Design Wall Monday April 4, 2011

WaaLaa - Drum roll please........  I finally got my Double Churn Dash top done.  This was made using recycled plaid shirts.  I'll take this opportunity to thank my sister Cathy for sending me some shirts from Wisconsin.  It was a Bonnie Hunter idea to use 100 % cotton shirts bought from local thrift stores.  And now I can't wait for yard sales to start so I can get some more shirts/material.  My camera doesn't like plaids. It tends to distort them. So sorry my picture is blurry.

Thanks to Patchwork Times for a place to share our design walls on Mondays.

I also want to share how to make the block.  This was a block that I did not have a pattern for but wanted to make.  I don't have a computer to program to help with the math so that is why it is a odd size.  If I knew then what I know now......anyway here are the measurements I used for the blocks.

The small/inner block finishes at 4 1/2"

Cut from the fabrics

Light Fabric   (small block)                                               Dark Fabric   (small block)
1  @    2" x 2" sq                                                             4  @    2" x 1 1/4"
4  @    2" x 1 1/4"                                                            2  @    2 3/8" x 2 3/8"
2  @    2 3/8" x 2 3/8"

Using the 2 3/8" light squares mark a diagonal  line from corner to corner. 

Lay a light piece on the top of the dark piece right sides together.  Sew a scant 1/4" on each side of the diagonal line.  You will then cut it apart on the line. Press the seam line open toward the darker of the two fabrics.  Trim off the dog ears.  These will be your corner units.  This will make four units.
Using the light and dark pieces that are 2" x 1 1/4"  lay a light on top of the dark and sew down the 2" side press open toward the dark side.  This will make 4 units.

Lay the pieces out as shown in the picture above using the 2" x 2" light square in the center. Sew together in rows as shown below. 

 I have shown you the back so you can see how I pressed the seams in opposite directions.  Then sew the rows together and tada a 5" block.  (Which I did not take a picture of.)

For the large block cut from the fabrics:

Light Fabric  (large block)                                                            Dark Fabric  (large block)

4  @    5" x 1 3/4"                                                                        4  @    5" x 1 3/4"
2  @    3 3/8" x 3 3/8"                                                                  2  @    3 3/8" x 3 3/8"

Alternate center cut:

Light Fabric

1  @    5" x 5"

Follow the directions given above for the smaller block.  However, this time your center block will be the small churn dash you already made.  You could also use the alternate 5" center to make a single large churn dash block.

I suggest sewing the block with the center facing up.  You will be able to see the points on the center block which will help make sure that the points don't get cut off in the seam line.

  

  Block size is now 10" and will finish at 9 1/2".