Delaware Quilts

Churn Dash

This block has as many names as it does pieces to make it. It is most commonly called Churn Dash, but it is also called Double Monkey Wrench, Broken Plate, Double T, Fisherman's Reel, Hen and Chickens, Hole in the Barn Door, Indian Hammer, Joan's Doll Quilt, Lincoln's Platform, Love Knot, Ludlow's Favorite, Monkey Wrench, Old Mill Design, Picture Frame, Quail's Nest, Sherman's March and I'm sure there are more.

To make one 6 inch finished Churn Dash block you need:
      Two 2 7/8 inch squares of the blue
      Two 2 7/8 inch squares and one 2 1/2 inch square of your white fabric (background)
      One 10 inch by 1 1/2 inch strip each of gold and the white fabric (background). (Or you may cut four 2 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch rectangles each of the gold and white fabrics)
Other sizes are listed below.

If you decided to cut the 10 by 1 1/2 inch strips, put them right sides together and sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Then cut into four 2 1/2 inch segments.
If you decided to cut them as 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch segments, sew them together into 2 1/2 inch squares.

Let's make the blue and white triangle squares next. Carefully draw a line corner to corner, (diagonally) through the white 2 7/8 inch squares. This will be a cutting line when you are finished. Place blue and white 2 7/8 inch square right sides together. If you have a true 1/4 inch foot on your machine, you can sew on either side of the drawn line.

If not, you will have to draw a second line on either side, exactly 1/4 inch from the first line. They will be your sewing lines. After you have sewn on your sewing lines, 1/4 inch on either side of your corner to corner to line, you will cut this square in half on the drawn cutting line. Clip off the corners as shown.

You will now have two triangle squares, which should measure exactly 2 1/2 inches. You need four for this block.


Make two units like this

And one unit like this.

Then assemble your Churn Dash block like this. It should measure 6 1/2 inches.
           

Here are the cuts needed to make Churn Dash blocks in many different sizes (smaller & larger):
      Cutting your squares 1 1/2 inches, 1 7/8 for triangles, and 1 1/2 by 1 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 3 inches.
      Cutting your squares 2 inches, 2 3/8 for triangles, and 2 by 1 1/4 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 4 1/2 inches.
      Cutting your squares 2 1/2 inches, 2 7/8 for triangles, and 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 6 inches.
      Cutting your squares 3 inches, 3 3/8 for triangles, and 3 by 1 3/4 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 7 1/2 inches.
      Cutting your squares 3 1/2 inches, 3 7/8 for triangles, and 3 1/2 by 2 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 9 inches.
      Cutting your squares 4 inches, 4 3/8 for triangles, and 4 by 2 1/4 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 10 1/2 inches.
      Cutting your squares 4 1/2 inches, 4 7/8 for triangles, and 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 12 inches.
      Cutting your squares 5 1/2 inches, 5 7/8 for triangles, and 5 1/ 2 by 3 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 15 inches.
      Cutting your squares 6 1/2 inches, 6 7/8 for triangles, and 6 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches for the rectangles will give you a finished block of 18 inches.
Finished means after the block is sewn into a quilt.

Churn Dash © Delaware Quilts June 2014
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Updated October 8, 2022

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