4" Nested Churn Dash Blocks

My baby 2" blocks have grown into 4" toddlers.  And I've lost a little on some of the baby points.

 

 

But I guess that is to be expected when using teeny-weeny 2" blocks and sewing them up after a full day at work!  Besides, I'm not going for perfection - the overall look should more than compensate for a few short points! 

I had to improvise with the background check on this round as I ran out of the smaller mink check.  So two of the blocks have a different check for the half-square triangles.

 

But I love scrappy, happy projects and this nested churn dash sew-along is certainly that.

From 4" toddler to 8" teenager next ..... sew until then .......

2” Mini Churn Dash Blocks

I’m joining in the Nested Churn Dash sew along and I hope to make a runner comprising three 16” blocks.   As ever I’ve made a small change already by constructing a 2” churn dash block (2½” unfinished) for the centre square.  They are a little fiddly but good fun.  Want to have a go?  (Click here for a PDF printable version.)  All seam allowances are ¼".

To make one 2” churn dash block (2½” unfinished) you will need:

One 1½” centre square
One 6” x ¾” strips from two different fabrics (total 2 strips)
Two 2” squares from two different fabrics (total 4 squares)

1.         With right sides together stitch the  6” x ¾” strips together along the 6” length.  Press.  Unit should measure 6” x 1”.  Cross-cut this strip into four 1½” x 1” units.

2.         Stitch one of the 1½” x 1” units to either side of the centre square.  Press seams towards the centre square.

3.         Make your half-square triangle units using the 2” squares.   Place the contrasting squares into pairs, right sides together and mark a diagonal line on the back of one of the squares from each pair.  This line will be your cutting line.   Stitch ¼” either side of the marked line.   Cut along the marked line and press each square open.  You should have four half-square triangles.  Trim each half-square triangle unit to measure 1”.

4.         Stitch a half-square triangle to both ends of the remaining 1½” x 1” units.  Press seams towards the half-square triangles.

5.         Finally stitch each half-square triangle unit to the top and bottom of your centre square unit as shown.  Press.  Trim block to 2½”.

I’ve made three of these mini churn dash units as the basis of my nested churn dash runner.  But there will be no more ‘Patchsmithing’ from here on – I will stick religiously to the excellent NestedChurn Dash pattern by Quilt Jane.     


Mini Churn Dash Blocks

I will post pictures once these 2” babies have grown into 4” toddlers!

Sew until then ..............