I’ve been thinking of making an Irish Chain quilt. Have you ever made one?
I was scrolling through Instagram yesterday and saw a clip from Gina Tell, a long-arm quilter who quilts a lot for Kimberly Jolly of the Fat Quarter Shop. She had just finished quilting the quilt in the pattern above, and posted on it. I was immediately taken with it, mainly because of the striking design, of course, but also because I have a ton of a very similar Thimble Blossoms fabric collection left over. The collection on the pattern cover is Dwell, and the one I have on hand is Rosemary Cottage, but they are very similar.
Curious about the pattern, I Googled it and learned that the name “Irish Chain” comes from the quilt’s distinctive visual effect: a series of linked squares that form continuous diagonal lines across the quilt, resembling a chain. These Irish Chain designs can be quite simple or complex. I found a couple of patterns on Fat Quarter Shop, including the Nesting pattern above.
Here is Remix Chain, a simple pattern, free on the FQS website.
This pattern is called It Takes 2, and I like the alternate block that adds so much interest to the design.
But what is so “Irish” about it? Apparently, nothing. There is no evidence that the pattern originated in Ireland. At the time the quilt became popular (mid-1800s), there were many Irish immigrants in the United States, and naming traditions often drew on cultures or places that were important to the quiltmakers.
So, what do you think? Do you like the Irish Chain pattern and its variations? I am really leaning towards making one!
37 Responses
I have wanted to make one for several years after seeing one in a vendors booth in Paducah. I bought the navy background and pattern that day intending to use a fat quarter bundle for the chain. It was by a known designer maybe Fons and Porter.
Still love the quilt.
I love it when someone’s quilt makes me want to make the exact same thing!
I always admire them but have not made one YET!!😀 maybe next?
I think the time is right for me to make one!
I love chains. Deanna from Wedding Dress Blue made Irish Stars – I’ve done most, just decided to put it on point so not yet completed. I did small 9 patches that made a big 9 patch with Ohio stars in the centre and that is waiting to be quilted. They are all such nice patterns – I don’t think I’ve seen one that I didn’t like.
I looked up that pattern and it is so pretty. One does wonder if it is better to fill up that empty space with an alternate block.
Maybe a good place for a fabric that you do not want to cut up, I agree, too much white.
Hello Nicole! You have been so busy and I have been enjoying your blogs this past couple of weeks. Oh, I do love an Irish Chain quilt and I have made several. They are great scrap-busting quilts, for sure. I am busy this week helping my local quilt guild get ready for our quilt show next weekend – exciting times!
Thanks Rebecca. I have so many BOMs going on that it would be nice to embark on a project I can just work on and get done. And heaven knows I have the scraps. So why do I keep buying more fabric?
I feel that the Irish Chain patterns really took hold when rotary cutting and strip piecing did. It was a fast and easy way to use a variety of fabrics in a structured design. So much easier than cutting all those individual pieces, just making fabric “sets” instead. Pretty sure my first Quilt in a Day/Eleanor Burns pattern was an Irish chain.
I remember making a couple of quilts back in the early 80s before rotary cutters were common. What a pain. That tool really did revolutionize quilting.
The Triple Irish Chain (your top pic) has always been a favorite of mine. I’ve made two. The 1st vintage quilt I bought was also a Triple Irish Chain.
I love that variation of the Irish Chain the best too.
I like the variations more; too much white space for me to fill otherwise. I’ve seen the one with stars and I like the It Takes 2 pattern. You certainly should make one!
That white space does lend itself to custom quilting though. I like both styles, the one with whte space and the one with an alternate block. I may have to make a couple of Irish Chain quilts!
I really like the first quilt pattern and the amount of darker chains it has. Happy choosing!!
Oh, I am committed to the first pattern, Nesting. I am going to go through my scraps today and see what all I have on hand.
