Divide & Dash QAL Week 5: Building Row 2

 

Divide & Dash Quilt Along – Week 5

Row 2 Construction

Welcome back to the Divide & Dash Quilt Along! This week we begin constructing Row 2 by assembling Zones 4 and 5. You’ll combine large and small Churn Dash blocks with our Flying Geese units to continue building the modern layout of the quilt top.

This stage is especially exciting because the quilt really starts taking shape visually. We’ll focus on adding strips, maintaining sharp points, and assembling the sections in sequence so everything flows smoothly together. By the end of this week, you’ll have a substantial portion of your quilt top completed and may even choose to attach Row 2 to Row 1.

As always, take your time, keep that accurate 1/4" seam allowance, and enjoy watching your fabrics and blocks come together into something beautiful!

This week we continue building the body of the quilt by assembling Zones 4 and 5 of Row 2. Once these sections are complete, you may choose to join Row 2 to Row 1 and begin seeing the overall layout of your quilt come together. PDF File

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Helpful Piecing Tip

When attaching strips to your blocks, place the block on top and the strip underneath while stitching. This helps you keep better control over your seam placement and protects your points.

Be sure to use an accurate 1/4" seam allowance throughout construction.

As you approach the point area on your blocks, stitch one stitch width beyond the point to avoid cutting off your points during assembly.

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Zone 4 Construction

You Will Need

• (1) Large Churn Dash Block from Week 1

• (1) Small Churn Dash Block from Week 2

Additional Fabric Cuts

Cut:

• (2) strips — 12.5" x 2.5"

• (1) rectangle — 5.5" x 7.5"

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Constructing the Large Churn Dash Unit

1. Take your large Churn Dash block.

2. Attach one 12.5" x 2.5" strip to the right side of the block.

3. Attach the second 12.5" x 2.5" strip to the left side of the block.

4. Press both seams toward the added strips and away from the Churn Dash block.

5. Set this unit aside.

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Constructing the Small Churn Dash Unit

1. Take your small Churn Dash block.

2. Attach the 5.5" x 7.5" rectangle to the block.

3. Press the seam toward the added strip and away from the Churn Dash block.

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Completing Zone 4

1. Arrange the small Churn Dash unit and the large Churn Dash unit so the small block is positioned in the upper left corner of the section.

2. Sew the two units together to complete Zone 4.

3. Press the joining seam toward the added strip fabric and away from the Churn Dash block.

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Zone 5 Construction

You Will Need

• (1) Flying Geese Block

• (1) Large Churn Dash Block

Additional Fabric Cuts

Cut:

• (2) strips — 4.5" x 12.5"

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Constructing the Flying Geese Unit

1. Take your Flying Geese block.

2. Remove the paper from the back of the block before continuing assembly.

3. Attach one 4.5" x 12.5" strip to the top long side of the block.

4. Attach the second 4.5" x 12.5" strip to the bottom long side of the block.

5. Press both seams toward the added strips and away from the Flying Geese block.

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Completing Zone 5

1. Position the Flying Geese unit on the left side and the large Churn Dash block on the right side.

2. Arrange the units so the Flying Geese point away from the Churn Dash block.

3. Sew the units together to complete Zone 5.

4. Press the joining seam toward the Flying Geese unit or press open, depending on your preferred finish.

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Joining Row 2

1. Position Zone 4 on the left and Zone 5 on the right, matching the layout shown in the reference photo.

2. Arrange the units in the following sequence from left to right:

Small Churn Dash → Large Churn Dash → Flying Geese → Large Churn Dash

3. Sew Zone 4 and Zone 5 together to complete this section of Row 2.

4. Press the joining seam in the direction that best reduces bulk for your quilt top.

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Optional Assembly Step

If you wish, you may now sew Row 2 to Row 1 to complete the upper portion of your quilt top.

At this stage, your quilt is really beginning to come together and the overall layout becomes much more visible.

Once Row 3 is assembled and attached, your quilt top will be complete except for the border strip and the optional outside Flying Geese border.

As we wrap up Week 5, you can finally begin to see the full personality of the Divide & Dash quilt emerge. The combination of classic Churn Dash blocks, bold Flying Geese, and modern spacing is starting to create that beautiful balance between traditional and contemporary design that makes this quilt so special. Next week we’ll tackle the final row assembly, bringing the entire quilt top together before adding the border strip and optional outside Flying Geese border. You are so close now — and I cannot wait to see how each of your unique fabric choices transforms this design into a quilt that is completely your own!  

