Help with Irish Chain fabric calculations please?

I'm trying to work out the amount of fabric I'll need to make a Triple
Irish Chain to fit my king-sized bed. There are a few websites with
patterns and cutting guides, but nowhere does it say what yardage of
fabrics to buy.

The main thing I want to know is: how much of the background fabric will
be required? Every time I sit down with a pencil and paper to try and
work it out, something happens to interrupt my calculations and I lose
my train of thought. This is driving me mad! MAD, I tell you!

Can anyone help, please?

(NB. I did buy the Irish Chain recipe book from Amazon, but guess what?
I put it somewhere carefully and now I can't find it! Hnnnnnh!)

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

From Eleanor Burn's Irish Chain: light: 3 yds, medium: 1 and 1/2, dark: 2
and 1/2. backing: 9 yds. finished size approx. 96" x 96". ( for 32 of
block 1 and 32 of block 2). Oops! I see that is for 'double' and you said
'triple'. Bah. I thought I was being SOooo helpful. Maybe you put your
book with one of the fabrics you bought? Polly



"Trish Brown" wrote in message
eb.com...
I'm trying to work out the amount of fabric I'll need to make a Triple
Irish Chain to fit my king-sized bed. There are a few websites with
patterns and cutting guides, but nowhere does it say what yardage of
fabrics to buy.

The main thing I want to know is: how much of the background fabric will
be required? Every time I sit down with a pencil and paper to try and work
it out, something happens to interrupt my calculations and I lose my train
of thought. This is driving me mad! MAD, I tell you!

Can anyone help, please?

(NB. I did buy the Irish Chain recipe book from Amazon, but guess what? I
put it somewhere carefully and now I can't find it! Hnnnnnh!)

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

On Jan 21, 9:53*am, Trish Brown wrote:
I'm trying to work out the amount of fabric I'll need to make a Triple
Irish Chain to fit my king-sized bed. There are a few websites with
patterns and cutting guides, but nowhere does it say what yardage of
fabrics to buy.

The main thing I want to know is: how much of the background fabric will
be required? Every time I sit down with a pencil and paper to try and
work it out, something happens to interrupt my calculations and I lose
my train of thought. This is driving me mad! MAD, I tell you!

Can anyone help, please?

(NB. I did buy the Irish Chain recipe book from Amazon, but guess what?
I put it somewhere carefully and now I can't find it! Hnnnnnh!)

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Trish, my pattern, too, is for a double irish chain but...for the
background fabric for king - 103" x 116" to fit 76" x 80" mattress
with a total of 84 blocks it calls for 4 yds of background. Again,
for double chain it calls for (60) 1/8 yd pieces which, in this
pattern includes an inner border of the same fabs so I think you might
be okay just upping that a bit for a triple chain with no pieced inner
border??? This on has narrow inner/outer borders (which are same
background fabric) surrounding the 'chain' border. Then 4th & 5th
borders at 1.5 yds and 1.75 yds. respectively at 4.5 and 5.5" widths.

Hope that helps.

Kim in NJ

Howdy!
6 yards.

See how simple that was? If you really like the fabric, you'll
want at least 6 yards. You won't run short, and you can use the
leftovers, if any, for "accessories", or on the back. Or get another
8-10 yards of that fabric for the back (king size).
You just can't have too much fabric.

Good luck!
Ragmop/Sandy - why, yes, I do like to have lots of fabric... ;-D

p.s. double the measurements & required amounts on this, and my
math holds:
http://www.simplicity.com/t-free-qui...ain-Quilt.aspx

On 1/21/13 8:53 AM, in article
m, "Trish Brown"
wrote:

I'm trying to work out the amount of fabric I'll need to make a Triple
Irish Chain to fit my king-sized bed. There are a few websites with
patterns and cutting guides, but nowhere does it say what yardage of
fabrics to buy.

The main thing I want to know is: how much of the background fabric will
be required? Every time I sit down with a pencil and paper to try and
work it out, something happens to interrupt my calculations and I lose
my train of thought. This is driving me mad! MAD, I tell you!

Can anyone help, please?

(NB. I did buy the Irish Chain recipe book from Amazon, but guess what?
I put it somewhere carefully and now I can't find it! Hnnnnnh!)

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

First we'd need to know where you are using the background fabric. Will it be in the large squares only or used within the chains as well? (Sometimes quilters use the background so that the chains appear to float on the background or use it for the middle chain.) The smaller you cut the pieces the more waste and seams you will have, so making the chain squares with 1 in. squares will take a lot more fabric than if you had 3 in. squares. (Exaggerating a bit for example only! LOL) If you find a pattern you like- using the background where you want it- use twin size requirements and double it. Then you can work backwards and see how much extra 'safety net' fabric is included in the pattern's fabric requirements.

I have found most quilt patterns are really skimpy on the side drops on all sides- and remember the larger the quilt the more the quilting will shrink the original size of the top. Be sure you'll have sufficient quilt to cover your sheets/blankets on the sides and bottom plus over the pillows if you prefer that or for matching pillow shams, etc.

The prices you pay for fabric makes it very clear why you want an accurate estimate. I'd have to quit quilting due to fabric prices if I lived any where besides the US! Sheesh.

Good luck!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

On Monday, January 21, 2013 8:53:26 AM UTC-6, Trish Brown wrote:
I'm trying to work out the amount of fabric I'll need to make a Triple Irish Chain to fit my king-sized bed. There are a few websites with patterns and cutting guides, but nowhere does it say what yardage of fabrics to buy. The main thing I want to know is: how much of the background fabric will be required? Every time I sit down with a pencil and paper to try and work it out, something happens to interrupt my calculations and I lose my train of thought. This is driving me mad! MAD, I tell you! Can anyone help, please? (NB. I did buy the Irish Chain recipe book from Amazon, but guess what? I put it somewhere carefully and now I can't find it! Hnnnnnh!) -- Trish Brown {|:-} Newcastle, NSW, Australia

I did a quick layout in EQ7. For the blank blocks only, about 5 yards. For blank blocks and chains 7 and 5/8 yard.

Maureen

Oh my word! You guys are *brilliant*! Thank you so much for all the advice!

Yes, I do need to think which pattern I'll be using and yes, I need to
decide how much overhang I'll be wanting. It seems to me, a purchase of
at least six yards is in order. For this amount, I think I'll be
checking out one of my favourite cyber LQSes in the US. I'm not spending
$180 in one hit for one quilt!

Again, thank you all for the moral support. It's great to know you're
there when I need you.

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia