Life in the Scrapatch: Scrappy Irish Chain Free Pattern

Showing posts with label Scrappy Irish Chain Free Pattern. Show all posts

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Scrappy Saturday Is Back!

Today I did some scrappy sewing in my happy place again.

It feels good to be back.

I am working again on my ...

Scrappy Irish Chain & Dresden Plate Quilt

This was the quilt I was working on when I had to move my sewing machine

and pack up all my fabric, projects, supplies and tools and such

so we could begin work on the room renovations in my dining room sewing corner.

I really love these fabrics and this pattern.

This is a free pattern and all the info may be found in the link below:

Scrappy Irish Chain Sew Along @ Coriander Quilts

I have seen many beautiful quilts in this fun sew along

and hope someday I will add mine to the finishes.

I was inspired by one of the quilts to add scrappy Dresden Plate appliques

Here in March

to the center of my alternate blocks.

My sewing time shall continue to be slow and interrupted by other things happening here, but it feels good to have my happy sewing corner ready and waiting for me.

Yesterday, Mr. Scrapatch had surgery on his left wrist to set a fracture he received in a fall while working in the yard at the end of last week.

This is only one of the heath issues we have had here this summer.

We are working on getting better and getting all we need to do done.

Carrying on here in the scrapatch.

I hope you and yours are having a happy,

healthy and safe long weekend.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Scrappy Saturday Sewing ~ More Scrappy Irish Chain

Today was a good day of scrappy sewing.

All 12 of my Block Bs are done!

Yesterday and today I made good progress on my

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along @ Coriander Quilts

Although I love all the random scrappy quilts that I am seeing in the

Coriander Quilts Group on FB

I decided to go with my third plan for the A Block Layout

which I posted last week in this post:

Second & Third Scrappy Thoughts.

I really like the controlled scrappy look for this quilt.

This is my first of revised Block A.

I will need to make 12 more.

This block plays very nicely with the alternate Block B

I need to find and cut more blue and yellow 2.5" squares

and add them to my project jars.

I really have to sort my scraps as the only colors that will appear in this quilt are yellow, blue, green and white and a bit of brown. No yellow with pretty little red flowers for this quilt. I need to save those scraps for another day.

Quilty Kitty Nutmeg is continuing to be very helpful with the making of this quilt.

I have been sewing in the morning, afternoon and even late at night before sleep.

It feels good to be in my happy quilty place again.

May you have a happy quilty weekend!

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Stitch Sew & Show 2023 ~ Irish Chain Quilts and More

Today I am still piecing my blocks for my Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt

I first posted about this quilt along in the link below:

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along @ Coriander Quilts

I am working on the 12 of Block B needed for the

Scrappy Irish Chain ~ Free Pattern by Jessie Fincham

and I do not have much that is new to show,

so I decided to blog more about Irish Chain Quilt patterns.

I always like to learn the history behind a traditional quilt pattern.

Here is an interesting read on the

History of the Irish Chain Pattern @ Womenfolk.com

It is also fun to explore the variations and different ways

of making a particular quilt design.

Here is a modern take on this pattern using 2.5" square pre-cuts:

Triple Treat Irish Chain @ Moda Bake Shop

Of course, scraps and squares cut form yardage can also be used for this pattern.

An alternate way of making this using a strip piecing technique may be found in the

Triple Irish Chain @ Quilting Daily

I like the way the chain is made with smaller units.

If I were cutting yardage to make this quilt, I might follow this plan.

I have made Irish Chain quilts, single and double and triple, several times.

Some of my quilts predate my blogging efforts so photos of them do not exist.

This is my favorite quilt that I have made that is based on the Irish Chain,

Misty Irish Morning Quilt

This was a mystery quilt in 2012.

This pattern by Jess Smith may be purchased at Quilt Woman

In particular, I love the wide chain border that surround the center of this quilt.

It is all strip pieced and easy to sew.

~~~~~~

Do you have a favorite Irish Chain Quilt or pattern or technique to make this traditional design?

I would love to see and hear about it.

I was not thinking I would host the Wednesday Linky Party this year,

but here it is today.

Please share whatever you are working on

or an Irish Chain Quilt from the past.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Trusting the Process

The first Block B is done for my

Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt

These are big 18.5" blocks unfinished.

Your can see the lovely leafy details on my creamy white tone on tone background fabric in this photo.

This free Scrappy Irish Chain pattern may be downloaded in the link below:

Scrappy Irish Chain ~ Free Pattern by Jessie Fincham

I love the quilting design in Jessie's quilt.

NOTE:

If you are making this quilt,

there are cutting errors in the original pattern.

Corey Yoder has posted important

Corrections to the Cutting Instructions Here

Since the original free pattern is not hers,

Corey cannot fix the errors in the pattern.

Here are my first two blocks together.

As expected, the busy scrappyness of the Block A is calmed and tamed considerably by the juxtaposition of Block B with its restful white space.

The first block looked so chaotic that I was having

Second and Third Thoughts Here

Now I am thinking maybe not.

I decided to make this pattern after loving the very busy and scrappy sample quilt.

Maybe I should just trust the process.

I do love busy, scrappy quilts.

I am also crocheting while I am thinking.

The shawl that I am making for my daughter is nearing completion

and long enough to warm my lap as I stitch.

The kitties are enjoying having their kitty tree by the radiator in our living room. Nutmeg is in the gray hammock. Katniss is actually laying on a folded quilt on top of the radiator. Cassian is not in the photo but he is on the furry blanket on bottom of the cat tree. Maestro is curled up in a fuzzy cat bed on my bed, which her favorite place to sleep. All four cats have been sleeping on my bed most nights. The kitties like to share body heat on cold winter nights. Cassian has yet to be admitted to a kitty cuddle with the others, but he is now allowed to sleep on a quilted pillow at the head of the bed. Trusting the process with the kitties means he may be allowed to curl up with the sister kitties someday.

It is turning cold here and we are forecast to have

-12 degrees F by Thursday night.

Brrrrrr!

Monday, January 30, 2023

Back to Sewing ~ Block 1

My first block is done for my

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along Quilt

This scrappy goodness is being hosted by Corey Yoder.

This is Block A ~1 of 13

Here are her inctructions

Scrappy Irish Chain Scrap Along ~ Part 2 ~ Block Piecing

This is a very big and busy block made of 9 rows of 2.5" squares.

I need to make one of the Block B next so I can see how my fabrics and colors are working. Right now I cannot see the pattern. The large neutral background center in the alternate block is really needed as a place eyes to rest.

It was good to be back to sewing. My lovely workhorse of a Janome MC6600p is getting old. I have sewn so many seams with her that her tension mechanism is wearing out. I have the tension set to the max to get an even stitch. It is one of the reasons that I took a break from machine sewing. Buying a new machine is not an option for me now. I need to find away to get my machine working.

Overall, I am pleased with my back-to-sewing efforts so far.

Looking forward to playing with the fabrics again tomorrow.

Happy Sewing!

Hope to get another block done tomorrow.