Thursday, May 30, 2019

Bohemian Churn Dash :: At Long Last!

Let's just say this quilt has been moved from here to there on numerous occasions the past 15 months!  Once the blocks were finished, the top pieced, the back pieced ... I was over it!!  

First I'll give you a little back story about this quilt.  I first made this quilt for myself way back in 2010.  It saw the pattern in an issue of American Patchwork and Quilting 2/2008 and knew I had to make it.  These days I don't make many patterns from magazines or designers, back then it never occurred to me that I could design my own.  This design is one that I've always wanted to make again.  

When I was planning on what projects to take to our Guild Retreat in February 2018, I decided it was time to give the pattern another go!  The plan was to use Anna Maria Horner prints from my stash and solids for the background.  Which I did. 

BOHEMIAN CHURN DASH II
76" X 93"
One of the main reasons I put of finishing this quilt was the size!  It's large twin.  There is a reason why I love making lap quilts...a lap quilt this isn't!  I do not enjoy quilting big quilts regardless of how simple the quilting design is.  It just isn't fun!

That being said, it's finished!  It's quite the scrappy specimen and my itch to remake it has thoroughly been scratched forever!



The Anna Marie Horner prints are mostly older prints that I have been hoarding for a very long time.  The days of holding on to what I considered 'sacred' fabric was over!  If you think about it, what's the point of having it if you don't use it?!  Preaching to the choir!



The pattern uses four sizes of the Churn Dash block: 16", 10", 6" and 4", and it all magically fits together within the quilt.  It's a puzzle!  With each print I made one of the four sizes of blocks, but used a different color for the background.  Why make it too easy right?!  My goal was to use a different color for each block as to not have any repeats, but there might be a couple duplicates.



Like I said, I did not want to quilt this!  With no alternative in sight, no quilting fairy popping in to surprise me over night with a beautifully finished quilt, I had to suck it up and get to it.  


Since it was literally all on my back (or shoulders!), I didn't try to do anything fancy.  Horizontal and vertical lines were my best friend!  I used my 6" x 24" ruler and marked on each side, from the left line I marked in 3", from the 3" line I marked in 2" which then left me with a 1" line.  I'm here to confuse you...you know that!  Doing that method vertically and horizontally I ended up with a grid of sorts, like a lovely plaid!



With this finish I have my first Christmas gift of the year checked off!  Come on guys...December will be here before you know it!  I am not an early shopper or maker when it comes to Christmas, so you still have time!
  
  

I am relieved to have this quilt finished!  My next 'anything larger than a bread box' quilt is certainly going to be sent to a professional!  I haven't got the desire or muscles these days!

LINKING:
PEACOCK PARTY   TGIFF 

26 comments :

  1. This looks fabulous. I loathe doing the quilting and can never afford professional services so I know exactly how you felt about doing this. x

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    1. It was certainly a workout quilting this one! I wish I could afford to get quilts professionally quilted, but it just isn't in the budget very often!

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  2. I really would not be making a single thing if I had to sit at the machine and push that big ole quilt through, heck even a little one!! Congrats on towering over this quilt and mastering a great finish. Now the monkey is off your back;)

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    1. It was a massive undertaking quilting this monster! Something that I didn’t enjoy at all until the very end when it was finished! Dare I say never again?!

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  3. it's gorgeous! and I'm with you, anything bigger than lap size? off it goes to my favorite long arm quilter.

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  4. I'm smiling over here. Why? Because the reason I got my longarm was because I made a queen sized flannel quilt for our bed, only quilting straight lines, and I discovered a person can actually sweat while quilting! It was a chore and a half, lol! I literally had to p-u-s-h that quilt through the small throat of my domestic machine. Light bulb moment! However, your quilt is totally worthy of your time, and your special someone will definitely be thrilled with the gift!

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  5. I made this quilt in 2005. Then used the pattern to make a throw size last year. I just love a churn dash. Yours turned out beautiful. I feel the same about quilting large quilt and the effect on my upper back and neck! I'm working on big-stitching one by hand now just to avoid having to pay a long armer - plus I love the effect and handwork.

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  6. It looks great. Love all the colours. I wish there was a quilting fairy!!!

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  7. Whoever receives this Christmas gift will be delighted and so appreciative of your work. It turned out lovely. Call me crazy but I don't mind quilting larger quilts on my machine. The largest I have done is an oversized queen quilt. My only problem was having a table set up large enough to handle all ends. Nadine W. N. Cali rnwillis@velotech.net

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  8. I'm loving this pattern for using scraps, can you give some info as to how to get the pattern?

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  9. i'm liking the way you quilted this Jayne. I may do something similar with a donation quilt I have.

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  10. What a fun riot of color, and I love a churn dash block, so this is a win! I'm with you on the big quilt thing. I send mine off to my good friend who has a long arm business. However, I just got two queen quilts back from her (charity quilts) that need to be bound. I'm in serious denial, but they need to get done. I am realizing I need to ditch the patterns and QALs and stick to improv -- lap size or smaller.

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  11. The Churn Dash has to be my favorite quilt block, ever! I love the scrappiness of your quilt and think I might just have to pull out the hoarded fabric and cut it up. No one can admire it in a drawer or box. Haha

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  12. Wow, what a beauty! So different than most of your quilts, both in size and printiness. Is that a word?? I love seeing all the AMH prints, and it works well because you stuck to the solid backgrounds. Such a riot of color, I love that!

    Yeah, big quilts are a total pain on a domestic machine. I've vowed not to do anything as big as a twin again unless I break it up with QAYG methods. I do find that FMQ is actually easier than straight lines, though, because you stitch in a smallish area until it's done, then shift the quilt. Lines require constant movement. Mentally, it seems like the walking foot is doing the "work" but my shoulders disagree with my brain at the end of a quilting session...

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  13. It turned out so great!! I think I have this one saved in my pattern files too - but yours is way better ( especially since it is finished!)

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  14. oh this is nice! It feels good to make a pattern once in a while, and churn dash is a winner. Definitely worth the trouble but I totally agree with you about big quilts!

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  15. Your quilt turned out beautifully. Congrats on having a gift ready for the Holidays!!

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  16. I have two tops that are just going to have to be done by someone else. I just need to decide and do it! Love your Churn Dash, I have a Dash wallhanging I need to just quilt already!

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  17. Oh, that is just a lot of scrappy fun, Jayne! I love the fun combination of prints and solids. I'm glad you powered through the quilting - I don't make much bigger than lap size either because of the work of quilting them!

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  18. I have been itching to make a churn dash quilt and I think your quilt is the inspiration to make it happen. It is beautiful!

    Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  19. Congratulation on your finish. It reminds me of a very similar project I've had lurking for a couple of years now too, with churn dash blocks of different sizes. Maybe I'm inspired enough to get on with it.

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  20. A riot of wonderful AMH colour! I've always loved the good old 'churn dash' blocks, and love how you have combined the prints with the solids in your quilt! Do you remember where you got this pattern? I'm keen to give it a go too!

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  21. That last photo on the ladder. Stunning. This is the kind of quilt you just want to snuggle under. And have it become “that quilt” in the family— you know, the one that gets chosen every time and finally gets all used up.

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