Category: Quilts

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Week Six

A quilt along with the week six block of the month.


Quilt Along – Week Six

We’re moving right along into Week Six of the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!  Head over to the Original QAL Post to review the details and schedule, if you need to.

A quick review of what we’ve done so far–scroll to the bottom of this page for links to each weekly post.

Congratulations to Erica M. for snagging the Week Four prize-a Quilter’s Planner from The Quilter’s Planner!  This prize was sponsored by the awesome people at The Quilter’s Planner.  These were Erica’s trimmed and squared up HSTs from Week Four:A book and some fabric sitting on top of a table.

How to Participate:

Post Your progress on Instagram using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong

Be sure to include the hashtag when you post to Instagram so everyone else can see what you’re up to, and if you’re in the US, you can enter to win prizes ?

Stay in the loop!

If you haven’t signed up for the weekly emails that will go out for the Quilt Along, sign up here.  There might be some added info and bonus content for you as a little treat!

Alright, so here’s the breakdown for Week Six:

A close up of six blue and white triangles

  • In Week Five, we assembled sections 1, 3, 7, and 9.  Here’s the action list to complete for Week Six!
  • And here is where irritating elevator music starts playing until the start of Week Seven ;)  (Or, if you’re a mom, it might be Momma Shark da da da da….)
  • If you fell behind, go ahead and use this free week to catch up with us!
  • If you’re an overachiever–I see you there in the front with your quilt nearly done–You can work ahead, if you like.  Just make sure you follow the original schedule (linked at the top of this post) so you have pictures to post to Instagram for the prizes.
  • This week, you can post a picture of anything Cheeky Churn Dash related on Instagram using the #cheekychurndashquiltalong hashtag.  Be sure you post your IG picture with the hashtag before the start of Week Seven to qualify for this week’s prize.  Week Six’s prize is sponsored by Aurifil.  The amazing folks at Aurifil are giving away a small spool thread set, and man…their thread is top notch.  A huge thank you to Aurifil for sponsoring Week Six’s prize!A black and white logo of the word " aurifii ".
  • A box of thread in different colors

Next week, we’ll be assembling sections 2, 4, 6, and 8.

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along Posts:

Week One – Introduce yourself and gather your fabrics

Week Two – Starch and cut your fabrics

Week Three – Assemble and press the HSTs

Week Four – Square up and trim all HST blocks

Week Five – Assemble sections 1, 3, 7, and 9

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Week Five

A quilt along week five


Quilt Along – Week Five

We’re moving right along into Week Five of the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!

Congratulations to Tracie M. for snagging the Week Three prize-a sweet fat quarter bundle and thread set from Crafter’s Companion!  This bundle was sponsored by Crafter’s Companion.  This were Tracies’s HSTs and accordion from week three:A close up of some fabric pieces A close up of some fabric piecesA close up of some fabric pieces

A quick review of what we’ve done so far–scroll to the bottom of this page for links to each weekly post.

Fabric Discount!A blue and white banner with the words knotted read written in orange.

Jennifer at Knotted Threads on Etsy has joined in the Quilt Along fun to bring all Cheeky Churn Dash QAL participants a 10% discount on fabrics purchased from her shop!  She has a great selection of current and modern fabrics, so you’ll want to take advantage of this ?  Use the coupon code: CHEEKYCHURNDASH at checkout.

How to Participate:

Post Your progress on Instagram using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong

Be sure to include the hashtag when you post to Instagram so everyone else can see what you’re up to, and if you’re in the US, you can enter to win prizes ?

Stay in the loop!

If you haven’t signed up for the weekly emails that will go out for the Quilt Along, sign up here.  There might be some added info and bonus content for you as a little treat!

