transparency chains |
Designed, pieced, and quilted by Cheryl Brickey |
Transparency Chains combines a plus sign design with aspects of transparency in an Irish Chain setting. Strip piecing makes the block construction quick and easy.
Materials
Yardages are based on fabric that is 40˝ wide.
Gray: 1⅛ yards
White: 4¾ yards
Light blue: ⅜ yard
Medium blue: ⅜ yard
Dark blue: ⅝ yard
Yellow: ¼ yard
Binding: ¾ yard
Batting: 79˝ × 99˝
Backing: 5½ yards
Cutting
GRAY
Cut 14 strips 2½˝ × width of fabric (WOF).
WHITE
Cut 7 strips 6½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 3 strips into 9 rectangles 6½˝ × 10½˝; each strip yields 3 rectangles.
Subcut 1 strip into 1 rectangle 6½˝ × 10½˝ and 4 squares 6½˝ × 6½˝.
Cut 13 strips 4½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 1 strip into 2 rectangles 4½˝ × 20˝.
Cut 8 strips 4˝ × WOF.
Subcut into 72 squares 4˝ × 4˝; each strip yields 10 squares.
Cut 9 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
LIGHT BLUE
Cut 7 strips 1½˝ × WOF.
MEDIUM BLUE
Cut 7 strips 1½˝ × WOF.
DARK BLUE
Cut 7 strips 2˝ × WOF.
Cut 4 strips 1½˝ × WOF.
YELLOW
Cut 4 strips 1½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 2 strips into 18 rectangles 1½˝ × 3½˝; each strip yields 11 rectangles.
BINDING
Cut 9 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
Fabric: Cirrus Solids by Cloud9 Fabrics in Amazon, Limestone, Rain, Shadow, Sprout, and Turquoise
instructions
Seam allowances are a scant ¼˝ unless otherwise noted. Press all seams open unless otherwise noted.
Chain Blocks
1. Sew 2 gray strips and 1 white 6½˝ × WOF strip together. Repeat to make 3 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 48 A units 2½˝ × 10½˝.
A units
2. Sew 2 gray strips and 3 white 2½˝ × WOF strips together. Repeat to make 3 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 48 B units 2½˝ × 10½˝.
B units
3. Sew 1 gray strip and 2 white 4½˝ × WOF strips together. Repeat to make 2 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 31 C units 2½˝ × 10½˝.
C units
4. Sew together 2 A units, 2 B units, and 1 C unit to make a full Chain block measuring 10½˝ × 10½˝. Repeat to make a total of 17 full Chain blocks.
Full Chain block
5. Sew together 1 A unit, 1 B unit, and 1 C unit to make a partial Chain block measuring 6½˝ × 10½˝. Repeat to make a total of 14 partial Chain blocks.
Partial Chain block
Transparency Plus Blocks
1. Sew 1 light blue strip, 1 medium blue strip, and 1 dark blue 2˝ × WOF strip together. Repeat to make 7 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 72 D units 3½˝ × 4˝.
D units
2. Sew 2 dark blue 1½˝ × WOF strips and 1 yellow strip together. Repeat to make 2 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 36 E units 1½˝ × 3½˝.
E units
3. Sew 2 E units and 1 yellow 1½˝ × 3½˝ rectangle together to make a plus unit measuring 3½˝ × 3½˝. Repeat to make a total of 18 plus units.
Plus unit
4. Sew together 1 plus unit, 4 D units, and 4 white 4˝ squares to make a Transparency Plus block measuring 10½˝ × 10½˝. Repeat to make a total of 18 Transparency Plus blocks.
Transparency Plus block
Quilt Top Assembly
1. Arrange and rotate the following blocks and fabric pieces according to the quilt top assembly diagram.
17 full Chain blocks
14 partial Chain blocks
18 Transparency Plus blocks
10 white 6½˝ × 10½˝ rectangles
4 white 6½˝ squares
2. Sew the blocks and fabric pieces into rows. Sew the rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 62½˝ × 82½˝ before the borders are added.
Borders
1. Sew 2 white 4½˝ × WOF strips and 1 white 4½˝ × 20˝ rectangle together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 pieced side strips.
2. Measure the average height of the quilt top, and trim the 2 pieced side strips to fit (approximately 82½˝). Attach the side borders to the quilt top.
3. Sew 2 white 4½˝ × WOF strips together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 pieced top/bottom strips.
4. Measure the average width of the quilt top, and trim the 2 pieced top/bottom strips to fit (approximately 70½˝). Attach the top and bottom borders to the quilt top.
Finishing
Refer to Finishing Your Quilt as needed.
1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 99˝ × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 79˝ × 99˝.
2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Transparency Chains was quilted in an allover paisley pattern.
Quilt top assembly