I’ve made several traditional Irish Chain patterns and have enjoyed piecing every one. I think I like the symmetry of the pattern the most. I also find I’m attracted to other patterns that have a blocks or some element in the design that makes a chain going through the quilt top. One of my favorite quilts to piece for sure. I like the Nesting pattern with the black chain and the scrappy fabrics, it’s right up my alley! 😊
I can’t wait to get started on mine.
I made a scrappy quadruple Irish Chain quilt of fabrics from my childhood. It was the first quilt I ever started. I was in junior high. It took me 55 years to finish so you know it has a very long story. I absolutely love it and it resides on my bed. Every night I reminisce with the fabrics. Even though quadruple sounds daunting, it really is just nine 9 patches to make the “X” block. Go for it. I know you will love yours as much as I do mine.
Oh my gosh Rita! 55 years? That may be a record, lol. So glad you finished it and are loving it on your bed. What a keepsake.
Irish chain quilts are indeed beautiful. It is *the* stereotypical quilt design in my mind. Whenever I hear or read about vintage quilts, that is what I think of first. All of those patterns you show would be beautiful, so you really can’t go wrong with whichever you choose!
Oh, I chose Nesting, the top pattern right off the bat. That is the one for me. Although the one with the alternate block could be in my future too
I have made one Irish chain quilt. They are so simple but beautiful in my opinion. Check out the double and triple Irish chain quilts too.
My favorite is the triple Irish Chain.
I especially like ‘It Takes Two’ but I think that’s because of the low-volume fabrics that give it a soft look. The photo of the ladies in costumes caught my attention…actually the person in a modern ‘puffy’ jacket & the freight hand truck behind them! Those made me laugh in a photo of ‘Irish chain sewers from days of old’! Have a great weekend!
Those shower cap bonnets look so silly. The comraderie of sewing together around a quilt is so appealing though. I did that once years ago and it was very cozy and chatty. I only filled in for an hour or so, but it was fun.
I have made two for our high school auction fund raisers. They come together so well! The trick now is sewing together long strips of the 2 1/2 strips and then cutting them into 2 1/2 sections. I want to sew another one or two because the thrill is seeing all these pieces come together! I did mine in green but I think you cannot go wrong no matter what color combinations you choose.
I have a special Creative Grids ruler that helps when cutting sewn together strip units. It helps keep everything straight and lined up right.
I bought a kit last fall from my favorite quilt shop, it’s a Laundry Basket design and they had a sample made and displayed in the store, I was like you, just so enamored with it I bought it on the spot. It’s beautiful! I see Edyta did a video making an Irish Chain recently so I plan to watch that before I begin which I hope is soon! I just have to finish the quilt I’m working on now, does that sound familiar? I love your blog, both the quilts and books! And makeup and recipes too!
Thanks Beth! I appreciate the mention of Edyta’s YouTube video. I am going to watch it before I start my quilt.
Well, my mistake! Mine is a Trip Around the World kit, not Irish chain. I’m watching the video now, I love her. Sorry to steer you wrong!
I’ve made several Irish chain quilts and like to make them especially for babies and kids. I have an Irish chain scrap quilt made by my great grandmother with feed sacks and sugar sacks. It was just a flimsy but I had it quilted a long time ago. One little square has some practice cross stitching. Chains are easy and a goid design element. Good luck with yours!
I have made one Irish Chain quilt using Leah Day pattern and Camille’s At Home fabric. Another chain looking pattern I have made a couple of times is Brightly by Cluck Cluck Sew. The nesting pattern is good choice.
I’ve made 3 Single Irish Chain quilts and have sent you an email!
Hugs!
I love a simple Irish Chain. The variations appeal to me the most. Triple Irish Chain has always seemed too ‘busy’ for me. The pattern gets lost. You might as well just make a postage stamp quilt and be done? (IMO)
I finished a few that were UFOs from another quilters stash. They were fun to finish (she’d already done all the little squares) and I liked the end retail. Would definitely consider another one.