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Irish Chain Quilts

Three Variations

Single Irish Chain

The Single Irish Chain quilt uses two different fabrics or values of fabric

one focus fabric or dark fabrics

one background fabric or light fabrics

and requires two different blocks

one pieced 9 patch block, block A and

one solid block of background fabric, block B.

Size of Blocks: 12"

Number of quilt blocks needed for desired sized quilt without borders

Quilt Size	Total number blocks required	Total number block A	Total number block B	Block Layout
Crib 36" x 60"	15	8	7	3 blocks x 5 rows
Twin 60" x 84"	35	18	17	5 blocks x 7 rows
Full 84" x 84"	49	25	24	7 blocks x 7 rows
King 108" x 96"	72	36	36	9 blocks x 8 rows

Construction of Block A

Cut 4-1/2" strips of focus fabric and background fabric.

Section A - two per block: Join one strip of background fabric and two strips of focus fabric. Press seam allowances toward the focus fabric. Cut into 4-1/2" sections.

Section B - one per block: Join two strips of background fabric and one strip of focus fabric. Press the seam allowances toward the focus fabric. Cut into 4-1/2" sections.

Join two Section A pieces to one Section B piece. Press the seam allowances toward Sections A.

Construction of Block B

Cut strips of background fabric 12-1/2" wide, then cut into 12-1/2" squares.

Double Irish Chain

The Double Irish Chain quilt uses three different fabrics or values of fabric

fabric A or dark fabrics

fabric B or medium fabrics

one background fabric or light fabrics

and requires two different blocks

one pieced block A

one pieced block B.

Size of Blocks: 10"

Number of quilt blocks needed for desired sized quilt without borders

Quilt Size	Total number blocks required	Total number block A	Total number block B	Block Layout
Crib 40" x 60"	24	12	12	4 blocks x 6 rows
Twin 70" x 90"	63	32	31	7 blocks x 9 rows
Full 80" x 90"	72	36	36	8 blocks x 9 rows
King 110" x 100"	110	55	55	11 blocks x 10 rows

Construction of Block A

Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and one 2-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section B - two per block: Join three 2-1/2" strips of fabric B and two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section C - one per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and one 2-1/2" strip of fabric A together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the strips into 2-1/2" units.

Join two Section A units, two Section B units, and one Section C unit together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward from the center of the block.

Construction of Block B

Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B and one 6-1/2" strip of background together as shown. Cut joined strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section B - one per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric and one 6-1/2" strip of background together as shown. Cut into 6-1/2" units.
Note: This unit can be cut without piecing if desired. Cut one piece 6-1/2" x 10-1/2" of background fabric for each block needed.

Join together two Section A units and one Section B unit for each block required. Press seam allowances away from the center of the block.

Triple Irish Chain

The Triple Irish Chain quilt uses four different fabrics or values of fabric

fabric A or medium fabrics

fabric B or medium dark fabrics

fabric C or dark fabrics

one background fabric or light fabrics

and requires two different blocks

one pieced block A

one pieced block B.

Size of Blocks: 14"

Number of quilt blocks needed for desired sized quilt without borders

Quilt Size	Total number blocks required	Total number block A	Total number block B	Block Layout
Crib 42" x 56"	12	6	6	3 blocks x 4 rows
Twin 70" x 84"	30	15	15	5 blocks x 6 rows
Full 84" x 84"	36	18	18	6 blocks x 6 rows
King 98" x 98"	49	25	24	7 blocks x 7 rows

Construction of Block A

Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, and 2-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section B - two per block: Join four 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, two 2-1/2" trips of fabric A, and one 2-1/2" strip of fabric C together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section C - two per block: Join together two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, three 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section D - one per block: Join together two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and one strip of fabric A together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.

Join together two Section A units, two Section B units, two Section C units, and one Section D unit as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block.

Construction of Block B

Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, one 6-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.

Section B - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric, and one 6-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.
Note: The three separate strips of background fabric can be replaced by one 10-1/2" strip of background fabric.

Section C - one per block: Join four 2-1/2" strips of background fabric and one 6-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 6-1/2" units.
Note: The three separate strips of background fabric can be replaced by one 6-1/2" x 14-1/2" piece of background fabric.

Join together two Section A units, two Section B units, and one Section C unit as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block.

For Further Reading:

Irish Chain Quilts : Single, Double and Triple by Sharon Cerny Ogden

World Wide Quilting Page * Quilt Blocks Page

	Cut 4-1/2" strips of focus fabric and background fabric.
	Section A - two per block: Join one strip of background fabric and two strips of focus fabric. Press seam allowances toward the focus fabric. Cut into 4-1/2" sections.
	Section B - one per block: Join two strips of background fabric and one strip of focus fabric. Press the seam allowances toward the focus fabric. Cut into 4-1/2" sections.
	Join two Section A pieces to one Section B piece. Press the seam allowances toward Sections A.


	Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and one 2-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section B - two per block: Join three 2-1/2" strips of fabric B and two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section C - one per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and one 2-1/2" strip of fabric A together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Join two Section A units, two Section B units, and one Section C unit together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward from the center of the block.


	Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B and one 6-1/2" strip of background together as shown. Cut joined strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section B - one per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric and one 6-1/2" strip of background together as shown. Cut into 6-1/2" units. Note: This unit can be cut without piecing if desired. Cut one piece 6-1/2" x 10-1/2" of background fabric for each block needed.
	Join together two Section A units and one Section B unit for each block required. Press seam allowances away from the center of the block.


	Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, and 2-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section B - two per block: Join four 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, two 2-1/2" trips of fabric A, and one 2-1/2" strip of fabric C together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section C - two per block: Join together two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, three 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and two 2-1/2" strips of fabric A together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section D - one per block: Join together two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, and one strip of fabric A together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Join together two Section A units, two Section B units, two Section C units, and one Section D unit as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block.


	Section A - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric B, two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, one 6-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units.
	Section B - two per block: Join two 2-1/2" strips of fabric C, two 2-1/2" strips of background fabric, and one 6-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 2-1/2" units. Note: The three separate strips of background fabric can be replaced by one 10-1/2" strip of background fabric.
	Section C - one per block: Join four 2-1/2" strips of background fabric and one 6-1/2" strip of background fabric together as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the joined strips. Cut the sewn strips into 6-1/2" units. Note: The three separate strips of background fabric can be replaced by one 6-1/2" x 14-1/2" piece of background fabric.
	Join together two Section A units, two Section B units, and one Section C unit as shown. Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block.