The Double Churn Dash Quilt takes a beloved traditional quilt block and gives it a clever oversized twist: a small Churn Dash is placed inside a much larger Churn Dash.
Taught by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company, this strip-friendly quilt uses 2½-inch precut strips, Half-Square Triangles, simple strip sets, and large blocks that make the quilt top come together surprisingly quickly.
The featured version finishes at approximately 68" × 88" and uses 12 large blocks arranged 3 across by 4 down.
Below you'll find an organized project overview, fabric-planning advice, piecing tips, troubleshooting guidance, and a direct link to the original Missouri Star video tutorial.
Double Churn Dash Quilt at a Glance
| Project | Double Churn Dash Quilt |
| Instructor | Jenny Doan |
| Official Source | Missouri Star Quilt Company |
| Finished Quilt Size | Approximately 68" × 88" |
| Number of Large Blocks | 12 |
| Layout | 3 blocks across × 4 blocks down |
| Main Precut | 1 roll of 2½" print strips |
| Main Techniques | Strip piecing, Half-Square Triangles, nested seams, oversized block assembly |
| Suggested Skill Level | Confident beginner |
| Free Resource | Official video tutorial |
| Source Checked | September 2026 |
What Is a Double Churn Dash Quilt?
The traditional Churn Dash is built around a center square with rectangular side units and Half-Square Triangles in the corners.
The Double Churn Dash repeats that structure at two different scales. First, you make a smaller Churn Dash block. That completed block then becomes the center of a much larger Churn Dash.
This creates a strong nested-block effect while still relying on familiar straight seams and simple triangle units.
Fabric Requirements
For the featured 68" × 88" quilt, Missouri Star specifies:
- 1 roll of 2½" print strips
- 2¾ yards background fabric
- 1¼ yards contrasting solid fabric
- 1¼ yards outer border fabric
- ¾ yard binding fabric
- 5½ yards backing fabric
Jenny's original sample uses Mama's Cottage by April Rosenthal for Moda Fabrics, but almost any coordinated Jelly Roll-style collection can work.
Missouri Star provides the Double Churn Dash video tutorial free. The complete downloadable or printed pattern is sold separately, so this project should be described as a free tutorial rather than a free quilt pattern.
Choosing Fabrics for a Double Churn Dash
This quilt works best when the Churn Dash shapes can be distinguished clearly from the background.
The easiest approach is to separate the fabrics into three visual groups:
- colorful 2½-inch print strips,
- a light or neutral background,
- and a strong contrasting solid for the centers and corner units.
Bright Scrappy Version
Use a multicolor Jelly Roll with white or cream background and one consistent dark contrasting fabric.
Modern Two-Color Version
Use several shades of one color family with a clean neutral background.
Autumn Version
Combine rust, gold, brown, olive, and cream strips with a deep burgundy or chocolate contrast fabric.
Christmas Version
Red, green, cream, and low-volume holiday prints can turn the nested Churn Dash into a striking seasonal quilt.
How the Double Churn Dash Is Built
Each large block is constructed in two stages.
- Make the smaller Churn Dash center.
- Surround that finished block with a second oversized Churn Dash.
Because the same visual structure is repeated at two scales, the large blocks look complex even though the piecing process remains repetitive.
Step 1: Make the Half-Square Triangles
Jenny uses the Easy Eight Half-Square Triangle method for the corner units.
A contrasting square and a background square are placed right sides together, diagonal guidelines are marked, and several seams are sewn before the unit is cut apart.
One set produces the eight Half-Square Triangles required for one large Double Churn Dash block.
Square the HSTs Before Assembly
The tutorial trims these Half-Square Triangle units to approximately 4½ inches square.
Squaring at this stage is worth the extra time because these units appear in both the inner and outer visual structure of the block.
Align the diagonal seam with the 45-degree line on your ruler and trim only what is necessary.
Press Toward the Darker Fabric
When one fabric is significantly darker than the background, pressing toward the darker side helps keep the seam allowance from showing through a pale background fabric.
