SandraC Posted August 21, 2005 Report Share Posted August 21, 2005 I have two identical twin-size Irish Chains to quilt and whenever I have to quilt an Irish Chain I have the same problem.... The customer has picked a motif for the blank spots, but I am always stumped as to what to put in the chains. They are about 5" wide. I'm not fussy on just putting diagonal lines...maybe some kind of continuous curve, I just don't know. There must be "just the thing" that people like to do on these but I don't know what it would be! Please give me your input, I'd like to get the first one on today and get started first thing tomorrow if possible. Thanks, Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CherylUribe Posted August 21, 2005 Report Share Posted August 21, 2005 Hi Sandra, It would help if you consider your clues. What kind of designs are on the fabric? What is the motif you've picked out? What is the quilt going to be use for? Who is it for? Let us know and we'll give you some ideas! Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraC Posted August 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 The quilts are a nice, fresh blue and yellow print. The kind that makes you think of a nice spring day. The pair of quilts are for an older couple. Hard to describe the motif but I would say slightly folksy, not really formal at all. I hope this helps...thanks, Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltaholi_518 Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Sandra, I usually take a cue from either the fabric or another quilting motif. For example if the center motif has feathers, I would do a feathered chain. If it has flowers, I would do a leafy vine. Personally, unless the center is very geometric and boxy, I would not do stright lines. Besides that is too much marking for me- I HATE to mark, lol. Caron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 What is the design picked for the open blocks? Can you do a freehand design that follows that design? For example if it had a feathered wreath. put a free hand feather design to fill the chain space. Here are photos of a couple for ideas http://community.webshots.com/photo/79247472/79247472QIgbFZ http://community.webshots.com/photo/102532906/102532906OXiwTq http://community.webshots.com/photo/82304915/82304915SlKhYc Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraC Posted August 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Thanks everyone... The motif had a small heart in it and I had already decided to put a small "heart-y" vine in the narrow inner border so I'm taking that vine diagonally thru the chains. Myrna and Caron, your comments on taking a cue from the rest of the design made everything just click together. I love it when you're stumped and finally everything just falls into place! Back to work, I guess...........Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Great Sandra, When doing a quilt like that you can always take the design and expand on it throughtout your quilt. If you have your border figured out take a part of that and design for your motif and sashings. Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane Bevans Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 I would like to add, Its very important how it's going to be used, the more quilting the heavier it gets, and sometimes people don't like the stiffness of a quilt that has a lot of quilting, which for me is sometimes hard to keep it simple and not just go on and on with quilting, which is beautiful but stiff and heavier. Just my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.