Churn Dash Quilt Block History

In this article you will learn how to piece a 12 finished churn dash quilt block.

Churn dash quilt block history.

Iron your fabrics nice and flat to remove any and all wrinkles. The churn dash quilt block is an old favorite. The churn dash quilt which has several other names is a distinctly american quilt block with a long history that stretches back to pioneer days and wagon trains. Churn dash quilt block tutorial.

There are four half square triangle units four rail fence units and one plain block unit. In that case other names were given to the. The churn dash quilt block is a traditional block that has been around for over 150 years. Work with any fabrics that suit you even reproductions from past eras are perfect for this quilt block.

The churn dash block also has many other names. It is a 9 patch block meaning there are 9 sections of construction. The churn dash is a very old 9 patch quilt block pattern originating between 1800 and 1849. Churn dash the homesteader s life and their daily activities contributed names to many quilt blocks.

Its name is a result of the resemblance of the triangle and rectangle perimeter of the block to a butter churn and the center square to the stick or dash of the butter churn. Use your cutting measurements to get your pieces all. The churn dash quilt was one of the first patterns many young girls learned in the 1800s because it s straight up triangles rectangles and squares. Half square triangles hst 4 at a time.

Try this churn dash quilt block pattern if you re looking for a traditional patchwork design for your next quilting project. It s a very old pattern that dates back to the early 19th century. The basic churn dash quilt block can be divided into 9 equal square units. 3x3 the churn dash quilt block is fun to put together with just half square triangles simple strip pieced squares and solid squares.

Choose batiks and other similar quilting fabrics to give churn dash a more contemporary look. Like many traditional blocks from the 19th century the pattern was shared among women on isolated homesteads but not always shared with a name. Nineteenth century quilts reflect what women saw around them and what was important in their lives such as the churn a common household item. The four corners are half square triangles with each unit in between split into contrast colored rectangles.