Alright, so here’s the breakdown for Week Five:

A quilt along week five

  • In Week Four, we squared up and trimmed all our HST blocks to the correct size, based on the selected option.  Here’s the action list to complete for Week Five!
  • Take a look at your coloring sheet–if you have a specific layout in mind for your HSTs.
  • I like to have a pretty specific plan for my Cheeky Churn Dash before I start sewing, so I lay out the HST blocks for section 1 (we’re on pages 8-11 for Option A, and 19-20 for Option B in your pattern), then sew them together and press.
  • Assemble sections 1, 3, 7, and 9.  These are the outermost corners of your quilt.  They all have the same construction, except they are slightly rotated 90 degrees each time.
  • Make sure you check that you pin at your seam intersections whenever you have a seam intersection so everything lines up as it should:

A white machine with some shapes on it

  • Double check your layout prior to sewing each section together, and press when you’re done!
  • This week, post a picture of your completed sections 1, 3, 7, and 9 on Instagram using the #cheekychurndashquiltalong hashtag.  The sections can be all in one picture, or you can do multiple pics in one post, or multiple posts.  As long as all four completed sections are posted, you’ll be good to go.  Be sure you post your IG picture with the hashtag before the start of Week Six to qualify for this week’s prize!
  • This week’s prize is sponsored by Olfa!  I love using Olfa Rotary cutters because they precisely cut whatever I need and have great safety features.  I’m so excited that they’ve jumped on board to sponsor a great prize for Week Five.A white blade with the words " olfa " written on it.

Next week is a catch up week, so don’t fret if you’re behind 🙂

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along Posts:

Week One – Introduce yourself and gather your fabrics

Week Two – Starch and cut your fabrics

Week Three – Assemble and press the HSTs

Week Four – Square up and trim all HST blocks

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Week Four

A quilt along week four


Quilt Along – Week Four

We’re moving right along into Week Four of the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!

Congratulations to Ruth B. for snagging the Week Two prize-a Tula Pink De La Luna fat quarter bundle!  This bundle was sponsored by Kustom Kwilts (me!).  This was Ruth’s stack of fabric cuts for week 2:

A table with several different colored papers on it.

A quick review of what we’ve done so far–scroll to the bottom of this page for links to each weekly post.

Fabric Discount!A blue and white banner with the words knotted read written in orange.

Jennifer at Knotted Threads on Etsy has joined in the Quilt Along fun to bring all Cheeky Churn Dash QAL participants a 10% discount on fabrics purchased from her shop!  She has a great selection of current and modern fabrics, so you’ll want to take advantage of this ?  Use the coupon code: CHEEKYCHURNDASH at checkout.

How to Participate:

Post Your progress on Instagram using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong

Be sure to include the hashtag when you post to Instagram so everyone else can see what you’re up to, and if you’re in the US, you can enter to win prizes ?

Stay in the loop!

If you haven’t signed up for the weekly emails that will go out for the Quilt Along, sign up here.  There might be some added info and bonus content for you as a little treat!

Alright, so here’s the breakdown for Week Four:

A close up of a quilt with the words " a little quilt along week four ".

  • In Week Three, we sewed all the half square triangles for either Option A or Option B.  Then we pressed all of our HSTs.  Here’s the action list to complete for Week Four!
  • Week Four is pretty easy.  Grab your rotary cutter and a quilting ruler and slide your HSTs over to a cutting mat.
    • For the 81″ square quilt size–Option A and Option B, you’ll square up all your HSTs to measure 9.5″ square.
    • For the mini or pillow size, you’ll square up all your HSTs to measure 2.5″.
  • To do this, you’ll need to make sure the diagonal of your HST is exactly centered within the square measurement.  Then trim off any excess as needed.  A purple and blue quilt on the floor
  • Check out a quick video tutorial of how to line up your ruler when trimming your HSTs.
  • That’s it!  It is a little labor intensive, but it’s worth it to go back and check that all your HST blocks measure correctly before we start putting this quilt together.
  • This week, post a picture of your stacks of trimmed and squared up HST blocks (and trimmings/rotary cutter if you have them!) on Instagram using the #cheekychurndashquiltalong hashtag.  Be sure you post your IG picture with the hashtag before the start of Week Five to qualify for this week’s prize!

