I know that our quilts are our own and we can do what we want. My question is can and irish chain be made from scrappy vintage 30's fabric and white? Or should it be all one color to give it the real effect. Do i make sense I am a little tired. Thank you for your help. Jade

Absolutely do the scrappy 30's thing. It will look like an antique and will get great compliments. I've seen many Irish chains done that way. You have good instincts.

Ohh OK OK what if I add some dresden plates to the mix will that overpower the irish chain? I picked some up at a garage sale they are original 30's prints I only have about 7 of the dresden plates.

i can't wit to see your scrappy quilt

I think it would be pretty if your "chains" running diagonally were the same fabric or at least the same colorway. Maybe a Nile Green, Robin Egg Blue or Bubble Gum pink for the chains and the rest 30s repro scraps and muslin? Just an idea! Sherry

Hi Jade,
My friend made me a double irish chain all in muslin and scrappy 30s repros.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719cUrgzE

Here's another one where I used a dark purple for the background fabric.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...45965719cslHjx

go fer it!

You coud put the Dresden plates around the quilt in a wide border...

You could make a centre medallion of the Dresden plates. Scrappy Irish chains look wonderful to me. Are you a quiltville fan? Bonnie has a scrappy double Irish chain on this page if you scroll down a bit: http://www.quiltville.com/leadersenders.shtml

I agree with franie-"Go for it!

There are no rules.
The more "unusual" yours is, you might start a whole new craze!!

I have seen a scrappy Irish chain and it was pretty. I say go for it.

That is beautiful.

You could use the dresden plates for the center blocks between the x's of the chain. K

If you don't want it totally scrappy you could use one fabric for the center chain and then do scrappy for the outer chains. That is assuming you want to do a double or triple irish chain. You could actually even use one color and several prints of that color, for the center chain, then use all your other colors for the outer chains. Hope that makes sense.