Thursday, August 25, 2022

Belated BOM and Miniaturizing a Churn Dash

Last year Barbara Brackman offered a BOM called Hands All Around. This SAL focused on Louisa May Alcott and her family. How could I not join in? But after Mom's passing in July of 2021, I just didn't pick this up again--until this July, when I did the August block for last year. Have I confused you yet? This month I did last year's September block.  Here is what I have so far.

These are 8" blocks, and I am making two each month. I choose the fabrics I need for my first block, and after getting it cut out, I rethink the block with the same fabrics, but mixing up their placement--maybe changing the value placement altogether, maybe not. Just whatever I feel like doing at the time. Next block in the lineup is a doozy. I am trying to decide if I will do it as written, or switch it up somehow. Maybe I will make the last two blocks first, while I ponder what to do with #10.


Surprisingly, I am keeping up well with Chooky's Churn Dash SAL--in spite of boo-boos like the one above. (Please tell me you've done this before.) But since adding the double churn dash blocks into the mix, I have been toying with the idea of a triple churn dash block. Since my blocks finish at 9", that means the double churn dash finishes at 3", and a triple churn dash would have to  finish at 1"! Do you know how hard it is to divide a 1" square into a 3x3 grid--when there are no markers on any rulers for 1/3"? Well, I tried one block. The tiny 1" block in the center is pretty wonky. So I tried again.

This time the center block came out a bit more balanced, but still not great. This photo also gives you a better size perspective. I think it is easier to make a 3/4" churn dash, as crazy as that may sound.




The next step is putting this in the center of the 3" block. To me this seemed to enhance the wonkiness.

I'll be back next week with the finished block, and a photo of all the blocks so far.
There will also be the usual monthly mini, assuming I get it bound.

That's all the quiltiness for now. 
Find someone that can use your help or friendship, and you will feel better, too.
Until next time,
Janet O.

23 comments:

  1. Oh I just love the colours you are using in your Hands All Around quilt Janet - just lovely. Gosh that teeny tiny churn dash block would send me cross eyed I think! Soooo tiny when I see it in the palm of your hand. But I do think when it is in the middle of the bigger block, it doesn't look wonky to me at all.

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  2. I think you have done an amazing job on the 1” churn dash . What a brilliant idea to change up the quilt.

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  3. I'm so sorry for you're loss. Your whole world can be turned upside down. And it takes time to get some balance back.

    Love to see you're progress of the Hands All Around quilt. The colours are matching so well.

    Your churn dash blocks are stunning. How tiny the smallest is... can't believe how you did it, but I love it.

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  4. Your blocks are stunning Janet and that mini churn dash WOW!!!!

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  5. That is cutest little churn dash in the western hemisphere!!!

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  6. So pleased you picked the bom up again.......
    Now as for the churn dash blocks they are insane.......I do love the triple.......I can't believe you even make something so small

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  7. Of COURSE you would make that teensy CD block! Love it. Embrace the wonky!

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  8. It wouldn’t be you if you didn’t make a tiny block!! Love them all!

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  9. Oh, I can't even think about a 1 inch grid of a Churn Dash, let alone a 3/4ths. Glad to see you have ufos to get back to work on too. I have had fun Stitching almost every day in me Purples. I didn't realize how bad I need to stitch. It sure brightened me outlook! Thanks for being a friend!

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  10. Love the tiny churndash block. I tried my hand a tiny blocks this week. The hst finish at 3/4". I surprised myself with the accuracy. I must have picked out an easy pattern. Look forward to seeing your progress. I'm glad you came around to 'Hands All Around'. It's going to be such a pretty quilt.

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  11. Your tiny blocks are amazing.
    The beauty of quilt projects is, they don't go off if you leave them for a while, they just wait patiently until you are ready to play again.

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  12. oH MY GRACIOUS THAT IS SMALL! Does not look wonky to me !! I just love it!

    Pieces in blocks flipped- yep, quite often.

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  13. You are taking mini to new heights with that miniscule churn dash! Love it! I doubt anyone will find it wonky at all.

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  14. I think your tiny Churn Dash is awesome, Janet!!

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  15. Oh, my! It's your trade mark to see how tiny you can make a block. And you sew it on your machine! There's no way I could even get close to that size. You've got a talent that's super big to make super small.

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  16. ah janet...we are always our own worst critic...wonky? no way! awesome is more like it....always blown away by your skill at miniatures....

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  17. I really like the colors your chose for your Hands All Around blocks, Janet. They work so well together.
    That 1" block! Only you, Janet! Only you would be able to make such a tiny block. (And I thought my 3" log cabin blocks with 1/2" finished pieces was were small!) I honestly don't notice any wonkiness in any of these tiny blocks. Not the wonky blocks or my eyes?

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  18. I'm so glad you picked this back up! I adore it in the purple! ♥ Your mini churn dash is mind boggling to me!!! :)

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  19. Popping in via the Churn Dash SAL... I totally love the teeny weeny one...
    Hugz

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  20. You are simply amazing...I love that tiny block!

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  21. You simply amaze me. This post reminds me of the "limbo" song of "how low can you go"? I mean, how "small" can you go? I cannot believe that inner Churn Dash. I'm exhausted thinking about it and need to go take a nap. Enjoy the day my friend!

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  22. Your BOM stars are beautiful. I love your color combination. It is fun to look at how the pattern changes when you change the value.
    I have some old block like this somewhere around here.
    You chun dashes are wonderful and I don't want to tell you how often I mix things up.
    eeeeekkkk - I love that teeny tiny block!!!

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