Who doesn’t love the charming Churn Dash block? It’s simple to make, it can sway traditional or modern, and it can be modified/altered/adapted in so many ways. Plus, it’s rumored to be Kim Diehl’s favorite quilt block of all time (and who doesn’t love Kim Diehl?).
One square, eight rectangles, and four half-square-triangle units. So much happy!
A little bird told us that Sweet Tweets author Erin Cox loves Churn Dash blocks too. In fact, Erin created a bonus pattern from her book featuring the Churn Dash block—and today we’re giving that pattern to you!
See the little green bird hiding behind a dash? That’s the birdie who told us!
Log in or register at our website, ShopMartingale.com, to download the free pattern. And check out Erin’s adorable book—your heart will flutter when you see Erin’s super cute machine-appliquéd bird motifs!
At Martingale, we love Churn Dash *sew* much, we devoted a whole book to the block. Take a look at the different Churn Dash blocks and quilts you can make in this “block party” video we made for Block-Buster Quilts: I Love Churn Dashes:
Reading this post in email? Click here to view the video.
You can make Churn Dash in brights:
Summer Dash by April Rosenthal, from I Love Churn Dashes
You can make them BIG:
In Reverse by Kate Henderson, from I Love Churn Dashes
You can vary their sizes:
Churn Dash Daze by Amy Ellis, from I Love Churn Dashes
Or you can make them just like Kim Diehl does (complete with little Nine Patches in the centers):
Get Kim’s All in a Row Churn Dash pattern for $4.99
How many quilts have you made with the Churn Dash block? Tell us about them in the comments!
I have only made one quilt with churn dash blocks and it was a row quilt with other rows of hearts and houses etc.!! It was fun and spunky and would like to make more. I gravitate toward the traditional blocks with a twist of modern or fun!! Great inspiration to get this on the list!! Thanks!
—Donna on July 31, 2017I haven’t made any yet. I love the block and plan to make something soon.
—Joanne O'Neal on July 31, 2017I made one churn dash quilt and it was a challenge! I still have the top but never quilted it because it’s a bit wonky.
—ELIZABETH KUNTZ on July 31, 2017I have made several sampler quilts that had churn dash blocks in them, but have yet to make a whole quilt of them. I hope I can soon!
—Jan Perez on July 31, 2017Several… also my favorite block. My most recent churn-dash was a king pieced with 3″ churn dash blocks. 1″ finished half-square-triangles were from the cut-off scrap corners of other quilts sewn together as ‘starters and enders’, as I don’t have a thread cutter on my machine. After hand-quilting, I counted 4,884 pieces in the quilt. A very nice # I think, and I Have enough to make another quilt!
—Marianne on July 31, 2017I have made mmany quilts, but I’m thinking none with the churn dash block. I’ll definitely have to rectify that situation.
—stephanie woodward on July 31, 2017Several, I have set the churn and dash on point–it is pretty cool.
—Carolyn Van Petten on July 31, 2017I like to fussy cut the centers and frame it. So many possibilities with the block:)
Currently working on a churn dash quilt. Several years ago a quilting bee that I belonged to decided to do a block exchange using Thimbleberries fabrics in a churn dash pattern. I picked out all the ones that had green in them and am setting them with a 1″ green sashing. Had a difficult time finding enough Thimbleberries fabric to put them together, but finally found some on Ebay. I will have enough blocks leftover to make a second quilt with blue if I add some filler blocks. Since we have moved recently, they will be a great reminders of all the great times I had with the "9 Patches" in Hamburg, PA
—Linda Ahn on July 31, 2017As much quilting as I do, I have never made a churn dash block and I love all that was shown.
—Frances Claassens on July 31, 2017I have only made churn dash blocks but not the entire quilt. I’m ready for a churn dash quilt.
—carol on July 31, 2017I’ve made a few, but would love to make some more. The churn dash is one of my favorite blocks.
—Susan L. on July 31, 2017I have made one churn dash block in a sampler quilt.
—Joyce on July 31, 2017This post has inspired me to make a churn dash table runner.
I have made only one churn dash block. It was in a sampler quilt.
—Susan on July 31, 2017I have to admit that I have never made a churn dash block. It’s one I want to try because it is a simple block that can be used in many ways. Thank You
—Marsha Nelson on July 31, 2017Never made an all churn dash block quilt, but that is about to change. Have used it a lot in smaller projects though.
