I’m excited to be a part of my friends Cheryl Brickey & Paige Alexander’s blog hop for their brand new book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts!
Modern Plus Sign Quilts is published by Stash books, a division of C&T Publishing.
Not only is it a fabulous book, but it was my turn to help share the love since Cheryl has been an active participant on both of my previous book blog hops. (Check those out here and here.) And maybe the three of us just might have had a conversation at QuiltCon about them doing something fun with my next fabric line…so stay tuned for more awesome Cheryl & Paige inspiration!!
But back to their book…
I chose their pattern, Transparency Chains to work on, because I love a good Irish Chain design!! I chose to go with a modernized Americana color scheme for this quilt, because I’m sorely lacking in red/white and blue quilts for 4th of July!! (Not that I actually need to cuddle up under one in the heat, but I love to add accent colors in my home for the holidays year ’round.)
My version of Transparency Chains, made with Modern Marks fabric
So far, I’ve only completed the quilt top shown above, but now I’m really excited to quilt it and will share more about the quilting process once I get to it.
Here’s a little bit more about the process of making the quilt top. I couldn’t resist the chance to sew with my own fabric, and after making a ton of rainbow colored quilts lately, it was fun to go with a more limited palette of red, creamy yellow, and shades of blue.
I chose Modern Marks in blues, with a pop of red contrast and the light yellow boxes print for the background. It was fun to work with a limited palette rather than every color!
The instructions were well written and easy to follow. I love getting everything cut out ahead of time and I love it when a well-written pattern makes that easy to do. I especially liked not having to think about how much to cut, or do any of the math.
I love looking at a stack of yummy fabric strips that are ready to sew!
I’ve realized that I love the process of making a quilt as long as I’m not rushed. So here’s a tip: try not to “binge” sew if you can help it. I spread out the making of the top over several weeks so I never felt rushed.
I washed the fabrics one day, ironed them a different day, cut them later and then took several days to sew the individual units below. I took pics along the way and shared them in real time on instagram so I never felt rushed or bored with the project.
The stacks are starting to turn into something fun!!
Aren’t these the cutest little plus blocks ever??
At first, I was worried that the main Modern Marks print wouldn’t show well enough because the light blue pieces were so small, but I love the effect you get when you chop up an interesting overall print. It’s fun to see lots of pops of color all over the quilt!
I love pressing seams open so that the blocks will lie rally flat.
I printed off a copy of just the Transparency Chains pattern from the book so I could keep it right by my sewing machine as I sewed. I could also make notes on the printout and check off each step as I completed it. I love the feeling of accomplishment each time I sit down to sew!
I have a “big board” that I use for pressing my quilts. Once I press from the back side, I always press again from the front to keep the quilt as flat and crisp as possible.
Here’s a pressing tip: sew several of the rows together into chunks and then press the long seams before you join the two halves together. Then you only have one more seam to press once the quilt top is complete, rather than wrestling with the entire quilt for each long seam.
I’m really pleased with this combination of fabrics and love the fun geometric texture that the modern, geometric prints provide.
Alternate colorway, re-colored in EQ8
When I was figuring out which fabrics to choose, I drew up the design in Electric Quilt software and auditioned several variations. The greener version above was a very close second, but ultimately I liked the high contrast of the red chains instead.
Modern, geometric prints are definitely my favorite – and it was fun to sew with my own fabric!
Now I have to decide how to quilt it – do I go with a simple allover design, or do I highlight the plus blocks and emphasize the chain structure? Choices, choices!! What would you do?
To see the original version that Cheryl made, plus link to other bloggers who remade this quilt in other colorways, head over to her blog at Meadow Mist Designs and Paige’s blog at Quilted Blooms. While you are there, check out all of the fun giveaways that are happening, and enter for your chance to win.
Click here for the complete list of bloggers and links to their site – plus tons of giveaways.
Click here to get your copy of Modern Plus Sign Quilts.
Christa Quilts 
It’s lovely to see your finished top and read about your process. It will be interesting to see how you decide to quilt it.
I really enjoyed reading about your step-by-step process and think the quilt looks great with your fabric. I can’t wait to see how you quilt it.
Great quilt! I would do a diagonal line through the chains to emphasize that line and then do something swirly in the negative spaces.
I love the idea of having quilts in colors that match the holidays. That’s a goal of mine. Your tip about sewing this quilt in sections is a good one. I love pressing tips, and must investigate that large pressing board of yours. I need one too! I love your Modern Marks fabric line. We have it at the quilt shop where I work, and it’s wonderful!
I love the high contrast in your fabrics.
Oh red, white and blue quilts are a weakness of mine. Your quilt is gorgeous! I loved your pressing a big quilt tip, total sence! Great job! Thanks for sharing!
The palette and fabrics here are lovely; they’ve got me thinking that I need a Fourth of July quilt at my house, too. Enjoy this beauty!
Love the fabrics & colors you chose for your quilt – those blues are wonderful! The red goes so well with them!
Christa your colorway truly sparkles with that transparent aqua shine throughout. Well done!
Very nice colors.
What a great quilt, and I love seeing your fabrics used in this….very cool!
This is a very nice version of this quilt…Love the addition of red.
Another pretty quilt, and so many gorgeous fabrics. That book is on my wish list for sure.
This quilt looks great with the patriotic colors. Thanks for sharing your process, I too love Irish Chain blocks.
Such a beautiful quilt. I like the pressing tip as I am currently working on a large quilts with many rows and found tackling the pressing every few rows easier than (wo)manhandling it on the ironing board. I will go back and press from the front, too.
The color pallete is wonderful and I have to say I love the red and the little boxes on the background. Great finish.
Looks great; how fun to use your own fabric in it and return a favour!
It’s a lovely interpretation of the pattern. Great fabric choices, I especially love the background. Looking forward to seeing it quilted, I think you could have great fun with it.
Very nice version of the pattern. I like both of the colorings you did. Thanks for sharing your quilt.
Your version glows, Christa, and I love how your Modern Marks prints relate to one another in the design!
Stunning! Can’t wait to see it quilted!
I am very impressed with your piecing and the idea of enjoying the ‘journey ‘ of quilting instead of focusing on the destination. Your seams look so beautiful pressed open, you are such an incredible quilter. This quilt top is very pretty, a great job.
Great fabrics! I love the pops of color in the tiny pluses. I also like that you mentioned how much more fun it is when you take your time. We spend so much money on everything it takes to make a quilt we might as well savor the making of them.
Looks fabulous, Christa! And thanks for the tips in putting it together 🙂
I love the way your light yellow print is used as a background fabric. Adds alot of dimension and interest to the overall quilt
This is gorgeous and I know that your quilting will take it over the top!
This is an awesome version of Transparency Chains, I love the pop that the red chains give and the blue plus signs are wonderful. Thanks so much for taking part in the hop, I can’t wait to see how you decide to quilt it!
Oooh, I love how it looks with a patriotic spin! Beautiful choices!
This quilt looks awesome in your fabric!
This pattern looks great in your own fabric, love the Irish Chain
What a nice design! I agree that the contrast with the red works best :).
Awesome. Love the pattern and I love your fabric!
Blues, teals, and then red, lovely in those bright fabrics.
It’s gorgeous, and how cool that you get to make it in a fabric that you designed!! I’d totally go custom quilting on this and highlight the chains!
Christa, Transparency Chains is fabulous in Modern Marks! I love both color combinations! And I totally agree about a good Irish Chain! Thank you so much for joining in the book hop!
Lovely quilt, Christa! And an interesting process. I’m a big fan of snippet sewing too and keeping everything zen in my sewing time. I nodded several times through this post!