Free pattern day! Shoo Fly and Churn Dash quilts
Shoo Fly and Churn Dash quilts are so much fun. It's amazing how many variations are possible with this simple Amish pattern. Other names include "Monkey Wrench" and "Hole in the Barn Door". Here are some free patterns!
A churn dash block is similar to a nine patch, but the four corners are made with half-square triangles instead of squares. Strips of red connect the four triangles.
Holding On To Summer, approx. 38 x 49", free pattern by Karen Gibbs for Anthology Fabrics
In this Shoo Fly block you can see the underlying nine-patch design. This block variation has no connecting strips.
Shoofly Lullaby quilt, 40 x 58", free pattern by Nannette Berkley at Kona Bay Fabrics
Churn Dash baby quilt, inspired by "Sash and Dash" by Dolores Smith and Sarah Maxwell of Homestead Hearth, free pattern at All People Quilt
Shoo Fly blocks look very different when they are set on point, as you can see in the Twisted Churn Dashes quilt below:
Twisted Churn Dashes quilt, approx 29 x 36", inspired by a quilt from collector Pam Buda, free pattern at All People Quilt
Hourglass Stars wall hanging, inspired by "Spiced Cider" by Jan Ragaller, free pattern at All People Quilt
Blooming Batiks wall hanging, approx 37"square, inspired by the "Garden Medallion" pattern by Kim Diehl, free pattern at All People Quilt (note: the center applique pattern download requires a free registration)
Amish Glow quilt, 62 x 74", pattern by John Kubiniec at Big Rig Quilting; free lap quilt pattern download at McCall's Quilting
John Kubiniec says: "I used a pack of Blue Lagoon from Cherrywood Fabrics for the blues in this quilt, the other fabrics (Black, Grey, Pink) are Kona Solids."
Holiday Churn Dash quilt, approx 45"square, inspired by the "Sweet and Simple" pattern by Brenda Hawkes, free pattern at All People Quilt
Can you tell that "Pastoral Countryside" is really a Churn Dash Quilt? You can see it better when the blocks are separated:
"Pastoral Countryside" is a free web bonus; it is a small version of the Butter Churn quilt which was featured in the February 2013 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, shown below:
In the Annandale quilt shown above, churn dash blocks alternate with plain and border-print squares. We also like the flying geese border.
Tic Tac Toe quilt, 50 x 60", free pattern with shoo fly and star blocks by Diane Nagle for RJR Fabrics
Shoo Fly bed quilt, approx 58 x 87", free pattern by Malka Dubrawsky as seen at Lark Crafts: also see the tutorial at Sew Mama Sew
Giant Block Throw, 75"square, free pattern inspired by Malka Dubrawsky for All People Quilt (each of the four blocks measures approximately 35" square!)
This free pattern, above, it is a small version of the Supersize Shoo Fly quilt by Malka Dubrawsky, which was featured in the August 2012 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine:
Wrench It Up! quilt, free pattern by Scott Hansen for the "Be a Man" collection at Free Spirit Fabric
Shown below is a humorous take on the "Monkey Wrench": a "Wrench Set" quilt (very manly!)
Wrench Set quilt, approx 57 x 78", free pattern by Cate Tallman-Evans for Quilt Mag
Last but not least, how about some Wonky or Liberated Shoo Fly blocks ?
Three Ways to Wonkify a Traditional Quilt Block (Shoo Fly) tutorial for the April 2010 Block Lotto by Jean-Sophie Wood at Sophie Junction
Traditional Shoo Fly block (above, left); liberated shoo fly block (right)
Wonky Churn Dash block tutorial at Urban Stitches
Image credits: Individual images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs; complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links. The images shown on this page are derivative works that are the property of Quilt Inspiration; please do not copy them without permission. If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at Quilt Inspiration.
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