- Background (muslin)
- Medium (goldenrod)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 20 · chain
Triple Irish Chain Quilt Block
Part of: Quilt Blocks Using Squares And RectanglesQuilt Blocks For Beginners
Triple Irish Chain is a two-block design whose colored paths continue across the quilt. Make the checkerboard chain block shown here and alternate it with the open-center companion below.
- Level
- Confident Beginner
- Grid
- 7 × 7
- Pieces
- 49
Chart
Cutting for a 14" block
7 × 7 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 14 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Medium | Square | 25 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 25 |
| Dark | Square | 20 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 20 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the small squares according to the chart, keeping the background interruptions separate.
Step 2: Lay out the rows as shown before sewing. The background squares occupy the middle of each outside edge; preserve their positions to connect to the companion.
Step 3: Sew each row and press alternate rows in opposite directions. Join the rows, matching every intersection.
Step 4: Join the sections with a consistent 1/4-inch seam, pressing between seams. Check that the unfinished block measures 14 1/2" square.
Step 5: Make the companion below in the same finished size. Alternate A and B in each row of the quilt, reversing their order in the next row.
Open-center companion
Alternate this companion with the chain block to form the complete Irish Chain design. Both blocks use the same finished size.
Chart
Cutting for a 14" companion block
7 × 7 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 14 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 1 | 10 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
| Background | Rectangle | 4 | 2 1/2" × 6 1/2" | Use as cut | 4 |
| Medium | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Dark | Square | 8 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 8 |
Method
Companion piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the squares and rectangles exactly as grouped in the chart. Large plain patches replace the former smaller squares; do not subdivide them.
Step 2: Prepare any HST units by joining the indicated contrasting triangles along their long edges. For QST units, join triangle pairs first, then join the pairs. For flying geese, attach a sky triangle to each short side of the goose triangle. Match the fabric orientation in the diagram and square each unit to its finished dimensions plus 1/2 inch.
Step 3: Lay out the prepared units and plain patches as shown. Grid columns count from the left and rows from the top, starting at 1. The section numbers below refer to completed subassemblies, not individual fabric pieces.
Step 4: Make section 1: join the dark square at grid column 1, row 6 above the medium square at grid column 1, row 7, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 5: Make section 2: join the muslin background rect at grid column 1, row 3 above section 1, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 6: Make section 3: join the dark square at grid column 1, row 2 above section 2, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 7: Make section 4: join the medium square at grid column 1, row 1 above section 3, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 14 1/2" high.
Step 8: Make section 5: join the muslin background rect at grid column 3, row 1 on the left of the dark square at grid column 6, row 1, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 9: Make section 6: join the dark square at grid column 2, row 1 on the left of section 5, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 10 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 10: Make section 7: join the muslin background rect at grid column 3, row 7 on the left of the dark square at grid column 6, row 7, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 8 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 11: Make section 8: join the dark square at grid column 2, row 7 on the left of section 7, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 10 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" high.
Step 12: Make section 9: join the muslin background square at grid column 2, row 2 above section 8, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 10 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 13: Make section 10: join section 6 above section 9, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 10 1/2" wide by 14 1/2" high.
Step 14: Make section 11: join the dark square at grid column 7, row 6 above the medium square at grid column 7, row 7, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high.
Step 15: Make section 12: join the muslin background rect at grid column 7, row 3 above section 11, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 16: Make section 13: join the dark square at grid column 7, row 2 above section 12, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 12 1/2" high.
Step 17: Make section 14: join the medium square at grid column 7, row 1 above section 13, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 2 1/2" wide by 14 1/2" high.
Step 18: Make section 15: join section 10 on the left of section 14, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 12 1/2" wide by 14 1/2" high.
Step 19: Make section 16: join section 4 on the left of section 15, using a 1/4-inch seam. Press and check 14 1/2" wide by 14 1/2" high.
Step 20: Press the completed block flat. All joins above run from edge to edge; no set-in or Y-seams are required.