SCRAP DASH
Give the trad Churn Dash block a modern makeover with our scrap-happy cushion pair by Sonia Spence.
NOTES
Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. RST = right sides together. WOF = width of fabric.
FABRICS USED
Feature fabrics used are Lucky Strikes by Kim Kight for Cotton+Steel with RJR Cotton Supreme Solids.
CUTTING OUT 1 From Fabric A (for the large churn dash block) cut:
One (1) 1½in square. One (1) 3½in square. One (1) 2in x 7in piece. Two (2) 1½in x 6½in pieces. One (1) 2½in x 15in piece (for cushion edge binding).
2 From Fabric B, C and D (for the medium churn dash blocks) cut:
One (1) 1½in x 11in piece. One (1) 4¼in square. Choose one print and cut one (1) 1½in x 20½in piece (for cushion back binding).
3 From Fabric E and F (for the small churn dash blocks) cut:
One (1) 1¼in x 9in piece. One (1) 3½in square.
4 For the large churn dash blocks, cut one (1) 3½in x WOF strip from the background and subcut into:
Two (2) 3½in squares. One (1) 2in x 7in piece. Two (2) 1½in squares.
5 For the medium churn dash blocks, cut one (1) 6½in x WOF strip from background fabric and subcut into:
Three (3) 1½in x 11in pieces. Three (3) 4¼in square. Three (3) 2½in square.
6 For the small churn dash blocks, cut one (1) 3½in x WOF strip from background fabric and subcut into:
Two (2) 1¼in x 9in. Two (2) 3½in square. Two (2) 2in square.
7 For the cushion background, cut one (1) 3in x WOF strip and one (1) 6½in x WOF strip from background fabric and subcut as follows:
From the 3in strip subcut
One (1) 2in x 7½in piece. One (1) 3in x 9in piece. One (1) 2in x 6½in piece. One (1) 3in x 7in piece. One (1) 1½in x 12in piece. One (1) 1½in x 2in piece.
From the 6 in strip subcut
One (1) 5in x 1½in piece. One (1) 6in x 6½in piece. One (1) 5in x 6½in piece. One (1) 5in x 8in piece. One (1) 2in x 5in piece. One (1) 4½in x 6½in piece. One (1) 1 x 6½in piece.
8 For the cushion backing cut two (2) 13½in x 20½in pieces. 9 From binding fabric cut two (2) 2½in x WOF strips.
LARGE CHURN BLOCKS 10 Place the feature and background fabric 2in x 7in rectangles RST and sew along one long edge. Press the seam towards feature fabric. Subcut into two (2) 3½in squares (Fig 1). 11 Place the feature and background fabric 3½in squares RST. Draw a line diagonally on the reverse of the fabric. Sew along this line. Trim, leaving a ¼in seam allowance. Press open (Fig 2). 12 Place a 1½in background square at one end of a 1½in x 6½in feature fabric strip RST. Draw a diagonal line on the reverse of the background square. Trim, leaving a ¼in seam allowance. Press open.
Repeat once more, ensuring that the diagonal line runs in the opposite direction (Fig 3).
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Assemble the block, sewing your assembled 3½in squares plus one background 3½in square in a four patch. Add the strips with background corners plus a feature fabric 1½in square along the sides (Fig 4).
SMALL/MEDIUM BLOCKS
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The small and medium churn dash blocks are made as follows. You will need a total of three (3) medium blocks and two (2) small blocks. For each block, use one matching set of feature fabrics.
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Pair each feature fabric square with a background fabric square of the same size, RST. Sew around all four edges using a scant ¼in seam allowance. Cut diagonally in both directions (Fig 5). Press each HST open. Trim the small HSTs to 2in square and the medium HSTs to 2½in square.
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Pair each feature fabric strip with a background fabric strip of the same size, RST and sew along one long edge. Press open and subcut into four (4) squares (Fig 6). For the small blocks you will need 2in squares and for the medium blocks you will need 2½in squares.
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Sew your HST and stripe squares together with one background square in the centre row (2in square for the small blocks and 2½in square for the medium blocks). Piece the block together as shown in Fig 7 – sew the squares together in three rows of three, then sew the three rows together to complete.
PIECING THE CUSHION TOP
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The cushion top is pieced in four sections, then joined using partial seams to finish.
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Join the background strips to one medium block as shown in Fig 8. Arrange the 1½in x 2in background piece RST at the bottom corner. Sew along the 2in edge, from the bottom, stopping ¼in from the top of the small strip. Backstitch to secure.
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Sew together the remaining three sections as shown in Figs 9–11.
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Join the first two sections as shown (Fig 12). Then join the third section to the right side (Fig 13).
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Add the final section, lining up the bottom edge of this section with top edge of the one you just added. Sew together from the outer edge to ¼in from the end of the final section, backstitching to secure (Fig 14).
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Fold the piece to line up the final seam between the first and last section. Stitch from the top edge down, stopping ¼in down from the centre 1½in x 2in background piece and backstitch to secure (Fig 15). Now all the seams should be complete. Unfold and press (Fig 16).
ASSEMBLING THE CUSHION
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Layer the cushion top with your batting and quilt as desired. This cushion was lightly quilted with some hand stitching.
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Press the cushion back binding in half lengthwise, RST. Use to bind the long edge of one (1) 13½in x 20½in rectangle, RST. On the second rectangle, press under ½in along a long edge twice and topstitch in place for a double folded hem.
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Lay the cushion top right side down. Lay the double folded hem piece on top, matching raw edges at the bottom of the cushion, then lay the remaining backing piece on top matching the raw edges at the top of the cushion. Both the backing pieces should be right side up. Pin in place, paying particular attention to the sides where the back pieces overlap. Baste around the edges to hold in place.
MAKING THE SPLICED BINDING
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Take one of the binding strips and cut it in half lengthwise. Attach these half strips to the ends of the Fabric A edge binding strip. Use diagonal seams in opposite directions, leaving 12½in along the top edge of the Fabric A strip (Fig 17). Add the remaining binding strip to one end, then press in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.
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On the cushion top, measure and mark ¼in from the churn dash edge on the background fabric on each side of the cushion.
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Line up your binding, matching the edges of the Fabric A section with your marks. Make sure the longer edge of Fabric A is against the cushion top. Pin in place and fold along the seam line to check everything is lined up correctly. Attach your binding as normal, beginning your sewing a few inches before the Fabric A section. Once finished, make a second cushion featuring one giant churn, following the instructions opposite.