Two-Color Irish Chain Quilt-Along - Week 1

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Just over 1000 of you signed up for the Two-Color Irish Chain Quilt Along 
and I couldn't be more thrilled!  Thank you for coming along on this ride with me!  
Quilting is always more fun with friends and I can't wait to see all the different versions come alive!


As I've said before, this is going to be a low-key Quilt-Along.  No prizes (so you don't have to post pictures on Instagram each week if you don't want to.)  The only thing I recommend is just checking in each Wednesday for the assignment and trying your best to stay caught up.  We are doing this the simplest way possible - strip piecing!  So if you stay on track, you'll have an awesome, classic quilt top in 8-weeks that you're sure to love for many years to come!


This week, the assignment is quite simple.  
1. Get your light and dark fabric for the quilt top and binding.
2. Wash it on warm with detergent.  We don't want any bleeding now, do we?  
3. Press it.

Just a reminder; the fabric requirements are:


TWIN
QUEEN
FINISHED SIZE
70” X 90”
90” X 90”
DARK FABRIC
(INCLUDES BINDING)
3¼ YARDS
4¼ YARDS
LIGHT FABRIC
5 YARDS
6 YARDS
BACKING (40" WIDE)
5½ YARDS
8¼ YARDS
BATTING
78” X 98”
98” X 98”
* The finished block size = 10"

Now, a note on pre-washing fabric...
I am using solid green and white fabric for my Irish Chain quilt.  I obviously don't want my green to bleed onto my white at any point so I pre-washed that.  I did not wash my white because it obviously won't bleed.  But someone asked me if they should also pre-wash their white so it shrinks at the same rate as their dark color when they wash their quilt down the road.  My answer to that is, sure, you are welcome to, but I personally think it's unnecessary.  I don't think you will notice a difference in the pre-washed versus the unwashed fabric once the whole quilt is washed.  The whole quilt will get wrinkly because the batting shrinks once it goes through the dryer and I don't think you will notice one fabric to be more wrinkly than the other.  It just takes more time to wash and press it but if it makes you feel better to do it - go for it.  I personally think it won't make a big enough difference to warrant the time you'll put into that step so I choose not to.


This was my ironing station set up...
My mom made me this large ironing board several years ago using a scrap piece of plywood from my garage, a piece of batting and a scrap piece of fabric from my stash.  It's kind of heavy but comes in handy for big pressing jobs.  I also pulled my ironing board over so I could rest my iron on it when I wasn't using it.  Plus, having my Iron EZ spray bottle nearby was very handy!


Me trying to keep my fabric off the floor since I have a dog...


I love this shade of green and am excited to see this quilt come together!

Post a picture on Instagram of your colors (only if you want to)!
Use the hashtag "#irishchainqal" and tag me @gigis_thimble, if you do.
And/or leave a comment below telling what colors you're doing.
I can't wait to hear/see what everyone's plan is!

So that's it!  The assignment is easy peasy this week!

44 comments:

  1. My fabric is on its way. It left Missouri yesterday and Kansas City very, very early this morning heading Northwest (my way). For years I have wanted to make an Irish chain just in green and white and here is my chance! Thank you!

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  2. Thanks you.Can´t wait to play along!

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  3. Excited to start this..and hope I can keep up 😊. I think I'll make a blue and white scrappy quilt because the blues are out of control in my quilt room! Thanks for organizing this...I know how much work goes into it!

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    1. I should be doing that too because I have sooo much blue in my stash. I need to make a blue and white quilt next!!

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  5. A green and white quilt has been on my bucket list for years and I'm Irish, so this quilt along is perfect!!

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    1. Oh that's awesome! Glad you're joining the fun!

      Amber

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    1. Just email me your email address and I will add you to the list. I had to close the online sign up form because it was going to cost more money if it went above 1000 people.

      Or you can just check back on the blog every Wednesday for the next assignment.

      Thanks,
      Amber

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  7. I had to order 2 more yards of Kona Snow to go with the 4 yards I already have and I'm having the hardest time deciding my 2nd color. I'll be digging through my stash again tonight to make a decision.

