12 STEP PROGRAM

I think I am addicted to quilting.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that I am.  If I go a day without doing it in some form or another, I go through withdrawal.

Case in point:  Joyce T gave me this large, queen size triple Irish chain quilt to do for her.  I have had a blast figuring out what to do on it and then applying the patterns in threads of gold and red and white.  Every day that didn't have an electric storm hovering nearby was used to "visit" and play with this quilt.

Because of other parts of my life needing attention from time to time, my joyful excursions into my lurkim during this time were limited to about 4 hours a day, which was fine for me since this stretched out my time working with this colorful and well made quilt, but eventually all good things must come to an end, and the quilt was finished.

Here's a closer look at the intersection of the chains and the center blocks.  Straightforward lines, neat and crisp, frame scrolls reminiscent of English garden gates.

There are quite a variety of ways of quilting Irish chains.  I chose patterns that were suggested by the actual architecture of the design.

The three outer borders were a delight to do.  Soft curls in red against a red background -- understated but effective in "ending" the chains.  The blue fabric had white roses in it;  I wanted a geometric zigzag here but opted instead for an undulating white one that borrowed from the rounded forms of the roses.  Click on the picture to see this border more easily.  The outermost border is very stylized tulips.  I liked these because they had petals like feathers, and I love feathers.

So now the quilt is finished, and Joyce will be picking it up tomorrow.  I'm very excited to show it to her, but I'm already feeling the withdrawal from my quilting "habit."

Guess I'd better open the box that came in the mail right before the holidays -- I'll bet there's a sure cure in there just waiting for  me!