Two-Color Irish Chain Quilt-Along - Week 1

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!