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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Back in the Saddle

I have been asked to make a Double Irish Chain for a friend in a bedspread size for a twin bed. Between our move, helping my in-laws settle into the extended care home and waiting for possession of the house we bought (2 weeks and counting before we start with painting, flooring and designing my new quilting studio!!) I haven’t done much of any quilting at all. I decided it was time to get off my butt and get busy.

I was to match an old satin wall paper in soft blue stripped roses with just a touch of pink. She wanted to match the blues - no pink at all. The problem was these blues were from 10 years ago or more and it was tricky trying to find the same blue in fabric today. I lucked out and came up with these three.
fabric for Double Irish Chain
This is the third Double Irish Chain that I’ve made. I use Eleanor Burn’s strip piecing method, or maybe it’s just my version of hers :) I find it so much quicker sewing the strip sets together and then sub-cutting them. Truth is I’ve never made one cutting all the squares out first and sewing them together - it just seemed too much trouble!
Double Irish Chain
I’ve got almost half of the blocks made now. The finished quilt will be 90” x 106” or there abouts. Another couple days worth of sewing and I should be ready to add the borders. I’m really hoping to get this top completed or at least ready for the borders before I start the painting at the new house October 1.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Shawn,
I encourage any new quilter to try EB's methods. They are so time saving,efficient and make a big project like this so manageable.
I still use things I learned from watching her programs many years ago.
Nice job - it's so hard to work on a commission when you'd like to add your own twist on colors or prints.
Good luck on the renovations
Nina

Anonymous said...

Shawn,

The Double Irish Chain has come together well.

Isn't it great to get back to quilting after an absence? It's like meeting up with an old friend.

-Alice