March 10, 2012 Volume E4, Issue 1 Yampa Valley Piecemakers Quilt Guild Quilter's Connection Presidents Message Dear Yampa Valley Piecemakers, The days are getting longer and we will be getting ready to do the outside activities. The sun shines but it’s still very frozen out there. I know I am trying to get all the winter projects done before spring has truly sprung. The guild had many first last month, and we met them with enthusiasm. The first sew meeting went great I was able to get a bunch of little things done, we had about 22 people show up we had a short meeting at 6:30p and then went back to sewing. The block of the month was very successful lots of variety and great ideas in appliqué. This month will be a block with as many different materials as possible, my mind has been spinning with ideas, and I better get busy. Last but not least Linda gave us the challenge for the sew meeting prairie points. Your project need to be done by the next sew meeting April 17. We are really stepping out of our boxes. Thanks for all the participation. Please note that we have a program by Denise Knapp at our meeting here in March followed by a workshop Scrap Happy II. I am so excited she really is a wonderful teacher you will learn so many tips the day will be great. If you haven’t signed up please do we still have room. Sincerely your friend, Lorrae, Bless you all Quilter's Connection Page 2 of 9 The History of Irish Chain Block The cover of a well worn pattern book of mine displays a lovely cottage in Ireland with an Irish Chain quilt in front. It brings to mind coziness of distant times and places making you want to sit right down and commence sewing. But there is some uncertainty whether the picture could be an example of another romantic myth or if the pattern truly came from Ireland. Current documentation on the Irish Chain quilt pattern indicates that it was developed in America in the early 1800s. Quilt historian Barbara Brackman, states that 1814 is the earliest known date for this pattern. She goes on to say, “Dated examples appear consistently across the decades, indicating the design's popularity throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries”. Little is certain in regards to the history of quilt patterns and there is now evidence that the seeds of the pattern originated in Ireland. The book, West Virginia Quilts and Quiltmakers, pictures an interesting quilt. The photograph shows a small section. It was brought to America from Ireland and is very similar to this pattern. It is made much like a traditional Single Irish Chain but done on point making the chains appear in the shape of squares rather than diamonds. This quilt was made about 1805 and was stitched with linen thread typical of thread used in Ireland. The quilting was done in a popular quilting design used in Ireland at the time. It was brought to West Virginia from Ireland when the maker, Margaret Kee, emigrated here in 1807. We find this pattern has been used more recently in Ireland sometimes by the name "Mosaic" or "American Chain". Barbara Brackman suggests that the this pattern might have been inspired by a similar weaving design. By the second half of the 18th century itinerant weavers were known to weave elaborate double-weave patterns done in geometric patterns including the Irish Chain. One of the reasons that this pattern has been so popular over the years is that it leaves a nice solid space between the chains to display the maker's needlework skills. Choice of fabric design and color can give this quilt many different looks. References: p168, "Clues in the Calico", by Barbara Brackman pp40-41, "West Virginia Quilts and Quiltmakers", by Fawn Valentine webpage, "Coverlets, Dated and Otherwise" p126 and 5 p136 "Kansas Quilts and Quilters" by Brackman, Chinn, Davis & Thompson p159 "Quiltmaking in America: Beyond the Myths" Laurel Horton (editor) Quilter's Connection Page 3 of 9 Tools Easy Rule II™ Easy Square Jr.™ (6.5" x 6.5") Fabrics 3 yds. Light Fabric 1 1/2 yds. Dark Fabric 1/2 yd. Binding Cutting Instructions Fabrics Light Fabric Dark Fabric Binding Cut 6 6 1/2" strips Yield 31 Squares 9 2 1/2" strips 14 2 1/2" strips Used in 9-patch construction Border Strips 12 2 1/2" strips Used in 9-patch construction 7 2 1/2" strips Border Strips 6 2 1/2" strips Instructions Making the Quilt Top Step 1: Sew five 2 1/2" light fabric strips and ten 2 1/2" dark fabric strips together into five strip sets of dark-light-dark. Press the seams carefully, keeping the strip set straight. Step 2: Cross-cut the dark-light-dark sets at 2 1/2" intervals to yield 72 units. First, trim the beginning edge square, then cut units by keeping the seam lines and edges parallel with markings on the ruler. Step 3: Sew six 2 1/2" light fabric strips and three 2 1/2" dark fabric strips together into three strip sets of light-dark-light. Press the seams carefully, keeping the strip set straight. Stitch the four remaining 2 1/2" strips of light green print fabric on both sides of the two remaining 2 1/2" background strips. Press seams toward light green print fabric. Cut these two units into forty 2 1/2" pieces. Set aside for the 9 patch lattice posts. Step 4: Cross-cut the light-dark-light sets at 2 1/2" intervals to yield 36 units. Step 5: Sew two dark-light-dark units on both sides of one light-dark-light unit to make a nine-patch block. Make 36 nine-patch blocks. Step 6: From the 6 1/2" strips, cut 31 squares. Quilter's Connection Page 4 of 9 Step 7: Begin sewing the nine-patch blocks and plain 6 1/2" squares together side-by-side, alternating them. Each row has seven blocks. Note that a pieced block is in each corner. Five of the rows have four pieced blocks and four have three pieced blocks. Press all the seams toward the plain squares. The seams alternate when