This week’s prize is sponsored by The Quilter’s Planner!  I just purchased my 2019 Quilter’s Planner, and it’s amazing!  I’m so excited that they’ve jumped on board to sponsor a 2019 Quilter’s Planner for Week Four.A table with sewing supplies and books on it.

Next week, we’ll be assembling sections 1, 3, 7, and 9!

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along Posts:

Week One – Introduce yourself and gather your fabrics

Week Two – Starch and cut your fabrics

Week Three – Assemble and press the HSTs

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Week Three

A quilt along week three


Quilt Along – Week Three

We’re moving right along into Week Three of the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!  Head over to the Original QAL Post to review the details and schedule, if you need to.

Congratulations to Marcy S. for winning the week one prize- the Alison Glass Insignia FQ bundle sponsored by Knotted Threads!  Marcy posted a lovely picture of her bluebonnet fabric for the week one prompt:A bunch of different colored fabric on top of the ground

A quick review of what we’ve done so far–scroll to the bottom of this page for links to each weekly post.

Fabric Discount!A blue and white banner with the words knotted read written in orange.

Jennifer at Knotted Threads on Etsy has joined in the Quilt Along fun to bring all Cheeky Churn Dash QAL participants a 10% discount on fabrics purchased from her shop!  She has a great selection of current and modern fabrics, so you’ll want to take advantage of this ?  Use the coupon code: CHEEKYCHURNDASH at checkout.

How to Participate:

Post Your progress on Instagram using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong

Be sure to include the hashtag when you post to Instagram so everyone else can see what you’re up to, and if you’re in the US, you can enter to win prizes ?

Stay in the loop!

If you haven’t signed up for the weekly emails that will go out for the Quilt Along, sign up here.  There might be some added info and bonus content for you as a little treat!

Alright, so here’s the breakdown for Week Three:

A close up of a quilt with the words " a little quilt along week three ".

  • In Week Two, you should have decided on which Option of the Cheeky Churn Dash you’re making–Option A or Option B.  You also should have kind of looked over the Accordion Sewn HSTâ„¢ Method and decided if you’ll be using that method of piecing your HSTs or the standard piecing method outlined on pages 6-7 of your pattern.  If you chose the method outlined in pages 6-7, you starched your fabric already.  So here’s the action list to complete for Week Three!
  • For Option AA picture of the instructions for making a quilt.
    • If using the Accordion Sewn HSTâ„¢ Method, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other on the wrong side of each square designated for half-square triangles.
    • If using the standard method, follow the instructions outlined in pages 6-7 to make the HST blocks.
      • Check out the video for the Cheeky Churn Dash.
      • Assemble a total of 24 half square triangles made from combining fabrics B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.  Assemble a total of 12 half square triangles made from combining one Fabric A with one fabric B-I.  So for Option A you will have 36 HSTs.
  • For Option B
    • If using the Accordion Sewn HSTâ„¢ Method, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other on the wrong side of each square designated for half-square triangles.
    • If using the standard method, follow the instructions outlined in pages 6-7 to make the HST blocks.
      • Check out the video for the Cheeky Churn Dash.
      • Assemble a total of 33 half square triangles made from combining fabrics B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.  Assemble a total of 12 half square triangles made from combining one Fabric A with one fabric B-I.  So for Option A you will have 45 HSTs.
  • For both options-press your HSTs well.
  • This week, post a picture of your stacks of completed HST blocks on Instagram using the #cheekychurndashquiltalong hashtag.  Be sure you post your IG picture with the hashtag before the start of Week Four to qualify for this week’s prize!  Week Three’s prize is sponsored by Crafter’s Companion– and they’re offering up a gorgeous fat quarter bundle and thread set!A close up of some fabric and sewing supplies
  • These are my completed HSTs for week three!  I can’t wait to see yours!A close up of the folded squares on the quilt

Next week, we’ll be squaring up all the half-square triangles!

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along Posts:

Week One – Introduce yourself and gather your fabrics

Week Two – Starch and cut your fabrics

Posted on by

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Week Two

A quilt along with the block of the week two


Week Two

We’re moving right along into Week Two of the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!  Head over to the Original QAL Post to review the details and schedule, if you need to.

