Master the Churn Dasher Quilt Block: 8 HSTs in One Dash!

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Skill Level: Beginner

The Churn Dasher quilt block is racing into our hearts faster than a quilter at a fabric sale! This speedster of a block combines quick-cutting magic with the satisfaction of creating eight half-square triangles in one fantastic dash.

It's a good block for the beginning quilter to practice this method for making half square triangles. A great technique for every quilter to have in their 'piecing arsenal'!

📋 General Instructions

All seam allowances (SA) are 1/4".

When you're instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open the patch, pressing from the front.

Seam allowances are pressed toward the darker fabric unless otherwise noted.

I use several common abbreviations on this page:

• SA - seam allowance
• RST - right sides together
• HST - half square triangle
• BAC - background fabric
  

✂️ Cut your Churn Dasher patches

Sample Size: 10" finished / 10½" unfinished

Grid: 5x5

Attributed to: Hearth & Home

Brackman ID: 1802a

AKA: 4X Star (Ladies Art Company), Five Patch Star (Beth Gutcheon)

Design Type:  25 squares  |  Unequal 9-patch small center  |  Star

A helpful note about patches #3 and #4 (marked with **): These squares are intentionally oversized to accommodate the 8-at-once HST technique. After stitching, you'll trim them to their exact measurements for perfect results. ✨

Take a moment to label your pieces—these numbers are your trusted companions throughout the tutorial.

To print a copy of the Churn Dasher block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for a Churn Dasher Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
			5''	7½''	10''	12½''	15''
1	Bac	8	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	3½'' x 3½''
2	A	9	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	3½'' x 3½''
3**	Bac	1	4¼'' x 4¼''	5¼'' x 5¼''	6¼'' x 6¼''	7¼'' x 7¼''	8¼'' x 8¼''
4**	A	1	4¼'' x 4¼''	5¼'' x 5¼''	6¼'' x 6¼''	7¼'' x 7¼''	8¼'' x 8¼''
Unfinished Block Size			5½''	8''	10½''	13''	15½''
Grid Size			1''	1½''	2''	2½''	3''

🪡 Assemble the units for your Churn Dasher

Two Patch Units

Make 4

With RST, stitch one #2 square to a small background #1. Press with the SA towards the dark fabric.

Repeat for a total of 4 pairs.

Half Square Triangle Units (HST)

Make 8

Let's Create!

1. Start by drawing an 'X' on the back of your background square (#3) - that's two lines going corner-to-corner.
2. Here comes the fun part! Layer squares #3 and #4 with right sides together (RST), then stitch ¼" away from both sides of your drawn lines.

The arrow points to the anchor cloth. Start your stitching on one to stop your sewing machine from 'eating' the point of your squares.

After the stitching is complete, the squares look like this.

We'll use the midpoint measurement to cut this in half through the center both vertically and horizontally.

Find the center of your #3/#4 squares. It is simply the size of the cut squares divided by 2.

Use the chart below to find the Center for your chosen block size.

Cut your block in half at this center point both vertically and horizontally to create four squares. Then cut along the drawn diagonal lines.

Voila! Eight perfect HSTs ready for pressing! ✨

Press with the SA toward the darker #4.

Check your HST against the 'Trim to...' size in the chart above. Trim as needed.

Remember that accuracy at this stage means beautiful blocks later! Take your time with measuring and trimming—your future self will thank you! ✨

Corners

Make 4

Layout the patches for a corner unit. (Photo 1)

Photo 1

Photo 2

With RST, align the edges of a HST with a  #1 background square. Stitch and press with SA towards the light fabric. (Photo 2, top) This is the only time in this block where you press towards the light—this is so the seams will nest and to reduce bulk.

Photo 3

Take a quick check from the front of the sewn unit to make sure the darker fabric isn't shadowing through to the front. If it is, trim the seam allowance of the dark so that it is shorter than the light one.

Repeat for the HST and #2 patch. This time press with SA towards the dark. (Photo 2, bottom)

Sew the to sub-units together, nesting the seam allowances and pinning if needed.

Press this seam towards the #2 square. (Photo 3)

🧩 Assemble your Churn Dasher block

Let's turn those beautiful units into your finished Churn Dasher block! Here's your roadmap to success:

First, let's get organized! Lay out all your pieced units just like the picture below. 

Now for the fun part. Join those rows together. Follow the red arrows for pressing your SAs. Remember, pressing directions matter here. They help your seams nest perfectly. ⚡

Time for the grand finale.

Stitch your rows together, nesting those seams for perfect matches. Take it one seam at a time, and you'll be amazed at how quickly it comes together! ✨

🌟 Congratulations! 🌟

Your Churn Dasher block is complete and ready to make a splash in your next quilting project!

Your Churn Dasher is finished!

From Dash to Done: Your Churn Dasher Journey ⚡🎨

Your Churn Dasher block is ready to make waves 🌊 Remember, we all started somewhere, and now you're churning out HSTs like a pro! ⚡💨

Keep dashing, keep splashing, keep creating! 🏃‍♀️💫

Until we meet again, may your seams be straight and true, and your creativity be even more boundless than your stash! 🧵✨

📌 Quick! Pin this before it dashes off!

Your future self will thank you! 💫

E-Z Quilt

In this variation, I'd choose to piece the brown fabrics as rectangles instead of 2 squares to simplify the piecing.

Rolling Star

The star theme continues with a reverse nine patch (the lighter patches are in the corners) in the center.

Souvenir

Piece the center as one unit, and you've got the perfect place to display machine embroidery collections.

Click here for instructions to make this block.

Star and Cross

Simplify the piecing by using a rectangle instead of 3 patches in the very center.

Father's Choice

The star almost disappears, with the turquoise creating almost a 'tulip' design.

Nine Patch Star

It completely transforms with this two color placement.

All those variations from the simple Churn Dasher quilt block—who knew!

🔭 Looking for something truly stellar? 

You've finished your star quilt block, and you're ready for more!

Browse our collection of 60 stellar star quilt block patterns. All have instructions and cutting charts in multiple sizes. If templates or paper piecing is used in the tutorial, there's a free download for you of those materials.

Eeny. Meenie. Miney. Moe.

Which star quilt block will you sew?

For even MORE blocks to make... 🧩🎨

...visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 230+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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