Friday, January 30, 2015

Irish Chain Top is Done


I'm doing a happy dance because the top is done, the wool batting is ordered (please arrive very quickly) and the backing will be pieced today, ready for assembly.

Yes, this is a traditional setting, the Irish Chain, but I chose to put my own spin on it by making the Irish Chain blocks scrappy, and then added in pieced "solid" scrappy blocks between.  There is lots of symbolism in this quilt, from the few reddish-brown squares interspersed in the red blocks, symbolizing a certain dog named Brandy, to greens that have forests of trees on, for the Adirondacks, (update: that should be Catskills, sorry), to the sand and sea ivory fabric in the sashing for Florida, and to the kelly (shamrock) greens.  No actual shamrock fabric, drat.

I will post the directions to make this quilt, should anyone feel the urge.  It uses up 261 squares, just 1 yard of background, and 2/3 yard of border fabric.  It measures 59" square.


Somehow I still have this high of a stack of 3" squares left!  How does that happen??  As I commented to someone, I swear they breed overnight while I'm asleep...  You'll notice that I have a couple of sketches peeking out from when I was first designing the quilt...


Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and with Quilting is More Fun than Housework.
and another new party for me!
at A Quilter's Reading Garden (right up my alley) for WIPs Be Gone

11 comments:

  1. I really like how you added the dark green border. It frames it and ties everything together.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The variations amongst each color of fabric makes it shimmer Sandra - I love it and I know your friend will too! What was the significance of the Adirondacks? My heart is always half in the Adirondacks, so I was curious.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am doing the happy dance with you!! Love how the solid color 9 patch in the center turned out! Brilliant idea :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very nice! It's always a bonus to be able to toss some meaningful bits into a quilt, too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your descriptions of the colors in your happy quilt. Thank you for sharing with us!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh yes, as they all are, absolutely stunning, love it and he will too!!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really like the scrappy blocks of color inside the Irish chaining!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is beautiful, and really inspires my scrappy heart! Are all of the pieces 3inch squares?

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think this scrappy quilt is so very clever! I am so glad you shared it on Oh Scrap!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your symbolism! That design is wonderful with your scrappy fabric choices.
    Kathy T. in Tampa

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great top you made. That Irish chain came out wonderful with those scrappy 9s. Hope your wool batting comes soon.

    ReplyDelete

I wholeheartedly appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment, as they make my day! I answer every one by personal email. :-) Unless... you are a "no-reply" blogger, which can occur for a few reasons. You can get around that by writing out your email within your comment so that I can answer you.