Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

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Alternate Block for Moda Blockheads Sew Along

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 I admit it, I have been stalled on the Moda Blockheads Sew Along because I couldn't figure out how I would sew the blocks together in a cohesive manner.  I knew I wanted to use an alternate block, and I liked the idea of a single Irish chain, but it took me awhile to get to that conclusion, do the math and come up with a color scheme.

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Here is my Single Irish Chain block, measuring in at 6 1/2 inches, unfinished.  The plain squares are 2 1/2" and the little four patches are made up of 1 1/2" strips that are sewn together, then cut into units to create   2 1/2"  four patch blocks.  The final block is sewn as a nine patch, with the nine units you see above.  I need to make about 49 of them I believe.

And I am still stalled out, because I want to keep with the Kansas Troubles fabric line, and I have to wait until March when Lynne's new collection Fresh Cut Flowers is released.  I'll need a good amount of background and red, and that line has just what I want.  Her colors are consistent from collection to collection, so the effect will be the same as the test block.  I have no clue how to figure out how much fabric I will need.  I plan to order 3 yards of background and 3 yards of the red.  Hopefully I will have leftovers for another project, and not be caught short!

I think the effect of the red squares criss crossing throughout the quilt will be pretty and will set off all the different blocks nicely.  

Hope your week is going well!

39 responses to “Alternate Block for Moda Blockheads Sew Along”

  1. Good idea! I love the criss-cross pattern the Single Irish Chain block adds to a quilt. 🙂
    Hugs!

  2. Good idea! I love the criss-cross pattern the Single Irish Chain block adds to a quilt. 🙂
    Hugs!

  3. Good idea! I love the criss-cross pattern the Single Irish Chain block adds to a quilt. 🙂
    Hugs!

  4. The geek in me broke out the calculator to check your math. Assuming a yard of fabric has usable area of 34″ x 40″, that’s 1360 sq.in. of fabric. The cream area for each block uses 43 sq.in., and the red uses 24.25 sq. inches. Therefore you will need 1 5/8″ yards of cream and 1 yard of red. Three of each will be more than adequate, plus that red could be used for the binding.

  5. The geek in me broke out the calculator to check your math. Assuming a yard of fabric has usable area of 34″ x 40″, that’s 1360 sq.in. of fabric. The cream area for each block uses 43 sq.in., and the red uses 24.25 sq. inches. Therefore you will need 1 5/8″ yards of cream and 1 yard of red. Three of each will be more than adequate, plus that red could be used for the binding.

  6. The geek in me broke out the calculator to check your math. Assuming a yard of fabric has usable area of 34″ x 40″, that’s 1360 sq.in. of fabric. The cream area for each block uses 43 sq.in., and the red uses 24.25 sq. inches. Therefore you will need 1 5/8″ yards of cream and 1 yard of red. Three of each will be more than adequate, plus that red could be used for the binding.

  10. Looking good Nicole. The red/white Irish chain blocks will look good and give a criss-cross motion to your quilt. Loved the Blockheads, but just getting back to quilting after my move a year ago. In the meantime, I discovered knitting. I could always knit but there are two shops here to provide access and the yarn colors have called my name till I’m in UFO city.

  11. Looking good Nicole. The red/white Irish chain blocks will look good and give a criss-cross motion to your quilt. Loved the Blockheads, but just getting back to quilting after my move a year ago. In the meantime, I discovered knitting. I could always knit but there are two shops here to provide access and the yarn colors have called my name till I’m in UFO city.

  12. Looking good Nicole. The red/white Irish chain blocks will look good and give a criss-cross motion to your quilt. Loved the Blockheads, but just getting back to quilting after my move a year ago. In the meantime, I discovered knitting. I could always knit but there are two shops here to provide access and the yarn colors have called my name till I’m in UFO city.

  19. I just finished up piecing my Blockheads this weekend. Now it’s time to decide how to put all together. I like your idea of the Irish Chain. Not sure how big I want mine as I’m just going to hang this behind my bed. I used 2 different Minnick and Simpson layer cakes that were in the blue, gold and cream colorway. Can’t wait to see yours finished.

  20. I just finished up piecing my Blockheads this weekend. Now it’s time to decide how to put all together. I like your idea of the Irish Chain. Not sure how big I want mine as I’m just going to hang this behind my bed. I used 2 different Minnick and Simpson layer cakes that were in the blue, gold and cream colorway. Can’t wait to see yours finished.

  21. I just finished up piecing my Blockheads this weekend. Now it’s time to decide how to put all together. I like your idea of the Irish Chain. Not sure how big I want mine as I’m just going to hang this behind my bed. I used 2 different Minnick and Simpson layer cakes that were in the blue, gold and cream colorway. Can’t wait to see yours finished.

  22. Hurray for Piecrust solving your yardage question! I agree that the red may also be nice for binding to frame the quilt. I’m getting ready to make a single Irish chain quilt at retreat at the end of March!

  23. Hurray for Piecrust solving your yardage question! I agree that the red may also be nice for binding to frame the quilt. I’m getting ready to make a single Irish chain quilt at retreat at the end of March!

  24. Hurray for Piecrust solving your yardage question! I agree that the red may also be nice for binding to frame the quilt. I’m getting ready to make a single Irish chain quilt at retreat at the end of March!

  25. Piecrust was wonderful in giving you more information on how much to buy! I’m going to remember Piecrust when I need help. I never trust my math.

  26. Piecrust was wonderful in giving you more information on how much to buy! I’m going to remember Piecrust when I need help. I never trust my math.

  27. Piecrust was wonderful in giving you more information on how much to buy! I’m going to remember Piecrust when I need help. I never trust my math.

  28. Love your sashing idea! I still need to make a few bloks but was ill the last few days but it’s definitly on my to-do-list for this spring. I wanna have it finish before Blockheads 2 starts.

  29. Love your sashing idea! I still need to make a few bloks but was ill the last few days but it’s definitly on my to-do-list for this spring. I wanna have it finish before Blockheads 2 starts.

  30. Love your sashing idea! I still need to make a few bloks but was ill the last few days but it’s definitly on my to-do-list for this spring. I wanna have it finish before Blockheads 2 starts.

  34. LOVE the Irish Chain idea! I actually think I saw another blockhead finished with an Irish Chain, very nice setting. Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out, especially with that beautiful red!

  35. LOVE the Irish Chain idea! I actually think I saw another blockhead finished with an Irish Chain, very nice setting. Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out, especially with that beautiful red!

  36. LOVE the Irish Chain idea! I actually think I saw another blockhead finished with an Irish Chain, very nice setting. Looking forward to seeing how yours turns out, especially with that beautiful red!

  37. I like where you are going with this one. Sometimes it is worth the wait for a fabric line. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Good job.

  38. I like where you are going with this one. Sometimes it is worth the wait for a fabric line. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Good job.

  39. I like where you are going with this one. Sometimes it is worth the wait for a fabric line. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Good job.