BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:48 AM

Traditional quilt patterns brought to America by immigrants led to new patterns which further enriched our folk culture. Stilly River, thanks for sharing a classic design.
Quilting was carried to Hawai'i and the South Pacific by missionaries and emigrants, and some very interesting designs have developed. I found one of the older Hawaiian type (several pieces to the design, rather than the current type with one large design piece covering the surface) in an estate sale, a prized possession along with a log design from Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, we have no family quilts- just the picture of one in an old photograph of great grandparents.

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 10:52 AM

Anoyone else see that little "more" link next to the contributors in this thread? It goes back to some very old messages from Joe Offer and Pene Azul. Must be an errant link.

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 12:20 AM

Here is a link to quilt images:

My great grandmother made this in 1875. As you can see by the bottom photo, it isn't on a diagonal like the quilts in the link in an earlier post. This is probably just a variation, but the pattern of the dark pieces looks much the same as the pattern being discussed.

(There are a couple of other images stashed here also, an odd dove print and my cat Clementine).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: GUEST,Stilly River Sage, sans cookie
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:16 PM

I have some quilts from my great grandmother, who was Irish and made something along the lines of the double or triple pattern. I have an image at home I'll post and you can compare. It's not pieced on an angle, though. I sent one of these quilts to my sister--I suppose I should send her a rack to display it this year. These quilts were all dated. I have one from 1875 hanging in my living room, and it is gorgeous.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 05:33 AM

Kaleea, I still have an Irish Quilt sent to our home many years ago from my late cousin in Pittsburg, and it has been preseved with loving care.
When I visited Pittsburg in 1970 the history of the origins of the Irish Quilt was related to me in the same manner as your reply, may this great skill continue to florish. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Kaleea
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 05:01 AM

One must consider the quilt as a whole work of art!
You must consider not just the design created from the varied colors of fabric squares, but the also the lines of the quilting stiches. The patches of fabric alude to the ancient designs, and the quilting stiches of a true Irish chain quilt follow lines which form patterns as the interweaving of the Celtic knots & ornamentation designs popular in the time of The Book of Kells, & used to distinguish Irish ornamentation from that of others. Also, by the time one gets to the Triple chains, the quilt begins to resemble a tartan. The American quilt is quite an art form, and the Irish women who came to America used their knowledge of Irish art, & applied the old art to the making of the American quilt--which was an American invention of necessity when proper wool blankets were unavailable or there was no money to buy them, so scraps were pieced together, and cotton from the South was used to make the quilt thick enough to keep the pioneers warm--along with good Irish whiskey, or poteen made using a recipe from the ould sod.

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 04:30 AM

Rapaire, That design is quite a way from the Book of Kells ornamentation, the blue design looks very like the H-Blocks in Long Kesh. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: JennieG
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 03:31 AM

Perhaps Barbara Brackman's book of block designs may have the origin? Unfortunately I don't have it but your local library may have a copy.
Cheers
JennieG - a quilting librarian in Oz

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 09:28 AM

Been there, Ard Mhaca. The quilt pattern I'm thinking can be seen here;

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: ard mhacha
Date: 29 Sep 03 - 07:44 AM

Rapaire,The designs used are based on the the ornamentation from the Book of Kells, try The Celtic and More Store on Google for various designs.Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 09:35 PM

Rapaire, we've got to quit meeting like this! I've almost settled on a "Double Irish Chain" quilt for my next project. Your wife will understand.....it has to be in blues (for my son), and has to be easy (for me). I already have two blues for the double chain, a gorgeous print for a border, and an accent rust for a double border. I've already read of three different ways to piece it.

I also want to know the derivation of this name.

Subject: BS: Name Origin: Irish Chain Quilt
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:40 PM

My wife said over dinner tonight that she and others were discussing the origin of the name "Irish Chain" for type of quilt pattern.

Anyone have any ideas why "Irish Chain" is called such? Why Irish instead of Dutch or German or English or Manx?