{Classic Quilt Blocks} Churn Dash - Add A Twist!

This month I've celebrated the beauty and versatility of the humble Churn Dash block, and today I want to encourage you to add your own twist to this Classic Quilt Block. There are so many variations of the Churn Dash and while its beautiful sewn in its original form, switching it up elevates this block to a whole new level.

Hopefully this post will give you some inspiration and new ideas to add your own personal twist, both modern and traditional - plus I've got a free pattern for you to download.

We've already seen how the Churn Dash changes by switching the colour values but what about adding some new elements to snazz it up and make something completely different?

For a traditional twist I like to stay true to the shapes of the original block but for a modern twist the rule book goes out the window and you can let loose and be creative! So lets play!

Traditional Twists:

The first area that jumps out at me is the centre square - that square is just screaming for a design twist, don't you think? There are so many ways to adapt this square and make an unique block, so here are just a few examples:

By changing to the centre square, the Churn Dash morphs into a new block with very little effort. These new elements stay true to the original shapes of the block design and they compliment not overpower. You could also consider adding an Hourglass, Star, Heart or even a Snail Trail block to create a completely different block.

Lets see what happens when you add a twist to the rail fences:

That was fun! Three new blocks, all with their own twist and all staying true to the original shapes of the classic Churn Dash block. In all of these examples the Churn Dash is still recognisable but the blocks have a more ornate look and feel - you can see why this block was also referred to as a Picture Frame block can't you?

Of course playing with the colour values will switch up these examples yet again - its so much fun to play, so get creative and add your own twist!

Modern Variations:

The modern Churn Dash opens up an exciting new world of shapes, colour, movement and design. There's no limit to how this block can be adapted and designers will continue to put their own stamp on it - I guess this is why the Churn Dash block has stood the test of time.

What would the women of the 1800's think about of the modern day Churn Dash if they saw it today? I'm sure they would have been proud of their influence.

Lets have a look at some stunning examples from across the internet:

{photo's from Goggle Images}

Wow! They are all such a fun take on the humble Churn Dash Block aren't they? The designs are eye catching and complex, and a great source of inspiration when adding your own modern twist. Get busy and start thinking of modern ways to represent the Churn Dash in your future projects!

Now I consider myself to be a more traditional quilter but I decided to give designing a modern Churn Dash block a try:

Tada! How cool is that? I love the colourful, twisted dash and the sharp points of the churn. It's still recognisable but its a little more fun and funky than the traditional Churn Dash!

My Modern Churn Dash is a paper pieced block and it finishes at 9" square. Its super easy to sew and I thought you might like this for some of your future projects. Just click on the link below to download the free pattern:

And that's it for my Churn Dash blog series. I hope you've found these posts enjoyable and inspirational. This block is near and dear to me and if I made you love the Churn Dash as much as I do then my job is done :)

Next month's Classic Quilt Block is a stunner and I'm pretty sure its everyone's favorite. Make sure you pop back in to see which block hits my spotlight during August! :)