The Quilt Along

Materials Needed:

Fabric Discount!A blue and white banner with the words knotted read written in orange.

Jennifer at Knotted Threads on Etsy has joined in the Quilt Along fun to bring all Cheeky Churn Dash QAL participants a 10% discount on fabrics purchased from her shop!  She has a great selection of current and modern fabrics, so you’ll want to take advantage of this ?  Use the coupon code: CHEEKYCHURNDASH at checkout.

How to Participate:

Post Your progress on Instagram using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong

Be sure to include the hashtag when you post to Instagram so everyone else can see what you’re up to, and if you’re in the US, you can enter to win prizes :).  Just make sure you post the weekly prompt to IG by 11:59 CST on the Friday that ends that week.

Stay in the loop!

If you haven’t signed up for the weekly emails that will go out for the Quilt Along, sign up here.  There might be some added info and bonus content for you as a little treat!

Alright, so here’s the breakdown for Week Two:A pile of fabric next to a pair of scissors.

  • Starch all your fabric prior to cutting (unless you’re using the Accordion Sew HSTâ„¢ method)
    • Tips for starching:  I recommend using a starch with body–like the Faultless brand, or another inexpensive option from your grocery store’s laundry aisle–it will stiffen your fabric and lessen the chance for distortion if you’re going to be messing with bias cuts.
      • I like to spray the entire piece of fabric so it’s damp all over, then let it sit and soak in the starch.  I let it air dry, then come back and hit it with the iron.  I do this so there isn’t a lot of that flaky mess you get when you press immediately after spraying the starch.   Make sure you pre-wash your fabric if you think the colors might bleed–but not if you’re using precuts.
    • You don’t need to starch if you’re planning to use Beth Helfter’s Accordion Sewn HSTâ„¢ Method.
    • There’s a link to Beth’s videos in the pattern on page 4 or you can check out the video I made here.
  • Decide which Cheeky Churn Dash you’re going to make and cut out your fabrics accordingly.  You’ll need to make a large quilt option to qualify for the grand prize at the end of the Quilt Along, so keep that in mind.
    • Quilt Option A cut list is found on page 5 of your pattern
    • Quilt Option B cut list is found on page 17 of you pattern
    • Mini/Pillow cut list is found on page 23 of your pattern
    • There’s a note on page 4 of your pattern–if you have a hard time sewing a consistent 1/4″ seam allowance (don’t we all??), you can cut the squares that will be used for HSTs a little larger than the cut list calls for.  So instead of cutting 10″ squares for the large quilt option, you can cut them at 10-1/4″.
  • If you need help–there are cutting diagrams for each option that will maximize your fabric use.
  • This week, post a picture of your stacks of cut fabric on Instagram using the #cheekychurndashquiltalong hashtag.
  • I’ll be randomly picking one winner from week two (you have to post the week 2 prompt on Instagram with the hashtag by 9/28/2018 at 11:59 CST) to win an awesome prize!  This week’s prize is a FQ bundle of De La Luna, sponsored by Kustom Kwilts (me!) that I purchased from Knotted Threads.  Check out the Prize Roundup post for more details & the rules.A bundle of fabric sitting on top of each other.

Next week, we’ll be assembling all the half-square triangles!

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along Posts:

Week One – Introduce yourself and gather your fabrics

Posted on by

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Week One

A quilt along with the pattern for the week one.


Yes!!!  This is it, the start of the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!  I’m so excited to start sewing with y’all.  Don’t forget to sign up for the QUILT ALONG E-MAILS if you haven’t already so you don’t miss out on anything.

So if you missed the original quilt along post, I’m going to run through the details once more here:

The Quilt Along:

Starts: September 15

Lasts: 9 weeks

Supplies:

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern (on sale for the duration of the Quilt Along)

Fabric:

A quilt with colorful squares and triangles on it.

And the usual sewing supplies-thread, rotary cutter, ruler, starch, etc.

How to join in the fun:

RSVP to the quilt along for the weekly emails linked to the blog posts, follow the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong on Instagram and make sure you include that hashtag on your quilt along posts so you can qualify for prizes and you can inspire other people participating!