Use a lifting pressing motion rather than stretching the diagonal seam.
Step 2: Make the Strip Sets
Pair a 2½-inch print strip with a 2½-inch background strip and sew them together lengthwise with a consistent quarter-inch seam.
Press the strip sets flat before cross-cutting.
The same basic strip set is used at two different scales in the nested Churn Dash construction.
Step 3: Cut Units for the Small Churn Dash
For the inner block, Jenny cuts strip-set sections approximately 4½ inches long.
These units become the rectangular dash sections surrounding the smaller center square.
Keep paired print and background sections oriented consistently while laying out the block.
Step 4: Lay Out the Small Churn Dash
Position the contrasting center square first.
Add the strip-set units above, below, and on both sides. Place the Half-Square Triangles in the four corners.
Before sewing, check that:
- the colored sides of the rectangles face the correct direction,
- all four corner triangles point inward correctly,
- and the block is symmetrical around the center.
Step 5: Sew the Small Block in Rows
Sew the block as three horizontal rows, then join the rows together.
Press neighboring seam allowances in opposite directions where practical so the intersections can nest.
The completed inner block should measure approximately 12½ inches square before moving on to the larger scale.
The outer pieces need to fit the actual size of the completed center. If your inner block differs slightly from the expected measurement, check your seam allowance and squareness before adding the outer Churn Dash.
Step 6: Prepare the Large Dash Units
The same strip-set idea is repeated around the finished 12½-inch center, but now much longer sections are required.
Jenny cuts the larger strip-set pieces approximately 12½ inches long.
This repetition is what gives the quilt its distinctive “Churn Dash inside a Churn Dash” appearance.
Step 7: Build the Outer Churn Dash
Place the completed small Churn Dash in the center of your work surface.
Arrange the longer strip-set units around it and position another set of Half-Square Triangle corners on the outside.
Just like the smaller block, the large design can be viewed as three horizontal rows.
Check Orientation Before Sewing
A reversed corner or strip unit can be difficult to notice while working on such a large block.
Step back and inspect the complete layout before carrying the pieces to your sewing machine.
Taking a quick photograph of the correct layout can also be useful.
Step 8: Join the Large Block
Sew the outer sections together and then join them to the central Churn Dash.
Match important seams before stitching. Pins or clips can help at intersections where several seams meet.
Give the completed block a careful press from both sides.
Why Nested Seams Matter
The Double Churn Dash contains many visible intersections.
Pressing adjacent seams in opposite directions allows them to lock or “nest” against one another.
This improves alignment and also reduces the need to force bulky intersections under the presser foot.
Make 12 Large Blocks
The Missouri Star sample quilt uses 12 oversized Double Churn Dash blocks.
Because the blocks are large, only a relatively small number is needed to create a substantial twin-size quilt.
This is one reason the project can feel faster than a quilt made from dozens of smaller blocks.
Arrange the Quilt 3 × 4
The official sample layout uses:
- 3 large blocks across
- 4 large blocks down
Lay all twelve blocks out before joining them so you can distribute colors and prints evenly across the quilt.
Balance Your Jelly Roll Colors
If your strip collection contains several strong colors, avoid clustering all similar prints in one corner of the finished quilt.
Step several feet away from the layout and look at the overall color distribution.
A phone photo can make obvious color clusters easier to notice.
Join the Blocks into Rows
Sew three blocks together for each horizontal row.
Once the four rows are complete, join the rows together.
Match major block intersections and support the weight of the growing quilt top so it does not pull unevenly at the sewing machine.
Add the Outer Border
The featured quilt uses approximately 1¼ yards of border fabric, with the finished border around 4½ inches wide in Jenny's sample.
Measure your completed quilt center before cutting final border lengths.
Using the actual measurement rather than a theoretical measurement helps keep the quilt flat and square.
Finish the Quilt
Layer the completed quilt top with batting and backing, quilt as desired, then trim and bind the outside edge.
Missouri Star lists approximately 5½ yards of regular-width backing fabric and ¾ yard for binding for the featured quilt.
Can You Make Double Churn Dash from Scraps?
