2016 Cloud 9 New Block Blog Hop

Before I start, I want to apologize if this block has been created before.  I have done several searches and have not found anything like it.  If it has been done, please let me know and I'll give the creator of the block the credit they deserve.

Also, I want to thank the amazing women who put this blog hop together, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter.  This has been so much fun and has definitely pushed me out of my box, big time.

I call my block Churned up Dash or Ziggy and Zaggy.  You'll see why a bit later.

I received my five fat quarters from Cloud 9 Fabrics when I got to my daughters house in August as we were traveling for the summer.  I was thrilled with the colors and softness of their fabric.  Thank you Cloud 9 Fabrics.

My first decision was all about the block.  I picked a classic block, Churn Dash, and planned to cut it up to make it into a new block.  I did several hours of searches to see if there was anything out there like it and didn't find anything so I went with my plan.  I needed three of the five fabrics and my choices are below.  As you can see, I chose a light, a medium, and a dark fabric.

I printed out my block pattern and then quartered it (ripped it as you can see by the ragged edges).  I very scientifically wrote each of the colors on the appropriate pieces and the size the pieces needed to be. 

Here are the sizes you need to cut to make this block which finishes at 12 1/2".

Dark fabric (Iris):               Two, 5"x5" squares
Medium fabric (Amazon)   One, 5"x5" square and four, 2 1/2"x5" rectangles
Light fabric (Sky):              Two, 5"x5" squares and four, 2 1/2"x5" rectangles

I started by marking and sewing the half-square triangles (HST).  Probably everyone has made HSTs before, but just in case you haven't, they are fun to make and this is how I make mine.  On the wrong side of the lighter fabric, mark a diagonal line from one top corner to the opposite bottom corner with your favorite marking device.  I use a caulk marker which has always worked well from me.

 

Next, with right sides together, stitch 1/4 inch on each side of the marked line.  I chain stitch whenever I can.

 

Cut the HSTs along the marked line and finger press the seam open and then iron press the seam.  The reason I finger press before ironing is because it makes it much easier to press the seams open.  I have recently begun pressing seams open, rather than to the side, as it really does make for much nice joins and worth the little bit of extra time it takes. 

 

 

 

Trim the four HSTs to 4 1/2" square.  Be sure this is done after you have pressed them.

 

 

 

I then sewed the rectangles.  Four light (Sky) to four medium (Amazon).  Finger press seams open and then iron press open. 

 

 

Now the fun begins.  I lay out the pieces as the block will be pieced together.

 

 

I start with the left top piece, join it to the middle top piece, and then join them to the right top piece. Do this same piecing with the middle pieces and the bottom pieces.

 

 

 This is how they will look after those are all sewed together.

 

 

Now join the rows together as indicated.

 

 

Now for the ultimate fun, cutting the block into quarters.  The middle piece of the block measures 4 1/2" square, so I need to cut 2 1/4" from the left side of this piece, very carefully, turn one quarter turn and cut again 2 1/4" from the left side of the piece.

 

 

Here are the four pieces arranged for my Churned Up Dash or Ziggy and Zaggy block.

 

 

I sew the top two pieces together then the bottom two together and then the top row to the bottom row.  Tada, one finished block.

 

 

And here is what it would look like made into a quilt.

 

 

Another fun thing I did was try some different variations using the four block pieces and here are some of the results.

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.  It is the first one I have ever done and it was a lot of fun, although a bit nerve wracking at times. All the blocks created in this blog hop will be made into charity quilts.

 

Be sure to check out those in the blog hop from yesterday:

 

Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Abigail @Cut & Alter
Janice @Color, Creating, and Quilting!
Lorinda @Laurel, Poppy, and Pine
Melva @Melva Loves Scraps
Renee @Quilts of a Feather
Kathryn @Upitis Quilts
Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Amanda @this mom quilts
Holly @Lighthouse Lane Designs
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Anne @Said With Love
Suzy @Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Kathleen @Smiles From Kate
Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co.
Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Anja @Anja Quilts
Daisy @Ants to Sugar

 

And for those in the hop today:

 

Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Miranda @I Have Purple Hair
Jennifer @The Inquiring Quilter
Sarah @123 Quilt
Leanne @Devoted Quilter
Jen @Patterns By Jen
Jennifer @RV Quilting
Amanda @Quiltologie
Sharon @Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Jen @A Dream and A Stitch
Jen @Faith and Fabric
Carole @Carole Lyles Shaw
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Susan @Sevenoaks Street Quilts
Katrin @Now What Puppilalla
Amista @Hilltop Custom Designs
Nicole @Handwrought Quilts
Marla @Penny Lane Quilts
Silvia @A Stranger View
Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Carrie @the zen quilter
Mary @Quilting is in My Blood
Velda @GRANNYcanQUILT

 

And those tomorrow:

 

Host: Stephanie @Late Night Quilter
Kathy @Kathys Kwilts and More
Paige @Quilted Blooms
Mary @Strip Quilts Pass it On
Allison @Woodberry Way
Seven @The Concerned Craft
Olusola @Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co.
Ann @Brown Paws Quilting
Jodie @Persimmon + Pear
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Kitty @Night Quilter
Francine @Mochawildchild
Shelley @The Carpenter’s Daughter who Quilts
Jayne @Twiggy and Opal
Geraldine @Living Water Quilter
Shannon @Shannon Fraser Designs
Lisa @Sunlight In Winter Quilts
Jessica @Quilty Habit
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Deanna @Stitches Quilting
Denise @Craft Traditions