If you’ve signed up to get the quilt along updates, you’ll get an email each Saturday morning with the task list for that week.  The link to that week’s corresponding blog post will be in there as well.

Week One

  • RSVP for the quilt along
  • Gather your pattern, fabrics (get a 10% discount at Knotted Threads with the code CHEEKYCHURNDASH), and materials
  • Introduce yourself on Instagram, using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong.  Post a picture of yourself or your fabric or BOTH!
  • I’ll be randomly picking one winner from week one (you have to post on Instagram with the hashtag) to win an awesome prize!  This week’s prize is a FQ bundle of Insignia, sponsored by Knotted Threads.  Check out the Prize Roundup post for more details & the rules.A circle of different colors on top of each other.

RSVP For the Quilt Along, if you haven’t already

RSVP HERE

Get your copy of the pattern from the pattern shop, or you can grab one below:

A quilt that is made of different colored squares.

$13.00Add to cart

Get your fabrics together

Check out the fabric requirements above-they’re also listed in the pattern.  If you don’t want to use precuts or yardage, you can just as easily use fat quarters, but you’ll need 16 fat quarters for Option A and about 20 fat quarters for Option B.  This pattern is a great way to use up those fat quarter bundles you’ve been hoarding for ages.  Or go scrappy and put together some great color combinations from your fabric stash!A close up of nine different colored fabrics

Planning your layout

Within the pattern are two coloring sheets so you can easily plan your layout.  If you’ve RSVP-ed for the Quilt Along, you’ll be getting a separate downloadable coloring sheet in the Week One email.

Introduce yourself!

This Quilt Along takes place mostly on Instagram, so post a picture of yourself or your fabrics (or both), and introduce yourself using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong.  You can also follow on Instagram to see my weekly posts for the QAL.  I’ll be picking a winner this week to win an awesome prize, but you’ve got to post on Insta before September 22, 2018 to qualify.

That’s it for Week One!  Super easy, and we’ll be gearing up for next week!

Posted on by — 6 Comments

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along prize round up!

A quilt along giveaway round up


Who doesn’t love a good giveaway?  Here are some exciting updates for the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along–we’re getting ready to kick off in a little over two weeks–so I hope you’re getting ready!!!  There are some super special people and companies who have joined in the fun and are giving away some great prizes for the CCD QAL–A huge thank  you to all of the sponsors!

Cheeky Churn Dash paper patterns are now in the shop, so if you haven’t purchased your pattern yet, you can grab a PDF download or get your paper copy HERE.

The featured fabric shop for the quilt along is Knotted Threads!  Head over to Jennifer’s Etsy shop and use the discount code CHEEKYCHURNDASH for 10% off your purchase.

A blue and white banner with the words knotted read written in orange.

As the Official Cheeky Churn Dash QAL post indicated, there are going to be some AMAZING prizes for participants of this QAL.  Many of the prizes are sponsored/donated by myself, but I’ll give you a little peek at some of the other prizes, and who the sponsors are!

A black and white logo of the word " aurifii ".

Aurifil is sponsoring a small spool collection of thread 🙂

A black and yellow logo for the alpe.

Olfa is giving away a Splash Rotary Cutter and Endurance Blade!

A banner that says quilts like a dream

Quilter’s Dream Batting is giving away one double size batting (perfect for the Cheeky Churn Dash!) of the selected winner’s preference!

A blue and white logo for the knitter 's plan.

The Quilter’s Planner is giving away one 2019 Quilter’s Planner!!!

A purple and black logo for the wafer company. A close up of some fabric and sewing supplies

Crafter’s Companion is giving away a FQ bundle and thread set 🙂

A circle of different colors on top of each other.

Jennifer from Knotted Threads is giving away one FQ bundle of Alison Glass Insignia

A bundle of fabric sitting on top of each other.

I’m giving away one FQ bundle of Tula Pink’s De La Luna that I purchased from Knotted Threads!

