Striped Irish Chain

Sometimes an idea comes and you just have to see it through. That was the case with this quilt. I had wanted to make an Irish Chain quilt for yonks, but of course also knew I needed to put my own spin on it. While sailing through the South Pacific earlier in the year, I had my sketch book (and full champagne glass) at hand. I sat on the open decks and started sketching ideas for my own original Irish Chain. What I settled upon was quite simple: a single chain, but using my magical super power of colour to influence the rest. That’s how the Striped Irish Chain was born!

Instead of the expected two-colour version with a foreground and a background, I wanted the background to be a bit more of a party. Why not make it spicy with two colours a go-go? Y’all know I like playing with gender norms as well (it’s all in the name), so decided to combine some delectable blue and pink tones. What colour goes with both? Bright-as-the-sun yellow, that’s what! This particular fabric, Bella Sunflower, leans to the cooler side of yellow so it picks up the blue tones in both of the background fabrics. (Conversely, a warmer yellow had the potential to clash with the turquoise tones of the blue fabric). Point being, audition lots of fabrics to get just the right combo.

Here you can see the construction quite clearly: it’s just nine-patch blocks and one larger block repeated over and over. Bt-dubs, did you see that glorious straight line quilting? Yuh-huh. I did that myself! Some of you might be all, “Whatever,” but quilting (stitching the three layers together sense of the word) is not my superpower. I’m more of a topper. However, I’m learning to be more vers! I used a Mettler silk-finish cotton 40 weight, colour Summer Sun (0120). That colour seemed more than appropriate! I love their silk-finish cottons for giving that bit of shine, a little sparkle in your step, if you will. It’s hard to tell in this photograph, but its colour shifts depending on if it is on the blue, pink, yellow, or cream. That’s colour theory, for you.

My Tula Troops will recognise her cotton-sateen material for the backing which complemented the other colours perfectly! As I approached the hand stitched binding, I had run out of the Bella Sunflower, so I threw in a tone-on-tone yellow stripe surprise. If you’re a beginner quilter, but wanting to do something a little more striking, this could be the quilt for you. I finished this quilt top in one weekend, and that’s in-between striking a pose in my living room with another glass of champagne in hand. Dance parties for one are the best!

Title: Striped Irish Chain
Size: 45″ x 60″
Pattern: Striped Irish Chain, Molli Sparkles
Fabric: Bella Sunflower, Art Gallery Pure Elements Raspberry Rose, Kona Jade Green (maybe)
Piecing: Machine stitched on Juki TL-98P with Mettler 40wt, Summer Sun 0120
Quilting: Straight line quilting by Molli Sparkles using Mettler 40wt, Summer Sun 0120
Binding: Hand stitched with Mettler 40wt, Summer Sun 0120
Backing: Big Buds wideback from Curiouser & Curiouser by Tula Pink
Timing: April 2023 – August 2023
Favourite Part: It’s champagne inspired through and through!