The black one definitely interferes with the Irish Chain pattern. I personally prefer all one background fabric (but the middle photo does not offer enough contrast with the chains). For the random chain approach, I would not have all the middle pieces of the nine-patch the same; that is more suitable for Grandmother's Flower Garden or plain nine-patch. My 32 cents (accounting for inflation).......
p.s. I really think you need a neutral of some kind for the background fabric in order to set off the chains. For me, there's just way too much blue when blue is the background.
Last edited by Prism99; 04-09-2013 at 12:58 PM.