I’ve got my Double Irish Chain ready to border finally (a small 2 inch orange and a larger 4 inch brown frame I'm thinking). This was supposed to be for a Queen, stretched out on my California King mattress and seems extra big already; I could hardly get it in the screen to photo. :roll:

Fess up Steve. You have a whole troupe of quilting elves helping you out while you sleep at night. Right? :lol: How can one man possibly get so much done? And do it all so well?

Very impressive. Love the colors! Perfect for Fall.

Beautiful quilt top. I love it. the colors really pop, yet do not dominate the quilt. looks very well put together.
Deb :mrgreen:

Thanks! Lin, I actually had this partially pieced about two weeks ago but petered out by the time I got to putting it together vertically. There are also a few spots (1 inch squares) I plan to go over by hand since I'm not completely satisfied with a couple of seams.

I'm still not convinced of my color choices with the border as well as the backing fabric. The orange I originally picked out seems very bright to me distracting from the top, which now to my way of thinking, simply won't do. Maybe just stick to a matching brown and back with a pale yellow? If I turned the back for binding that could work huh?

I love it, but just one question Steve.....how many hours are there in a day where you live? lol! How do you get so much sewing done....do you ever sleep!!!!!
Come and stay with me for a couple of weeks...I can find you plenty of unfinished projects to keep you busy!

extend the "checkerboard" far enough into the border to complete your diamonds along the top, bottom and sides; then add one or two borders and you'll have a queen size big enough to be useful to two people. brown border. either an orange back or a brown backing-as-binding. pale yellow would be inconsistent.

and for cryin' out loud ... quit obsessing over a few gafarbles nobody but somebody not good enough to judge will even notice. take your mother to dinner during the time you'll save. donate the savings in headache remedies to a local charity. if you're gonna pick up a needle and thread for anything but the binding ... use it to do the quilting.

you have nothing to prove. do you? besides ... a quilt should enhance your life ... not swallow it whole.

I like it! My quilts always run big, too. I think it comes from years of sharing a bed with a covers hog.


You sure work fast!

They are loose stitches that show through on the corner of a couple of squares Patrice, and I do want it to stay in one piece otherwise I'd do as suggested.

Can hardly wait to start on the quilting; I'm thinking of hand stitching on the diagonal.

I think where I goofed up on size wasn't really a goof. The pattern must have accounted for the pillows. :roll:

Steve, I love it.... Just remember we are our own worst critiques :lol:

I just realized last night going through some posts that you are actually new to quilting :oops: Looking at your work I honestly thought you had been doing it for awhile..

I was not as good at it as you are when I started... You do beautiful work..

It's gorgeous! Great job! :)

My first quilt ever was an double Irish Chain for my daughter when she was little...she dragged that quilt everywhere she went, didn't matter to her that some of my seams didn't match up, she loved it. :) Now she's an adult she has her eye on my Links bargello...I'm guarding that one with my life... lol

Thanks, it’s only been four months now, but it seems like years. I can’t believe how helpful folks have been around here. I pick up hints right and left off the board. Truth told the writing and music have suffered from inattention, but what’s to do? I just love quilting; it beats paying a therapist!

Awww, c’mon Shadow Dancer, give it up, you can always make another.
:wink:

My first quilt was a small lap size double Irish Chain. People probably look at it and wonder what I was thinking with the color scheme, but it made me happy to get my first quilt done, and I learned a lot from that first step.

Learn from what you make and grow. But don't keep looking back and second guessing yourself! You might trip over your current project!

The first of anything usually unnerves me a bit, but that doesn't keep me from trying. I think the second guessing and questioning is part of my nature. Knowing how to do things better keeps it interesting.

When I was first out of the military I swear I would jump at my own shadow. Time, family and friends have helped do a lot of the healing. Gosh, that seems like a life time ago (almost thirty-five years have past). Hey, but look at me now, I'm quilting! :D

Beautiful job Steve, I really like the fabrics you chose and your piecing is wonderful, too! Your quilting skills are amazing! Can't wait to see it quilted :D :D :D

Awesome quilt Steve, I think you colour choices are great, trust your instincts, they haven't let you down yet :P .Quiltingwise: What about some sort of motif in those lovely open spaces.