—Sandy May on July 31, 2017Never made a Churn Dish but my ex daughter in law just asked for a quilt, this looks like one she would like, up there in MN. Have the material already, colors she asked for. Thank you
—Mary on July 31, 2017I haven’t done any yet. So many quilts to made, so little time. It is lovely.
—Matilde e valle on July 31, 2017I have not m assde many churn dashes but I love the large churn dash block from Kate Henderson, it is on my to do list.
—Kerry Grose on July 31, 2017I have made several churn dash blocks in various sampler quilts but never a whole quilt of this block but I do love the block .
—Sheila on July 31, 2017I have made at least three quilts with a churn dash block in them. Thank you for the table runner pattern, I have been looking for an easy pattern for a table runner and this one is it.
—Judy on July 31, 2017I have not made a churn-dash quilt but I have several from an estate and found a quilt at an auction. I think I should put this on my long list of quilts to sew.
—Althea Klosterman on July 31, 2017This is my favorite pattern and have done four but the table runner is going to be done with that tweetie bird too.
—Amparo on August 1, 2017I have done small pieces using just churndash but I have used it in the mix on samplers many many times. I would love to make all the quilts on my bucketlist and a varied size churndash is one…. maybe one of these days…..LOL!
—Tonie Peterson on August 1, 2017I have not done a full quilt but have used this block in many a sampler quilt.
—Jacqueline Leibfried on August 4, 2017Kim Diehl…!!! "Toast and Cheddar"❣️❣️❣️
—Karen on August 4, 2017I’ve made several but none like these! Oh, my!
I don’t know how many quilts I have made with a churn dash through the years, but most recently I made a "modern" churn dash baby quilt as a gift. Using my Kona Cottons, it was gray with large pink churn dash blocks. Of course I had to make one block with the colors reversed, just to give the quilt a little POP.
—Marcia on August 4, 2017The recipient loved it, and loved the pink flannel backing.
Love Churn Dash blocks. I have made a number of quilts, matter of fact the one that I am just now getting ready to quilt is churn dash blocks in a modern setting.
—Nancy N on August 4, 2017I haven’t made a churn dash quilt yet. Time to get craccking!
—bookboxer on August 4, 2017Oh gracious! I am now so inspired by several in the video above ! I have never sewed a Churn Dash. Looking forward to making my aunt’s birthday quilt as a Churn Dash. Thank you.
—Marta on August 4, 2017I have a Churn Dash in progress; sewing 4″ finished blocks from scraps. It will be a long time in the making so in the meantime I can admire them on my design wall. 🤗
—Gail on August 4, 2017I have only made one quilt with the churn dash pattern. It was for my first quilt which was a sampler completed in a class for learning how to quilt.
—Maclary on August 4, 2017The Churn Dash block has made it into two quilts that I have made. One was a sampler and one featured the block as a corner stop. They were fun to make…I should make more!
—Linda Towers on August 4, 2017Have used the block often. My biggest (and best) is the memory quilt made for my parents with photos in the center of each block.
—Cindy on August 4, 2017I’m not sure not many only in samplers after looking at these -too many ideas to use them with
—Linda on August 5, 2017I made a bunch of 3 inch churn dashes for Jen Kingwell’s Midnight at the Oasis quilt pattern. It was fun and like eating chips, you can’t only make on, so very cute!
—Cheri on August 5, 2017Have not made many but would love to make a churn dash quilt.
—Barbara on August 5, 2017Not many at all….but they are adorable!
—Welton Renee on August 6, 2017I have made several churn dash blocks but never a full one. It is on my quilt bucket list. Love them and many traditional blocks. I enjoy some of the modern twists on the traditional blocks
—Virginia Smith on August 6, 2017I have only made one churn dash block for a sampler 30/40s quilt in progress, but would like to make more.
—Louise Mease on August 6, 2017I have never made a Churn Dash Quilt. I would like to make one though.
—Rita W on August 22, 2017I know I saw a churn dash with a heart in the center. Now I can’t find it. Help.
—Barbara Joy on June 13, 2018My favorite churn dash quilt I’ve made is the one pictured….Kim Diehls All in a Row Churn Dash. Fun to make and so pretty !!
—Lois Capper on September 3, 2018