How to Quilt: Irish Chain Quilt Block, Free Quilt Block Patterns

Irish Chain Quilt Block Video with
Tips for Strip Piecing

If you are looking for a quote for a quilt label, maybe this will work:

"Stitched with affection, quilted with care. I made you this quilt with love to spare."

Greetings Quilter -

Do you have quilts that are waiting to be finished because you are searching for a new and different idea for the binding?

Maybe this is the first quilt you have finished that has curved edges, and you aren't sure how to sew the binding on so it will be nice and smooth both around the curves and inside the corners.

Or, maybe you just want a simple double fold binding, but your mitered corners always end up bumpy, lumpy and a mess. Or possibly you are looking for some inspiration and a new type of binding that will make your quilt look really unique, and you just don't know where to begin.

I covered the ways I thought most quilters would want to know in The Ultimate How to Bind a Quilt DVD Mentor. But after I sent the discs off to my Ace DVD copier guy, Tony, the emails started coming in with questions about ways to bind a quilt that weren’t included.

And the challenge began - to see how many other methods I could find. As of today, the number is 10!

10 New Ways to Bind a Quilt?

I’ll admit I was shocked when I stopped to count them. And I was pretty excited to discover all of those different methods to bind a quilt that I could share with you in video, and I started binding quilts like crazy and filming what I was doing.

And, I’m making good progress with binding and filming. But then, I got to thinking – why wait until all 10 are complete before I share them with you?

Rather than waiting until all 10 of the DVDs are finished, I decided to start rolling them out – one new way to bind a quilt each month. Besides, that way, you won’t be overwhelmed with information either.

Each month, active members of TheQuiltingCoach.com will receive a DVD showing a new and different way to bind a quilt - until I run out of ideas.

Which means, that you are guaranteed to get 10 new ways to bind a quilt during 2009. If you aren’t already a member, best head on over and join:

https://www.thequiltingcoach.com/public/5.cfm

You don’t want to miss out on this great information.

My friend, Rosie, at Rosie's Calico Cupboard is getting all of your orders for the Bohin mechanical chalk in the mail. If you ordered one, it should be arriving soon. If you haven't ordered yours yet, there's still time. Rosie runs a fantastic quilt shop in our town, and she always has whatever I need - or will order it. So, contact her for your needs:

rozgonzalez@cox.net

Happy Quilting!

penny halgren

Anyone for Speed Piecing?

This weeks' quilt block pattern uses a strip piecing method. Since there are several 4 patches in the block, you can save time by cutting strips of fabric, sewing the strips together and then cutting the strips into little units and sewing them together.

Sounds like a lot of work? When you see it, you will immediately realize that it is much easier than cutting individual squares and sewing them together.

By sewing strips together and cutting them apart, you can save time as your piece your blocks. To get more details, read the article about strip sewing patches.

Postcard Quilts for the Troops

July 4th Roundup Next - Deadline MAY 20!

Old Glory 4 Patch Fabric Postcard Pattern - available for FREE at:

www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Penny's Postcard Posse has sent more than 15,000 fabric postcards to our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and the hospital in Germany.

As quilters, we know what those postcards mean to the men and women who recieve them. Some who get them receive no other mail from home. And for all of them, it's a reminder of the wonderful freedoms they are fighting for and the comforts they will enjoy when they return home.

It's not too early to start making patriotic cards for our 4th of July Roundup. This will mark our 4th Year! Check out the postcard patterns on www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com I will continue to add designs, and patterns for the fabric postcards are always free.

How about a Birthday Roundup?

Diane came up with a fabulous idea - a Birthday Roundup! She has made such great contacts in the Middle East, that they would be happy to keep a stack of our fabric postcards and deliver them to soldiers on their birthday!

How would that be? Just imagine the smile on the face of a soldier who received a special card for their birthday. And by having a bunch of them already over there, the guy/gal in charge can be sure it is delivered on exactly the right day - not like hoping that your birthday card arrives anyplace in the mail on the right day!

So, we've decided that August 11 would be a great day for the Birthday Roundup Deadline. You'll have months after the 4th of July Roundup to make a pile of birthday cards and send them to Diane.

In the meantime, whenever I get a chance, I'll be adding FREE patriotic and birthday postcard patterns to www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com.

Let's keep the cards going over there. These are really important to the troops as they are over there getting shot at and missing their families. And, for some, a fabric postcard from us is the only mail they get!

To make the 4th of July deadline, get your cards to Diane by May 20.

Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Trailing Star Fabric Postcard - download the pattern free from www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Mom's Potato Salad Recipe

I know - it's way early for the 4th of July and a good old fashioned picnic with potato salad. But, for the folks down under, there is still warm weather, and for the folks still enjoying Winter, here goes.

And besides, aren't potatoes Irish?

Warning - this is one of "those" recipes. The quanities of the ingredients are in exact. I have come to the conclusion that there is something about the potatoes that causes each batch to be different.

You can easily make more or less of this, according to your need. It will keep in the refrigerator for a few days.

This should feed around 4 people:

Boil 2 potatoes until they are soft, but not mushy. You can peel them or not. I used to, but don't any more. Let them cool and cut them into slices or cubes.

Hard boil an equal number of eggs - 2 for this size recipe. Let them cool, peel them and slice them or cut into cubes.

If you would like, slice about 1/4 cup of onion or small green onions, and add it to the mix.

Add equal amounts of mayonnaise and sour cream. For 2 potatoes, it will take about 1/4 cup each (although I just scoop it out with a big spoon).

Stir until all of the potatoes and eggs are covered with the mayonnaise and sour cream. If it is too dry, add equal amounts of sour cream and mayonnaise.

Add salt and pepper to taste - it might take about 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Enjoy! And remember, this will survive the heat. Recent studies show that mayonnaise actually acts as a preservative. However, if this stays out for hours, I wouldn't save it for another day.

Featured Block in Video - Irish Chain

This week, we continue our focus on St. Patty's Day and the Irish. Here is another Irish Chain quilt block.

Get a free download of this pattern at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com While you're there, invest in Pattern Credits (minimum $54) and get a FREE DVD showing 6 different ways to sew Half-Square Triangles together. We've only got 9 of these left, so get yours quick.

Enjoy!

irish chain quilt block

Download the Irish Chain Quilt Block Pattern

March Quilt Block Patterns

The March selection of free quilt block patterns includes some especially for celebrating St. Patrick's Day as well as some great quilt patterns for any time of the year.

Click here to download your March FREE quilt block patterns