A blue icosahedron with the words kusudama and kusuwa written in it.The grand prize for the conclusion of the QAL (see the giveaway rules posted below) is for FREE edge to edge longarm quilting by Kustom Kwilts (that’s me!).  If you’d prefer custom quilting, you just pay the difference.  Winner is responsible for shipping costs.  And I’m providing several other goodies along the way, so there are lots of chances to win!

Rules

There aren’t many rules for this quilt along, unless you want to be considered for giveaway prizes.

There will also be some awesome giveaways sprinkled throughout the quilt along, so be sure you post one picture to your Instagram account of that week’s progress before the next week’s starting date in order to qualify for prizes (see the schedule below for specific dates).  Each weekly giveaway is dependent only on that week’s task.  SO if you missed week one, but you post a picture to Instagram that completes the week two task by the end of week two, then you’re in the running for the week two giveaway.  Got it?

There will be one grand prize winner at the end of the quilt along for one lucky person who completed and posted their quilt top (must be the 81″ x 81″ version) by November 16, 2018.  You’re still in the running for the grand prize, even if you missed posting throughout the quilt along, so long as you post your finished quilt top to your Instagram account by November 16.

The giveaway prizes are only for US participants and cannot be shipped outside the US.  Sorry!

Schedule September 15-November 16, 2018 (IG posting schedule)

September 15-21 Week One:

RSVP for the quilt along, gather your pattern, fabrics, and materials and introduce yourself using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong.  I’ll be randomly picking one winner from week one (you have to post on instagram with the hashtag) to win an awesome prize!

September 22-28 Week Two:

Starch fabrics if needed (you won’t need to do this if you plan on using Beth Helfter’s Accordian Sewn HST™ Method.  Cut all fabric according to the option you are making.

September 29-October 5 Week Three:  

Draw one diagonal line on the backs of the squares we’ll be using to make half-square triangles if using the Accordian Sewn HST™ Method.  Assemble the half-square triangles and press.

October 6-12 Week Four:  

Square up the half-square triangles to 9.5″ square for the quilt size and 2.5″ square for the mini and pillow sizes.

October 13-19 Week Five:

Assemble sections 1, 3, 7, and 9.

October 20-26 Week Six:

Catch up week if you’re behind!

October 27-November 2 Week Seven: 

Assemble sections 2, 4, 6, and 8

November 3-9 Week Eight:

Assemble section 5

November 10-16 Week Nine:

Sew the quilt top together!

Posted on by — 6 Comments

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along – Official Post

A quilt with colorful squares and triangles on it.


I’m so excited to announce the Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Along!

I’ve been wanting to host a quilt along for a long time now, and I thought the Cheeky Churn Dash would be the perfect pattern to make!  You can RSVP for the quilt along to sign up for weekly updates and get insider tips and tricks with bonus material.  I love quilting, but it’s so much more fun to make a quilt with a fun group, right?

DATES

September 15, 2018 – November 16, 2018

Why join a quilt along?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I start a project, I need a little more motivation to finish.  Sewing with a group of quilters and sharing our progress together will give you inspiration and answer any questions you might have while making your quilt.  I like to know when I make a pattern that I’m going to have some help, and quilt alongs are a great way to get that support!  This quilt along will take place on Instagram using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong.  Use this hashtag when you post your weekly progress so others can see your awesome progress (and you’ll be able to see what everyone else is doing)!

Also, you might be thinking…good grief.  This is right at the beginning of the school year?  Why???  I know.  I was a high school teacher in my past life.  I get it.  I planned this quilt along with that in mind–I know everyone has busy schedules.  There’s a catch up week included in the quilt along, and I’ve divided the steps up into very doable tasks, even if you have a very limited schedule.

The Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt

You can click over to the original Cheeky Churn Dash Post to read more about it and my inspiration for making this quilt.  I just finished making another Cheeky Churn Dash with Alison Glass Sun Print 2018, and I’m loving the gem tone colors in that one!  This pattern is great for showing off your favorite fabric collections or going purely scrappy.

A quilt with colorful squares and triangles on it.