sewing the rows together. Step 8: Next, sew the rows together, pinning at seam intersections. Press the top of the quilt. Step 9: Sew the remaining light strips together, end-to-end, for the side borders and for the top and bottom borders. Do the same with the dark strips. Make light-dark-light strip sets with these long strips. These pieced strips will make the borders for each side of the quilt. Step 10:Measure the length and width of the quilt in several places through the middle. Take an average of these measurements in each direction if necessary. Cut the side borders to the measurement of the length, and the top and bottom borders to the measurement of the width. Pin and sew the side borders to the quilt. Press toward the quilt. Step 11:Add the extra nine-patch blocks to both ends of the top and bottom borders, pinning and matching seams. Press toward the borders. Sew to the top and bottom of the quilt. Step 12: Press the quilt top. Step 13: Layer with batting and backing. Finish quilt as desired. Quilting Suggestion Quilt (by hand or machine) diagonal lines through the "chain", or diagonal lines on both sides of the chain, as shown in the photograph of the quilt. Page 5 of 9 Quilter's Connection Irish Cream Chocolate Cheesecake Rated: Submitted By: Elaine Photo By: Priscilla Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes Ready In: 9 Hours 20 Minutes Servings: 12 "If you like Irish cream and chocolate, you'll love this recipe. " INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup butter 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 1/4 cups white sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 eggs 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, mix together the cookie crumbs, confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup cocoa. Add melted butter and stir until well mixed. Pat into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes; set aside. Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). 2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, white sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and flour. Beat at medium speed until well blended and smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in the sour cream and Irish cream liqueur; mixing on low speed. Pour filling over baked crust. 3. Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C), and continue baking for 60 minutes. 4. With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool, then remove the rim of pan. Chill before serving. If your cake cracks, a helpful tip is to dampen a spatula and smooth the top, then sprinkle with some chocolate wafer crumbs. Printed from Allrecipes.com 2/26 Quilter's Connection Page 6 of 9 Yampa Valley Piecemakers minutes for meeting for Feb. 21, 2012 Lorrae called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m... We had a committee report from Deb Berhinger on the art walk; it was a successful evening with many people coming to the Embroidery Shoppe. Deb won the chocolate contest with the help of Elaine Gray. She gave the money that she won to the guild for the quilt show award money. The guild had paid the entry fees and the for the supplies for the chocolate. Susan Domer handed out the material for the next block the BOM great turn out. Linda Pinnt showed us the sew challenge for the sew meetings Prairie points. Lorrae announced the workshop for March and had the signup sheet. Bonnie announced the bags in the back needed to be made into quilts for charity. Meeting was adjourned and we went back to sewing Page 7 of 9 Quilter's Connection Programs for 2012 YVPM March 20, March 24, April 17, April 21, May 22, June 19, July 17, Aug 14, Sept21, Sept 22, Oct 16, Nov 20, Program by Denice Knapp Workshop by Denice Knapp, Scrap Happy II Sewing meeting 2:00p.m. To 8:00 p.m. Workshop by Linda Pinnt, Mini Landscapes Shop Hop, Poker Run Program by Madeleine Vail Getting ready for the Fair Picnic with DMQG Cowboy Quilts Jean Roesler Folk Art Applique’/Jean Sewing meeting 2:00p.m. To 8:00p.m. Christmas Party Note that the Sept. 21, meeting is on Friday. Note the Aug. 14, meeting will be held in Hayden Note the May 22, meeting will be held downtown with a pot luck to follow in the Alice Pleasant park. Newsletter Advertising All advertising is business card size Rates: Members - $5.00/month (3 month minimum) Nonmembers - $8.00/month (3 month minimum) Advertising must be paid in advance. No ads will appear in the newsletter before payment is received. In order to coordinate payments with newsletter publication, payment must be received at least 45 days in advance of the first month’s ad. Complete the form below and make checks payable to: YVPM PO Box 1578 Craig, CO 81626-1578 Electronic copies of your ad should be sent to: [email protected]. Thank you for supporting our guild with your advertisement in our newsletter. Payment enclosed for advertising from ________________ to _______________ mm/yy mm/yy Quilter's Connection Page 9 of 9 Yampa Valley Piecemakers Back Page Story Headline Quilt Guild P.O. Box 1578 Craig Co, 81626 Lorrae Moon President 970-824-9568 Cindy Looper Vice President Roxanne Vailette Secretary Eva Hinkle Treasure 970-824242 Donna Carter Historian Weíre on the Web! See us at: www.yvpmquiltguild.com YVPM P.O. Box 1578 Craig Co., 81626 . Don’t forget to renew your membership. Dues remain at $20.00 (with an e-mailed newsletter) And $25.00 for a postage service mailed newsletter. We have had many e-mail messages returned which is a concern, since we communicate so much information by e-mail. Therefore we are asking that all membership renewals include an updated Membership form. You can pick a form up at the January meeting or Download one from our website at www.yvpmquiltguild.com.
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