Be sure to look for us on Facebook at Sister of The Divide Quilt Alongs for more fun and to share your progress. Also visit us on our YouTube Channel

Divide & Dash QAL Week 4: Constructing the First Row

 

Divide & Dash QAL

From the Designer

This week we begin bringing the individual blocks together into the modern layout of Divide & Dash. By working in zones, the quilt top becomes easier to manage and assemble one section at a time. This first row gives us a beautiful start, combining Churn Dash blocks, Flying Geese, and open spaces for a clean, modern-traditional design.

First Row Construction: Zones 1–3  PDF Link

This week we will begin assembling the first row of the Divide & Dash quilt by constructing three separate zones, then joining them together to complete the row.

Use a consistent 1/4" seam allowance throughout.

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Zone 1 Construction

You Will Need

• (1) Large Churn Dash Block from Week 1
• unfinished size: 12.5" x 12.5"
• (1) Fabric strip: 2" x 12.5"
• (1) Fabric strip: 2" x 12.5"
• (2) Fabric strips: 4.5" x 15'"

These strips may be cut from one coordinating fabric or from a variety of prints for a scrappy look.

Step 1

Sew the 2" x 12.5" strip to the top of the Large Churn Dash Block.

Press seam to the outside.

Step 2

Sew the 2" x 12.5" strip to the bottom of the block.

Press seam to the outside.

Your unit should now measure:

12.5" x 15"

Step 3

Sew one 4.5" x 15" strip to the left side of the unit.

Sew the second 4.5" x 15" strip to the right side of the unit.

Press seams to the outside.

Your completed Zone 1 unit should measure:

20.5" x 15"

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Zone 2 Construction

You Will Need

• (2) Small Churn Dash Blocks from Week 2
• unfinished size: 8" x 8"
• (2) Fabric strips: 4.5" x 8"
• (1) Fabric strip: 8" x 8.5"

Step 1 – Unit 1

Take one Small Churn Dash Block.

Sew one 4.5" x 8" strip to the left side of the block.

Sew one 4.5" x 8" strip to the right side of the block.

Press seams to the outside.

Set this unit aside.

Unit 1 should measure:

16" x 8"

Step 2 – Unit 2

Take the second Small Churn Dash Block.

Sew the 8" x 8.5" strip to the right side of the block.

Press seam to the outside.

Unit 2 should measure:

16" x 8"

Step 3 – Complete Zone 2

Place Unit 1 on top and Unit 2 on the bottom.

Stitch the two units together.

Press seam open or in the direction of your choice.

Your completed Zone 2 unit should measure:

16" x 15"

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Zone 3 Construction

You Will Need

• (1) Flying Geese Block from Week 3
• (1) Small Churn Dash Block from Week 2
• unfinished size: 8" x 8"
• (1) Fabric strip: 2" x 12.5"
• (1) Fabric strip: 2.5" x 8"
• (1) Fabric strip: 5" x 10"

Step 1 – Flying Geese Unit

Take your Flying Geese Block.

Sew the 2" x 12.5" strip to the top of the Flying Geese Block.

Press seam toward the strip and away from the geese.

Set aside.

This unit should measure:

12.5" x 6"

Step 2 – Small Churn Dash Unit

Take your Small Churn Dash Block.

Sew the 2.5" x 8" strip to the top of the block.

Press seam toward the strip.

Next, sew the 5" x 10" strip to the left side of the unit.

Press seam toward the strip.

This unit should measure:

12.5" x 10"

Step 3 – Complete Zone 3

Attach the Flying Geese Unit to the Small Churn Dash Unit.

Press seam away from the geese.

Your completed Zone 3 unit should measure:

12.5" x 15"

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Final Row Assembly

Lay out your completed zones from left to right:

Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3

Step 1

Sew Zone 1 to Zone 2.

Press seam open or toward the larger unit.

Step 2

Sew Zone 2 to Zone 3.

Press seam open or in the direction of your choice.

Your completed first row should measure:   49" x 16"

Your First Row Should Look Like This:

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Helpful Tips

Measure each zone before joining the row together.

Pin at the beginning, end, and center points to help keep the row even.

There will be no seams to match up!

Press carefully and avoid stretching your seams.

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Be sure to join us on Facebook at Sister of The Divide Quilt Alongs and share your work, we love to see what you are making. Also, be sure to follow us on YouTube for all the tutorials for this QAL and more!