An ‘old’ favorite of mine. This pattern/idea came from Bonnie Hunter at www.quiltville.com. (I can't get the link to show?) Bonnie keeps coming up with new, wonderful, quick and scrappy ideas with excellent photos and instructions - I tried briefly to keep up with her -- had to admit defeat -- but did manage to make this cheerful scrappy project, called Chunky Churn Dash.
There are 2 blocks - one is the chunky churn dash, and the adjoining block is the hourglass. Adding an hourglass block between seemingly ordinary blocks makes your quilt appear far more complicated.
Note how different the 2 blocks look, just by changing the values.
I’m sure you’ll recognize these fabrics that have been around a long time. But lucky me, the instructions called for 1 ½ in strips and 2 ½ in squares, and amazingly enough, I already had those pieces cut and ready to go. Talk about good luck!
This top went together in a weekend -- thanks to pre-cut strips, and thanks to adrenaline as I saw it develop into something delightful. I used up a LOT of favorite scraps, and even the border used 1 ½ inch squares, again leftover from the blocks. What I like best is that almost every block is different. I was not fussy about putting colors together - just used light medium and dark in each block. For a pallette, for the most part it was beige, browns, gold, country red, and a few black/white. I greatly enjoyed hand quilting this project, fondly remembering the original purpose of each fabric. Now, when I use it, I study the various combinations of colors that I have in this quilt, and think about those combinations in the next project.
It was too cold to take outside for the photograph. My rocking chair has the most intricate carving on the back rest – one of these days I will trace the pattern onto a quilt!
Seeing this pattern always amazes me how the hourglass blocks never look like hourglasses! It looks like a square and in a square... but it's not and that just fascinates me. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! Great way to use up scraps.
ReplyDeleteYour rocking chair is gorgeous.
I love the photo of the quilt tossed over the rocker! I think it looks so inviting - you shouldn't wait to get an outdoor photo but send this one to Bonnie Hunter instead to share on her webpage of quilts made with this pattern.
ReplyDelete...and speaking of this pattern - a friend and I have decided to make 10 pairs of these using our scraps each month and keep one set and mail the other set to each other :c) and in the meantime, we are to make our own QST blocks.
You are so right - they go together so easy if you already have 1.5" and 2.5" strips and squares cut - which I do thanks to Bonnie's "Scrap User's System" ;c)
Again, Beautiful quilt!!! Happy Weekend ~Bonnie
I love your quilt. You were so lucky to have the right size parts already cut. It makes everything so much easier.
ReplyDeleteThat handy hour glass block makes anything wonderful I think, and is one of my all-time favourites. It is just the best for 'tying together' scrappy blocks.
ReplyDeleteI like to sew it using the method I saw on a Simply Quilts programme where you draw an X pencil line and sew down one side of one of the lines until you get to the middle, then jump over to the other side to finish. Then repeat for the other line. Then cut apart into 4 pieces and re-sew to get 2 hour glass blocks. Do you do it this way?
What a great scrappy quilt, like Leah I'm fascinated by the optical illusion that the hourglass blocks create.
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt and I also love Bonnie's site. So many great ideas. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned studying the various combinations of colors. That's what I love about scrappy too.
ReplyDeleteVery nice quilt Elaine. I think your setting is great. Love the close-up.
ReplyDeleteYour Chunky Churn Dash is gorgeous, Elaine! Love those colors! And your setting for the photo is perfect! :)
ReplyDeletePretty! I love a quilt tossed over a rocking chair.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!! Really love the strong contrast you've used in the hourglass blocks. I have some CCD blocks from a swap that I really must put together - thanks for the inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteIt's great Elaine. I'm impressed by the handquilting. How long did it take you to quilt?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking quilt! It looks so very different with the hour glass blocks. As a rule I love Bonnie's quilts, but this one didn't call to me as others have - I think because I love the regular churn dash block so much. But your version really calls to me, saying "make me, make me!" I have a drawer of strips and a box of squares too. My only concern is that I probably can't find sets of 4 matching squares in the box. I wonder how it would look if the four corner squares were of similar color but different fabrics? Hmmm - - - I'll have to play with that idea.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt and I love the way changing the values changes the look of the block. A very cosy looking quilt.
ReplyDeleteElaine what an absolutely wonderful quilt and with all those scraps of all those memories.
ReplyDeleteIt is always an extra bonus to discover that you have pre-cut strips just perfect for a pattern! I love scrappy quilts and remembering where/what each fabric was originally for too! Your quilt really is fantastic and a nice memory for you.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Evelyn
This is a beautiful quilt. I was thinking of adding hourglasses to my stack and whack. I will have to think about this setting.
ReplyDeleteThat looks fantastic - I started one and never finished it -- now I want to dig it out and give it another chance. Super looking scrappy quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love all of Bonnie's patterns, too. Your chunky churn dash is very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt pictured is absolutely beautiful. It is "my" look, colors, design, pattern, I like everything about it. So nice. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful quilt!
ReplyDelete