Tips, Techniques, and Tutorials

  • Making the Juniper Berry Figgy Pudding quilt? Here are some tips.

    So you got your Juniper Berry Figgy Pudding quilt kit. But now what?

    Well, for starters, you'll need to download the free pattern here and read through the instructions to get a general idea of the process. This always prevents me from making simple mistakes or cutting the wrong fabric. (Fortunately, you will have some leftover fabric so you've got a little bit of wiggle room built in.)

    Before you start cutting, take a look at all the fabrics used for making the flower blocks. You'll notice a few are directional prints and the others are not. For me, I like having all my directional prints facing the right way as I look at my quilt. (No random upside-down prints here.)

    You'll need to decide if this matters to you before you start cutting, and then cut accordingly.

    Once you have your flower blocks cut in to pieces, it's time to start laying out your block.

     

     

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  • Farmhouse Sampler - Block 8 (Churn Dash)

    Farmhouse Sampler - Block 8 (Churn Dash)

    What's a Farmhouse sampler quilt without a churn dash block?

    In a word: incomplete. So today, we'll be adding a big 15" Churn Dash quilt block to our Farmhouse Sampler.

    Let's go!

    Churn Dash quilt block

    CUT:

    • one (1) 8-3/4" square from A
    • one (1) 8-3/4" square from B
    • four (4) 3" x 5-1/2" rectangles from C
    • four (4) 3" x 5-1/2" rectangles from D
    • one (1) 5-1/2" square from E

    PRESS.  With a hot iron (no steam, as it distorts the fabric), press your blocks to get rid of wrinkles and creases.

    Churn Dash quilt block tutorial

    PLACE RST and SEW.  Place your "A" and "B" blocks RST and sew 1/4" seam around the outside edge, as shown above with the pink dashed line.

    Churn Dash quilt block tutorial

    CUT ON DIAGONALS.  With your rotary cutter and a long ruler, cut through the corners of your block on both diagonals. You'll end up with 4 HST units.

    PRESS.  With a hot iron, open your blocks and press your seams to the dark side.

    Churn Dash quilt block tutorial

    TRIM.  With a square ruler, trim your "A/B" blocks down to 5-1/2" square. Remember to line up the diagonal line on your square ruler with the diagonal seam on your block.

    Churn Dash quilt block tutorial, 15-inch

    PLACE RST and SEW.  Place your "C" and "D" blocks RST and sew 1/4" seam along one of the long edges (as shown above, right).

    PRESS.  With a hot iron, press your blocks with seams to the dark side.

    Churn Dash quilt block tutorial, 15-inch

    LAY OUT and PIECE.  Using the block diagram as a guide, lay out your block. Next, piece your blocks together in rows using 1/4" seam allowance.

    Churn Dash quilt block tutorial, 15-inch

    PRESS.  Once you have all 3 rows pieced, press your blocks. Alternate the direction you press your seams. On this block, I press the seams toward the inside on row 1, toward the outside one row 2, and the inside on row 3. This will let me nest my seams when I piece my rows together and give me perfect points. 

    PIECE ROWS.  Piece your rows together to make your block. And you're done!

    Be sure to pop over to Instagram to share your blocks. Just add #farmhousesamplerquilt to your image description so we can connect with you. It's that easy!

    Churn Dash quilt block

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