After setting the table with bold triangles and uplifting quilting lines in I Live It Bright Table Topper and Placemats by Paul Léger last week, let us lean into classic blocks and beautiful blues with The Irish Carpenter Quilt from Issue 63.
Some quilts feel like home the moment you see them. The Irish Carpenter Quilt is built on the Carpenter Star block, one of those classic designs that never gets old, and Clodagh Coker gives it extra charm by pairing the stars with Irish Chain blocks instead of traditional sashing. The result is a quilt that feels traditional, fresh, and seriously satisfying to piece.
skill level Advanced
time A multi-weekend quilt, especially if you plan to enjoy the custom quilting
ideal for Quilters who love classic blocks, blue fabric collections, and a statement quilt that rewards your quilting time
you will practice Carpenter Star piecing, Irish Chain blocks, precision piecing, and custom quilting to make the stars pop
finished size 94” x 94” [239 x 239cm]
The Irish Carpenter Quilt by Clodagh Coker for ANPTmag Issue 63; photo by Carla A. Canonico for ANPTmag
This pattern by Clodagh Coker was featured in Issue 63, our issue inspired by traditions, the threads that connect generations, preserve history, and shape the stories we carry forward. The theme celebrates how traditions anchor us, bring communities together, and inspire contemporary needlework through bright colors, vintage fabric, and modern spins.
Here’s the project description from the pattern page. When challenged to design a quilt using traditional methods, Clodagh immediately turned to the Carpenter Star block, one of her longtime favorites. She chose a variety of blue fabrics and used Irish Chain blocks to separate the stars. The quilting is custom stitched so the carpenter stars pop out, and that finishing choice is what really elevates the entire design.
Get The Irish Carpenter Quilt here
https://www.aneedlepullingthread.com/product/the-irish-carpenter-quilt/
Get Issue 63 in print here
https://www.aneedlepullingthread.com/product/issue-63-print-version/
Get Issue 63 in digital here
https://www.aneedlepullingthread.com/product/issue-63-digital-version/
What makes this project especially exciting is that it blends the comfort of a traditional block with the drama of custom quilting. If you enjoy a quilt that looks impressive on the bed and teaches you a lot along the way, this one is a beauty.
Close-up of the Irish Carpenter Quilt by Clodagh Coker for ANPTmag Issue 63; photo by Carla A. Canonico for ANPTmag
Now tell me: if you made this quilt, would you keep the classic blue palette, or rebuild it in your own signature colors?
In case you missed it, you might also like Heather McArthur’s My Japanese Garden Wall Art– an equally gratifying quilting project!
Join me next week to find out which inspiring ANPTmag quilting project I’ll share with you!