Not sure you have the skills to make this quilt?

That’s a question I used to ask myself all the time when I started quilting.  If you are able to sew a consistent 1/4″ seam allowance and cut your fabrics fairly accurately, you’ll be fine!  And if you aren’t comfortable with those things, you’ll never learn if you don’t try.  6 years ago, I didn’t even know how to thread a needle, much less use a rotary cutter!  Quilt alongs provide great community for asking questions and discovering new tips and tricks you might not have known before.

What will you learn?

You’ll get to practice your 1/4″ seam allowance AND I’m going to show you Beth Helfter’s Accordian Sewn HSTâ„¢ method for sewing half-square triangles.  It is an absolutely BRILLIANT technique that you’ll find yourself wondering how you ever did without.  You can always use your preferred method of piecing HSTs, as well.  You’ll also get tons of inspiration from other participants in the quilt along.

What will you need?

Fabric Discount!

Jennifer at Knotted Threads on Etsy has joined in the Quilt Along fun to bring all Cheeky Churn Dash QAL participants a 10% discount on fabrics purchased from her shop!  She has a great selection of current and modern fabrics, so you’ll want to take advantage of this :)  Use the coupon code: CHEEKYCHURNDASH at checkout.

Schedule September 15-November 16, 2018

September 15-21 Week One:

RSVP for the quilt along, gather your pattern, fabrics, and materials and introduce yourself using the hashtag #cheekychurndashquiltalong.  I’ll be randomly picking one winner from week one (you have to post on instagram with the hashtag) to win an awesome prize!

September 22-28 Week Two:

Starch fabrics if needed (you won’t need to do this if you plan on using Beth Helfter’s Accordian Sewn HSTâ„¢ Method.  Cut all fabric according to the option you are making.

September 29-October 5 Week Three:  

Draw one diagonal line on the backs of the squares we’ll be using to make half-square triangles if using the Accordian Sewn HSTâ„¢ Method.  Assemble the half-square triangles and press.

October 6-12 Week Four:  

Square up the half-square triangles to 9.5″ square for the quilt size and 2.5″ square for the mini and pillow sizes.

October 13-19 Week Five:

Assemble sections 1, 3, 7, and 9.

October 20-26 Week Six:

Catch up week if you’re behind!

October 27-November 2 Week Seven: 

Assemble sections 2, 4, 6, and 8

November 3-9 Week Eight:

Assemble section 5

November 10-16 Week Nine:

Sew the quilt top together!

Location

This Quilt Along will take place primarily on Instagram, so be sure to follow along on Instagram and use

#cheekychurndashquiltalong

to participate!  Instagram now lets you follow hashtags, so you can get inspiration and encouragement from everyone participating.  Don’t worry if you don’t have Instagram.  There will also be weekly blog posts with photos and tips, and be sure to sign up for the quilt along e-mail updates! (Just a note–there’s a double opt in for the updates, so be sure to check your spam folder, and add me to your address book to make sure you get the updates)

JOIN THE QUILT ALONG UPDATES!

Rules

There aren’t many rules for this quilt along, unless you want to be considered for giveaway prizes.

There will also be some awesome giveaways sprinkled throughout the quilt along, so be sure you post one picture to your Instagram account of that week’s progress before the next week’s starting date in order to qualify for prizes (see the schedule above for specific dates).

There will be one grand prize winner at the end of the quilt along for one lucky person who completed and posted their quilt top (must be the 81″ x 81″ version) by November 16, 2018.  You’re still in the running for the grand prize, even if you missed posting throughout the quilt along, so long as you post your finished quilt top to your Instagram account by November 16.

The giveaway prizes are only for US participants and cannot be shipped outside the US.  Sorry!

Thank you for joining in the fun, and I can’t wait to start sewing with you!  I’ll see you in the quilt along!

-Joanna

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern

A quilt with different colored triangles on it.


Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern

Pattern will be on sale and available for purchase Monday, August 13, 2018.

