The end is in sight.
Hoping to have an assembled top in the next week or so.
The end is in sight.
Hoping to have an assembled top in the next week or so.
The blocks for the Irish Stars quilt are finally complete: 323.
I started piecing in June of 2017, approximately two years ago. The original plan was for a 19 x 19 layout (which would have been 361 blocks), but fatigue and good advice suggested it was possible to finish at 17 x 19 and still have a quilt 85″ x 95″ and NOT square, which can seem awkward on beds.
It seemed a worthwhile suggestion and a functional compromise. Obviously, as quilters know, done with the blocks is a long ways from DONE-done, but it is one step closer.
Layout considerations coming soon.
In June of 2017, I started my own Irish Stars Quilt. The goal was to make a queen size quilt using 1-1/2″ squares. The bucket of 1-1/2″ squares was positively overflowing and I knew I would cut as I went along. (It would involve a total of 9749 pieces, if I calculated correctly.)
But, this week I realized that the bucket…was nearly EMPTY.
Obviously, I have done some cutting as I go along, but still, the stock has fallen short. And I still have a long ways to go.
Unless I change plans.
The true queen would have been 95″ square and contain 365 blocks (19×19 layout of 5″ squares).
Right now I have 133 star blocks and 141 chain blocks. IF I change plans and go for an 85″ square quilt it will be only 289 blocks. I would be REALLY close.
So…what do I do? Change plans? Be happy? Press on?
Records indicate that I started my Irish Stars quilt about June 1, 2017.
In just under a year there are 181 blocks complete of 361 total needed to make a queen size quilt out of 1-1/2″ base squares.
My goal is to finish the second half in the next year and have the entire quilt complete before I turn 52–October 2019. Realistic?
How is your Irish Stars quilt coming? Mine is coming. Slowly. It is just going to take a long time.
But, I have passed the 1/3 mark with 130 of 361 blocks complete.
Only about 1-1/2 more years and I should be finished. At least at the rate I am going. Everyday people think I am joking when I say something like that, but fellow quilters understand.
Many of you reported on your progress, and some sent pictures.
Neralie (a beautiful name) in Australia has already finished a small one! And she has another planned. It took my breath away to see one finished. Amazing!
Ruth has been cutting and cutting–two days worth. Her color scheme is so pretty!
Meloney is sewing blocks–she has 46 of 81 chain blocks complete. Her color scheme is very controlled and will be striking.
Randy’s also has controlled colors…and she has a very nice design wall.
Claire created this solids-only beauty at her Fall Retreat using 3-inch squares. It finished at 45″ x 45″.
And here is part of Mel’s–looking good on her design wall. Even with such a tight color scheme, it is anything but boring!
If I missed your picture, I’m sorry. Don’t be afraid to point it out and I will try again.
Now, back to sewing!
How is your Irish Stars quilt coming along?
Mine is…coming…slowly. But, I knew it would. One does not finish 361 blocks in a day, or even a week, or even a year. I am at 82 blocks, and loving every one of them. It is very satisfying to see my small stack grow larger.
Anyway, please feel free to comment below or to send pictures (weddingdressblue at gmail dot com). I will share all pictures received in a post early next week so we can continue to cheer each other on.
Remember: NOT A RACE. Just like-minded people sewing along together.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Welcome to The Irish Stars Quilt Along Part 3: Triple Irish Chain Block. If you are new or nearly new, you might want to check out the IRISH STARS QUILT ALONG tab for more information. Don’t worry. You aren’t late. You got here right on time. It is THAT kind of quilt along.
The Triple Irish Chain block is just a lot of squares. It is the arrangement that makes all the difference. Remember that this tutorial is for a single block. Refer to Irish Star Quilt Along Part 2: Size and Scale to decide how many blocks you need to make for your quilt. The number will vary between 4 and 180. Yep, really!
MATERIALS–FOR ONE BLOCK:
21 base squares 1-1/2, 2 or 2-1/2″
4 background squares to match the size above.
CONSTRUCTION:
Welcome to the Irish Stars Quilt Along!
So many of you responded positively to the invitation to leader-ender-along with me that we are going to go ahead with it. This will NOT be a traditional quilt along where we issue a specific step on a specific date. Rather, we will all be producing blocks at a rate that suits our sewing style and our goal. We’ll do it together for a while (time undetermined) until we have completed some quilts and it has served its purpose.
In order to prepare for this quilt along you should:
Thank you for your enthusiasm. Let’s get scrappy!
ps–My thanks to Susan for the great button–feel free to grab it and share on your blog or to invite others to participate.