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    1. I know, it's hard to narrow it down to just one color! Can't wait to see what you decided on!

      Amber

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  8. I have scraps, lots of scraps. So, I would like to make a quilt, not 2 colored but multi-coloured. I hope there will be instructions to strip sew, I'm so looking forward to this quilt-along. Or, there maybe a scrappy blue & white quilt from my stash. We'll see (knowing me- 2 quilts, one of each

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    1. Multi colored or scrappy blue and white would both be beautiful! I kind of want to make a second one too! I have so much blue in my stash and ya'll are making me want to make a blue and white one too!

      Yes, the instructions are for strip piecing! I'm glad you're doing this with us!

      Amber

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  9. This is a beautiful shade. Green is my absolute favorite color so, I’ll be making a green one also. I’m going to check my local Hobby Lobby this Friday & see what they have in Kona solids, can’t wait!

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    1. Hi Carol!

      Thank you! I'm glad you like this shade of green! I am newly obsessed with green...usually I am a blue person but I'm all about dark green lately. I even painted my toenails dark green today, haha! Can't wait to see what green you choose!

      Amber

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  10. Just ordered my Hunter Green and White material. I have always wanted to do an Irish Chain and a double is exciting!

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    1. I'm so glad you're excited! I'm excited too. Sounds like we'll be matching with our green and white! Yay!

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  11. I am deciding on either a scrappy blue/white, or a green/white. I don't have a quilt for St. Patrick's Day so I am really on the fence. Will need to figure out how much is needed for each block, since I will be using fat quarters. I'm sure I will have enough and can make shorter strip sets, but they should still work fine. Thanks for organizing!

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    1. I don't think you can go wrong with either of those! Those would be my top two color choices. In fact I'm starting to think I need a blue and white one too!

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  12. I'd like to make a crib / lap quilt. Do you have fabric ammouts for that size! Thanks

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    1. I'm so sorry, I only did the figuring for the twin and the queen sizes so I don't have that information. The squares finish at 2" and the blocks finish at 10". Hopefully that will help you!

      Amber

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  13. Hi Amber! I am trying to shop my stash and use potentially one print and one solid fabric. Do you know the finished block sizes? I am just trying to get a sense of the size of the checkerboard pieces in terms of picking a print that would work ok. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Jessica!

      The finished block size is 10". The finished small square size is 2" but we will be doing strip piecing with 2 1/2" x WOF strips. Hopefully that helps!

      Amber

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  14. I’m using Kona snow as the “main fabric” and their color of the year Enchanted as the “background” I was inspired to do it this way after seeing the examples on the link you added. I am soooo excited.

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    1. Oooh that sounds wonderful! I hope I get to see pictures of your progress!

      Amber

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  15. How do I register? Looks like one I can do!

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    1. The sign up form is closed but if you email me your email address at gigisthimble@hotmail.com I can manually add you to the sign up list. Or you can just check the blog each Wednesday. Up to you!

      Thanks,
      Amber

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  16. I'm thinking....I have a lot of green fabrics...debating if I would be OK with using a variety of greens or will my OCD personality demand the order of only two fabrics.

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  17. Looking forward to this! Thanks so much!

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    1. Oh you're welcome! I'm glad you've joined the fun!
      Amber

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  18. pour moi, marron et beige, je repasse le tissu demain :-)

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  19. I can not make up my mind but I will probably end up with pink or blue and white :)

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  20. I am planning on using enchanted green and white.

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  22. I'm using Kona Snow and Berry. Can't wait to get going on this!!

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  23. I am using a very pale gray fabric for the light and a mottled blue-green-and-purple for the dark. It fits the beach weather right now.

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  24. I am so glad I caught up with you in week 2. I had a colonial blue and cream pulled for this, but the more I think about it a green and white looks so charming! I will have to pick some up as I don't have the green. Maybe I'll still use that cream color though. Thanks for doing this QAL!

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I ♥ to hear from you so please feel free to leave a comment. I read each one and try to respond as often as I can. Thanks so much for stopping by! ~Amber