NZquilter

I want to put something simple in the alternating blocks in my double Irish chain quilt. I'm toying with the idea of a nine patch. I tried a Ohio star, but with my pieces being 1.5" finished the triangles were almost lost in it. Do you think I should have four colored patches or five? Sorry the images are so huge!

MadQuilter

If you switched the position of the colored fabric in the center you would get a secondary pattern. It won't let me post a picture. grrrr.

MadQuilter

This is what I meant.

zozee

NZ, I like your second option, the 5-patch. With 5 being a derivative of your 25 patch, I think it looks naturally balanced.

nlgh

Yes to this option. It is visually more pleasing. Your first option makes me wonder why you did that and I think it takes away from your Irish chain pattern.
I also like MadQuilter's version, maybe even better.

sewbizgirl

I think the center patches seperated by white look too much like your 25-patches, and make it a bit confusing. I like your second option because it's a solid cross not alternated with white, but rather surrounded by white. So the crosses are set off and look different from the 25 patch blocks. Does that make sense?

Another idea may be pinwheels in the centers, or square-in-square set on point... or anything different from the 25 patches.