I love to quilt! And sometimes Mr QuiltinAnnie helps with the design; figuring out the angles and measurements! This letterbox series will highlight a traditional quilt block or pattern beginning with the letter of the stamp found inside the cache. You will need to supply your own stamp pad.
Irish Chain Block
Current documentation on the Irish Chain quilt pattern indicates that it was developed in the USA in the early 1800s. Quilt historian Barbara Brackman states that 1814 is the earliest known date for this pattern. It may be that the seeds of the pattern originated in Ireland, but this is not certain. The pattern of the Irish quilt is a pattern that is still used in Ireland and guess what they call it. THE AMERICAN CHAIN!
When making this quilt, you need to decide whether you want to make the SINGLE Irish Chain Quilt, the DOUBLE Irish Chain Quilt or the TRIPLE Irish Chain Quilt!!! As you might have guessed, the TRIPLE uses more squares and more colours in it's making.
One of the reasons this pattern has been so popular over the years, is that it leaves a nice solid space between the chains to display the maker's needlework skills. Quilters are able to demonstrate their hand or machine quilting ability by adding a special quilted motif in each central area. Some quilters have chosen to applique a motif into each central area. Because it is a pattern that is fairly easy to piece, it is one of the oldest and most popular quilt patterns.