A Lotta Nines (Quick Irish Chain Tutorial)

 I love a quilt that comes together fast!  This one is 75"x 90" and only took two evenings' work!  If you've never made an Irish Chain before, they are REALLY simple!  There is a great video tutorial out there using jelly rolls.  I made mine using a fat eighth bundle of Glimma by Lotta Jansdotter (I get almost all my bundles from Amanda at Westwood Acres) and some Kona White.  For my method you will need:

• 50 strips measuring 3"x21" (I got 60 from my FE bundle, so I just discarded 10)
• 156" (4.5 yards) of neutral background fabric
• cut (20) 3"xWOF pieces, then cut those in half to get (40) 3"x21" strips
• cut (12) 8" x WOF strips, then cut each strip into (5) 8" squares for a total of (60) 8" squares

Make 20 strip sets that are print-neutral-print (p-n-p) and 10 sets that are neutral-print-neutral (n-p-n).  Press all seams open.  If you want to make a different size, just remember you will need double the number of (p-n-p) sets.  So if you make 30 p-n-p sets, you will need 15 n-p-n sets.

Cut each p-n-p and n-p-n strip into (6) 3" set.  You should now have (120) 3" p-n-p sets and (60) 3" n-p-n sets.  Randomly sew two p-n-p and one n-p-n together, with the n-p-n in the middle to make (60) 9 patch blocks.  Press all seams open.  If you make alternate sizes, remember you will always need equal numbers of 9 patch blocks and neutral 8" squares. 

Then, just alternate 8" neutral squares with your 9 patch blocks.  Voila! Super quick and easy Irish Chain quilt!

I have to thank my friend Stephanie for coming up with the clever title to my post! Thanks girl!