The Cheeky Churn Dash Quilt Pattern is my newest pattern with a fresh color palette.   One of the very first quilts I ever made was a traditional churn dash quilt, and I just love that block.  My mom and I gave the little churn dash quilt to my Mamaw Florence for her birthday one year, and then I got the quilt back when she passed away.  You’d think churn dashes would make me sad, but I smile and think about what an amazing Mamaw I had and how much I miss her.  She was such an inspiration to me and was an awesome artist.  This quilt is kind of my tribute to her.  I really like traditional quilt blocks with a modern spin, so what better way to make a big churn dash made up of other blocks to show off your favorite fabrics?

This pattern was first featured in Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine.  You can pick up Issue 54 or find the pattern in my Pattern Shop.

A quilt with colorful squares and triangles on it.

Cheeky Churn Dash is a really fun pattern to put together, and by joining in the quilt along, I’ll introduce you to an awesome new way to sew together half-square triangles.  You’ll seriously be amazed, and you’ll want to use this method all the time!  There are two layout options for making the 81″ square quilt, mini, or pillow, and you can choose the one that you like the best.  The quilt is layer cake friendly and the mini and pillow versions are mini charm pack friendly–great for quick piecing.  This is a great way to use up your favorite fabrics that you’ve been hoarding for ages!  And there is a Quilt Along for this pattern that will start in September.  RSVP to the quilt along to sign up for all the details and save your spot!

The Cheeky Churn Dash PDF Pattern in my shop includes coloring diagrams for easy planning, fabric cutting diagrams to make the most of your fabric if you aren’t using precuts, and tons of step by step pictures that will make this quilt a breeze.

I quilted my Cheeky Churn Dash Quilts in a couple of different ways–one of my favorites was just straight line quilting.  It’s modern and simple and really shows off the quilt without distraction.  I quilted another version with some geometric lines and swirls in the background fabric.  There are so many great options for quilting this quilt, the sky is the limit!

A quilt with colorful squares and triangles on it.

MATERIALS USED:

Kona Cotton Solids Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Backing and binding:  Elizabeth Hartman Pond Flower Dots for Robert Kaufman
Batting:   Quilter’s Dream Wool Batting

A quilt with colorful squares and triangles on it.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Moroccan Tiles Quilt – Love Patchwork & Quilting Issue 63

A quilt hanging on the wall next to clothes.


Do you have a favorite crafting or quilting magazine?  There are so many great magazines filled with exciting new patterns, and I have quite a few favorites of my own!  I’m so excited to finally be able to share with you the Moroccan Tiles Quilt in Love Patchwork and Quilting Issue 63.

A magazine cover with some quilt designs on it
LPQ Issue 63 Cover Photo Provided by LP&Q

Issue 63 isn’t yet available in the US, but it is on shelves in the UK now.  I’m anxiously awaiting my copy in the mail any day now!

I designed the Moroccan Tiles quilt because I have a secret love of traditional quilt blocks–specifically the different variations that can be made from drunkard’s path blocks.

A group of four napkins that are folded in half.
Sewing curves

I used to be scared stiff of sewing curves, but there really is nothing to it once you practice a little bit.  The shapes I created by rotating and flipping the drunkard’s path blocks reminded me of gorgeous tile work and design shapes.

I chose a gem toned palette from some of my favorite Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids and rather than using the standard go-to white background fabric, I love to use Kona Silver!  I like to think it makes the background such a shocking contrast, and gives it a softer glow so the other colors can shine on their own.

A quilt hanging on the wall next to clothes.
LPQ Issue 63 Moroccan Tiles Quilt Photo provided by LP&Q

For the backing, I was dying to use Robert Kaufman’s Effervescent fabric.  It is a beautiful fabric that looks like it has little champagne bubbles overflowing on the entire surface.  The color way I chose coordinated exactly with the colors of Kona Cotton I had selected, so it was definitely a match made in heaven!

I hope you’ll grab your very own issue of the magazine and check out all of the awesome projects and all of the great contributors, and maybe try something a little new this week that involves sewing some curves?  You might fall head over heels for them, just like I did–so you won’t know if you don’t try!  Happy sewing!