I asked for.  Alas, those blocks are still waiting to be worked with.  I think at the time it seemed like such a huge project.  Perhaps I'll get to it this year.

Take a look at these churn dash quilts made by Erin of Why Not Sew?.  She stitched one by hand and one by machine...

Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it.  I love her use of fabrics...these small quilts look so old and soft and already loved.  Don't you think?

You may remember that our first block in the hand-pieced quiltalong, with Erin of Why Not Sew?  was the churn dash block.  Here's mine...

Last but not least, my latest inspiration...this small quilt I saw at Purl Bee.

They call it Masking Tape Quilt...because of the way the little square blocks of fabric look.  I think it is dang cute.

Wondering where all of this is leading?  Why, to this little churn dash quilt I am working on.  All the blocks are pieced...and this is about as random as I get.  And, yet, there is some kind of order to it.  The top is finished...I would love to have it completely done before Sunday night comes.

What inspires you?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Churn Dash and Final Block!

I have a few things to show off you.

The FINAL block of my
'snow days' quilt is done!

I cannot believe I've done 

14 blocks in eleven months!

Now the real fun begins.

I have many fabric blocks to make...

churn dashes, stars, & pinwheels.

I bought the fabric last year and

have been waiting (& waiting) to work with it.

And...

I hand-pieced my very first block!
Yes, I did...
I pieced it by hand!
And, even better?

I rather enjoyed doing it!

This is a churn dash block...

the first block of the Hand Piecing Quiltalong

I'm doing with Erin.

I will finish sewing the binding

on the baby girl quilt tonight.
That'll give me something else to show off you!

Have a good evening.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11