Yes ShellyQ, the quilting pattern will be complete on the diagonal, so the open spaces will get the full crosshatch treatment. I was thinking about orange. yellow or maybe even brown thread but have yet to decide. The last quilt was white thread quilting, and though I liked it a color would make the thing pop on this one and a neutral such as yellow would still play on the Bordeaux.

These kinds of decisions stimulate the creative side and make quilting fun for me. I wonder if anyone really decides upon everything before starting and sticks to it throughout?

Most of my quilts evolve throughout the process Steve. I might think I've made all the major decisions when I start a quilt, but oftentimes I change my mind about a border, how I'll quilt it, and even how large or small I want it to finish. You're right. It's a continuosly creative process. Keeps us all young!! :D

Wonderful quilt, I love the colors...............hmmm did you finish all those kid quilts? When your family sees this they will all be at your door. lol
A man for all seasons......... :D

Wow! Great job and your Irish Chain is beautiful. Our quilt group made an Irish Chain quilt (king sized) for a raffle for one of the charities we support....we had 12 ladies working on it and all 12 of us couldn't read a grid measure or sew a scant 1/4 inch. We finally asked the best quilter in our group to fix and finish it which she did. Last I heard, the raffle was going good and had already brought in over 2 grand in ticket sales! It won't be raffled until the end of November so they are thinking they can sell another grand or two worth of tickets by then. Who'da thunk???

Feathers

Very cool Feathers. I'm planning to work on a quilt for a local senior center quilting group so they can auction it off. They work on a project jointly and auction it once a year. I'm too young to join yet (only 51) but figure the contribution will be welcome.

Also I've decided that once I get through all the mags and books folks have been giving me, they too will be donated. A good cause is a good cause I say. Besides by the time it's done maybe they'll let me join. :wink:

That is a wonderful quilt! I love the colours you chose. I have only attempted a single Irish chain, but now after seeing yours, I might try a double.
Nice job
Andi

very nice!

i was just looking at the Quilt In A Day Irish Chain book today at the store. still thinking about adding it to my library. so many possibilities!

This is very nice. I can't wait to see it finished. Kyia

Wow!! That's beautiful!! I love the colors. I've never made one--you've inspired me. And my advice on the seams--let them go as is. It takes so much will power for me to let things go--but no quilt should be perfect-it adds character. :D

Therapy--between my horses, gardening and quilting I'm all set. :wink:

Hi Steve:
Don't RUSH getting to the Senior Center age...that happens so fast it made my head spin. Between my ears I'm about 22 years old but below the triple chins I'm a SENIOR! :D

Feathers :roll: :roll:

Gosh, this is one big job without a frame. Just thought I'd say that for those who've been wondering where I've been. :roll:

Very nice!!

M

I just love it Steve. I showed it to my husband & he was impressed too. I always show him quilts that I think he would like. He seems to like the traditional type patterns the best. Great job1

fabricluvr, i have the book you mentioned. i love it. makes the process very simple.

Maybe just stick to a matching brown and back with a pale yellow? If I turned the back for binding that could work huh?


Steve,
I think that would look nice.... I often use the back as binding.
Nice work :D

"How far along is the quilting process?"

A few stitches more each time I pick it up! Funny how it just happens over time. :wink:

Steve, Your quilt is fantastic!! It's hard to believe you've only been quilting for 4 months. I'm also wondering how many hours are in your days. :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the bump, Loretta. I was not around last fall, so this was a treat for me to see. Gorgeous work--great fall colors.

Great job,Steve! Love Irish Chains and your colors are wonderful together.
You are certainly right about better than therapy!

judee

That is absolutely stunning! I agree with everyone else...do you EVER sleep? LOL

Good job, can't wait to see the finished result.

Stunning so pretty!!....how is it coming?

Nice quilt Steve!!! :) :)

Wow Steve great job.

Hey Great job...... I love it