IRISH CHAIN
Welcome to The Joyful Quilter!! And... Welcome to the wonderful world of Project QUILTING hosted by Kim Lapacek @ Persimon Dreams!! This is my 3rd year of participation in the Challenge. Trish Frankland @ QuiltChicken is the creator of the crazy challenges that participants will face during the next week.
Sassy @ Farm Quilter got me started at the beginning of Season 11 by inviting her readers to join in the fun. I accepted her invitation and the rest is history. As I have for the past two years, I will be dragging along my friend LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color again this season, as she enjoys having a reason to stretch her creative wings. Would YOU like to join me in this creative journey, too?
FAIR WARNING: It's a wild ride, but oh SEW rewarding!
Challenges are given and start to finish you have ONE WEEK to complete your project. PQ 15.6 can be found at THIS LINK:
Step One...
Respond neutrally, as the Irish Chain is one of my most favorite quilts, but I'm not feeling particularly creative tonight.
Step Two...
Shake my head in disbelief that it took me until 10 PM on MONDAY to check the prompt for this week and then read the instructions to see what is required of the sixth and final challenge of the season. Here's what Trish had to say:
PQ 15.6 IRISH CHAIN
In addition to today being our last challenge announcement, it’s also St. Patrick’s Day. I’m told we make a much bigger deal of St. Patty in the US than anywhere else in the world, and it’s true Wisconsin drinkers love an opportunity to wet their whistle, whether it be Guinness from the old country or a Spotted Cow with a green label.
So this week let’s celebrate this odd holiday, sketchy mythology, and the country from whence it sprung. But since we’re quilters, let’s work with variations on the simple, dynamic quilt pattern, Irish Chain.
Step Three...
Head up to the studio to check my library to see if I can find the book I won back in 2015.
Why, Joyful???
Well, it's PERFECT for this project! It's a copy of Melissa Corry's book Irish Chain Quilts. Her contemporary take on this classic block is just what I need to complete this challenge.
Step Four...
Check out the Scrap Station for supplies:
Tutorial for these baskets can be found HERE.
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But...
After a rummage through the PURPLE scrap basket and a scan of what else was on offer, my eyes zeroed in on this little set of storage drawers:
My mind went back to my Weekly Quilt Group, I have no idea how many years it's been. The bottom drawer holds some special scraps from my friend Jean. Leftover bits from her Nausea quilt. Terrible name, awesome quilt! Even though I haven't been able to find Melissa's book, these bits will be just right for this week's challenge:
Step Five...
Review the rules:
RULE ONE: Your project must be inspired by the traditional Irish Chain quilt design.
You have one week to meet the challenge. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline – that is, started on or after March 17, 2024, and linked up by noon Central Time March 24, 2024.
Each piece must stand alone as DONE to count toward prizes. Your project does not need to be a traditional quilt, but must meet at least one of these requirements: include patchwork, include appliqué, have 3 layers stitched together by hand or machine.
Step Six... Get to work!!!
I began by stitching up the pieces and parts into quilt blocks:
Here is a bit of my construction process...
(Scroll down to the bottom of the post NOW, if you don't care to see a blow by blow of the making of my quilt.)
Step Seven... Play with the resulting blocks!!!
This is the approximate layout that I'm aiming for:
Once the arrangement was set, the next task was to begin assembling the top:
What was leftover from these gifted leftovers, Joyful???
All that remained was five blocks...
And...
I'm already developing a plan for them:
With the top done...
I chose backing, batting, and binding scraps:
Here's the backing that I worked out:
With only a single day until the deadline...
My entry was layered and ready for quilting:
Just less that 24 hours before the deadline, my entry is...
Quilted and ready for binding:
Finally, on Sunday morning my project was done...
I'm SEW pleased to present my completed entry for PQ 15.6:
Approx. 15" x 33"
It's fully reversible, too:
There is usually a reason that I participate in these challenges...
... And this time, it was because I've been waiting for a reason to use these special scraps and when I finished assembling my entry, these two bits were all that was left in the drawer:
Thank you, again, Jean!! I enjoyed using these beautiful scraps.
Bonus points for including some PURPLE for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge! :o))
There you have it...
Process, product, and the REAL reason for accepting this Challenge.
Follow THIS LINK to the Season 15 overview. Check back on the Challenge release days (or sign-up to be notified automatically) and there may be one that YOU just can't resist.
It's a SHORT turnaround time!
Depending on the size and complexity of your project, that doesn't HAVE to be insurmountable. With a little creativity and a few evenings, you really CAN do this! My project was begun 2 days after the prompt was released and was finished with only 4 hours to spare! My post was ready for release with the exception of a few final photos days before my table runner was done. I'm just glad that I managed to complete my entry and accompanying post in time to join Kim's final Link Party of Season 15 (a mere 40 minutes before the deadline.) It was SEW uncomfortable cutting it that close!
Until next time...
Challenge accepted!!!
Remember: If I can do this, YOU can do it, too!
(Plus, there's a spot to post your completed Project QUILTING inspired projects AFTER the deadline for any of the challenges.)