Yes.
Although Jenny uses a 2½-inch precut roll, the construction works well with scraps that can be cut into consistent 2½-inch strips.
Keeping one consistent background and one consistent contrasting fabric will help unify a very scrappy selection of colored strips.
Fabric Ideas for a Double Churn Dash Quilt
Reproduction Fabrics
Traditional reproduction prints emphasize the historical feel of the Churn Dash while the oversized nested block keeps the quilt fresh.
Modern Solids
Use a range of saturated solid strips against white, cream, or charcoal.
Batik Jelly Roll
Batiks give the large blocks strong color variation without introducing overly large motifs.
Low-Volume Background
Small neutral prints can replace a plain background while still providing enough contrast for the nested Churn Dash structure.
Common Double Churn Dash Mistakes to Avoid
Reversing an HST Corner
All corners must face the intended direction for the Churn Dash shape to read correctly.
Skipping HST Squaring
Small inaccuracies in eight corner units can create noticeable problems when the larger block is assembled.
Using Inconsistent Quarter-Inch Seams
This project repeats the same structure at two scales, so seam-width errors can compound.
Cutting Outer Pieces Before Measuring the Center
Confirm that your inner Churn Dash is square and correctly sized before building the surrounding block.
Pressing Every Seam in the Same Direction
Think ahead about how neighboring seams will meet. Opposing seam allowances often create cleaner nested intersections.
Double Churn Dash vs. Traditional Churn Dash
A standard Churn Dash contains one center, four rectangular dash sections, and four corner triangle units.
The Double Churn Dash keeps that entire small block intact, then repeats the Churn Dash structure around it at a larger scale.
The result is more graphic and oversized while still preserving the identity of the traditional block.
Another Strip-Friendly Quilt to Try
If you enjoy Jenny Doan's precut-friendly construction methods, see our Tilted Nine Patch Quilt Tutorial .
It also uses 2½-inch strips, but combines a Nine Patch center with Flying Geese and block rotation rather than nested Churn Dash units.
Double Churn Dash Quilt FAQ
Who teaches the Double Churn Dash Quilt?
The official tutorial is taught by Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company.
What size is the finished quilt?
The featured quilt finishes at approximately 68" × 88".
How many large blocks are used?
The Missouri Star layout uses 12 large blocks.
How are the blocks arranged?
They are arranged 3 blocks across and 4 blocks down.
What size precut strips are used?
The project uses 2½-inch strips, commonly sold as Jelly Rolls or similar precut strip collections.
Does the pattern use Half-Square Triangles?
Yes. The Churn Dash corners are constructed from HST units. Jenny demonstrates the Easy Eight method in the tutorial.
Is this a free quilt pattern?
Missouri Star provides the video tutorial free, while the full printed or digital Double Churn Dash pattern is sold separately.
Is the project suitable for beginners?
A confident beginner familiar with a quarter-inch seam, rotary cutting, and Half-Square Triangles should be able to approach the project.
Can I use scraps instead of a Jelly Roll?
Yes. Cut suitable scraps into consistent 2½-inch strips and organize them by color or value before making the strip sets.
Watch the Official Double Churn Dash Quilt Tutorial
Jenny Doan demonstrates the Easy Eight Half-Square Triangles, strip sets, small Churn Dash center, oversized outer block, and final quilt assembly in the original Missouri Star tutorial.
Watch the Official Double Churn Dash Quilt Tutorial →
Official Missouri Star Tutorial
Missouri Star's official project page includes the original video, quilt size, supply information, and project details.
View the Official Double Churn Dash Tutorial →
Tutorial Source
Double Churn Dash is a Missouri Star Quilt Company project demonstrated by Jenny Doan.
Missouri Star provides the original free video tutorial and sells the complete Double Churn Dash quilt pattern separately.
The Quilting Time adds project organization, fabric-planning ideas, accuracy guidance, pressing tips, troubleshooting, and related internal resources while directing readers to Missouri Star for the original project instructions.
Source availability checked: September 2026.
Happy quilting!
