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The WWQP presents...

 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.

© Susan E Traudt 2001


For Further Reading:

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


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