Quiltspiration

Irish Chain quilt pattern

A Double Irish Chain: 10" pieced blocks of 25 squares alternating with plain blocks that have a square in each corner. The chains run corner to corner across the whole quilt.

The queen size is 88" × 108" with 80 blocks. Each size below has its own fabric list, cutting and backing, worked out for 42" fabric with ¼" seams, 10% extra and yardage rounded up to the next ¼ yard.

Double Irish Chain quilt sizes
SizeFinishedBlocksTop fabric
Crib48" × 58"204 yd
Throw58" × 68"305¼ yd
Twin68" × 88"487 yd
Full88" × 98"7210½ yd
Queen88" × 108"8010¾ yd
King108" × 108"10013½ yd

The Irish Chain block page has the cutting for single blocks in four sizes and the piecing step by step, with a drawing of every unit.

Double Irish Chain quilt, queen size, 88" × 108"
Queen, 88" × 108"

Crib Double Irish Chain quilt, 48" × 58"

20 blocks of 10", 5 rows of 4, 4" border.

Double Irish Chain quilt, crib size, 48" × 58"
Fabric for the crib size
Main, BorderNavy sprig tree1¼ yd
Centers, BindingRed floral1¼ yd
BackgroundCream calico1½ yd
Backing2 panels 56" long, seams across; or 1¾ yd of 108" wide3¼ yd
Batting72" × 90"Twin

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 6 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 90 squares 2½". Cut 5 strips 4½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 50½" and 2 at 48½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 10 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 160 squares 2½". Cut 6 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 224" strip.
  • Background: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 40 squares 2½". Cut 2 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 20 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 2 strips 10½" × WOF. Subcut 10 strips 6½" × 10½".

Putting it together

  1. Make 10 Irish Chain blocks and 10 Irish Chain plain block blocks, all 10" finished.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 5 rows of 4. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  3. Add the 4" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (56" × 66"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Throw Double Irish Chain quilt, 58" × 68"

30 blocks of 10", 6 rows of 5, 4" border.

Double Irish Chain quilt, throw size, 58" × 68"
Fabric for the throw size
Main, BorderNavy sprig tree1¾ yd
Centers, BindingRed floral1¾ yd
BackgroundCream calico1¾ yd
Backing2 panels 66" long, seams across; or 2 yd of 108" wide3¾ yd
Batting72" × 90"Twin

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 9 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 135 squares 2½". Cut 6 strips 4½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 60½" and 2 at 58½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 15 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 240 squares 2½". Cut 7 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 264" strip.
  • Background: Cut 4 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 60 squares 2½". Cut 2 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 30 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 3 strips 10½" × WOF. Subcut 15 strips 6½" × 10½".

Putting it together

  1. Make 15 Irish Chain blocks and 15 Irish Chain plain block blocks, all 10" finished.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 6 rows of 5. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  3. Add the 4" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (66" × 76"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Twin Double Irish Chain quilt, 68" × 88"

48 blocks of 10", 8 rows of 6, 4" border.

Double Irish Chain quilt, twin size, 68" × 88"
Fabric for the twin size
Main, BorderNavy sprig tree2¼ yd
Centers, BindingRed floral2½ yd
BackgroundCream calico2¼ yd
Backing2 panels 96" long, seams down; or 2¼ yd of 108" wide5½ yd
Batting81" × 96"Full

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 14 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 216 squares 2½". Cut 8 strips 4½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 80½" and 2 at 68½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 24 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 384 squares 2½". Cut 8 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 324" strip.
  • Background: Cut 6 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 96 squares 2½". Cut 3 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 48 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 6 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 24 strips 6½" × 10½".

Putting it together

  1. Make 24 Irish Chain blocks and 24 Irish Chain plain block blocks, all 10" finished.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 8 rows of 6. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  3. Add the 4" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (76" × 96"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Full Double Irish Chain quilt, 88" × 98"

72 blocks of 10", 9 rows of 8, 4" border.

Double Irish Chain quilt, full size, 88" × 98"
Fabric for the full size
Main, BorderNavy sprig tree3 yd
Centers, BindingRed floral3¾ yd
BackgroundCream calico3¾ yd
Backing3 panels 96" long, seams across; or 2¾ yd of 108" wide8 yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 21 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 324 squares 2½". Cut 9 strips 4½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 90½" and 2 at 88½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 36 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 576 squares 2½". Cut 10 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 384" strip.
  • Background: Cut 9 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 144 squares 2½". Cut 5 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 72 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 6 strips 10½" × WOF. Subcut 36 strips 6½" × 10½".

Putting it together

  1. Make 36 Irish Chain blocks and 36 Irish Chain plain block blocks, all 10" finished.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 9 rows of 8. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  3. Add the 4" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (96" × 106"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Queen Double Irish Chain quilt, 88" × 108"

80 blocks of 10", 10 rows of 8, 4" border.

Double Irish Chain quilt, queen size, 88" × 108"
Fabric for the queen size
Main, BorderNavy sprig tree3 yd
Centers, BindingRed floral4 yd
BackgroundCream calico3¾ yd
Backing3 panels 96" long, seams across; or 3¼ yd of 108" wide8 yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 23 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 360 squares 2½". Cut 9 strips 4½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 100½" and 2 at 88½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 40 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 640 squares 2½". Cut 10 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 404" strip.
  • Background: Cut 10 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 160 squares 2½". Cut 5 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 80 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 10 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 40 strips 6½" × 10½".

Putting it together

  1. Make 40 Irish Chain blocks and 40 Irish Chain plain block blocks, all 10" finished.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 10 rows of 8. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  3. Add the 4" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (96" × 116"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

King Double Irish Chain quilt, 108" × 108"

100 blocks of 10", 10 rows of 10, 4" border.

Double Irish Chain quilt, king size, 108" × 108"
Fabric for the king size
Main, BorderNavy sprig tree3¾ yd
Centers, BindingRed floral4¾ yd
BackgroundCream calico5 yd
Backing3 panels 116" long, seams across; or 6½ yd of 108" wide9¾ yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 29 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 450 squares 2½". Cut 10 strips 4½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 100½" and 2 at 108½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 50 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 800 squares 2½". Cut 11 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 444" strip.
  • Background: Cut 13 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 200 squares 2½". Cut 7 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 100 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 13 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 50 strips 6½" × 10½".

Putting it together

  1. Make 50 Irish Chain blocks and 50 Irish Chain plain block blocks, all 10" finished.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 10 rows of 10. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  3. Add the 4" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (116" × 116"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

See this quilt in your own fabric

With the cut list for your size, checked against your stash.

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