![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2068-1024x667.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
NOTE: these blog posts for the Aurora quilt top are part of a limited series for our Block of the Month subscription program. Sign-ups for the Aurora BOM are no longer available. You can learn more about our upcoming Block of the Month subscriptions here.
Hello Friends!
I have loved seeing so many Facebook posts with you all sharing your sewing for our first month. Please keep it up!
I know we started things off with some challenging sewing and piecing, but from what I can tell, you all handled it like champs! Soo… this month you will get a little bit of a breather. In fact, The eight Churndash style blocks we’ll be making are so simple, you almost don’t even need a tutorial… but you’re getting one anyway, lol!
We’ll begin by making some HSTs – 32 to be exact. Remember, the cutting instructions are mathematically correct, but you can cut your squares a bit bigger at the start, and then give yourself some wiggle room to trim at the end.
I’m sure you’ve all made these a million times, but here’s a couple photos anyway: Also, for some reason my photos this month have a lot of variation in color hue. I tried to fix them, but to no avail, so you’ll just have to bear with me! My photoshop skills are not as proficient as my quilting skills.
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2046-1024x920.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
Here’s my messy stack of squares, with the seams sewn on both sides and ready to cut down the middle.
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2049-938x1024.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
Once they are done and pressed, it’s time to trim. I like to trim things on a rotating cutting mat whenever I can. It’s not necessary, but I think it makes trimming go faster. Connecting Threads happens to sell the one I use in case any of you are interested. It’s the Omnigrid 360 rotating mat – 14 inch size. It’s fantastic because it’s lightweight, but stays put and rotates so easily.
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2055-1024x833.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
Next to make our block we sew our purple and black rectangles together like so. I did some assembly line piecing, so these got sewn up at the same time as my HSTs.
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2047-783x1024.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2054-1024x576.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
And now all we have to do is put all the units together. I think I’ve said this a lot in the past, but I ALWAYS lay out my blocks – every single one – before I begin pinning and sewing. I’ve learned that if I don’t, I end up having to rip at least one or two things out, which makes me a little grumpy. Even as simple as these blocks are, I know I would inevitably turn a triangle or rectangle the wrong way. So it’s just what I do!
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2056-version-2-977x1024.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
To finish, I sewed each of the three rows for the block, and then sewed those rows together like so:
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2058-859x1024.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![](https://eg4og9dpi7s.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2065-2.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
And that’s it! Easy-peasy, right?! Next month we’ll sew a few more blocks for this inner border before moving on to put everything together down the road.
Thanks for checking in, and Happy Quilting!
Kristin