Today’s National Sewing Month Project is brought to you by Melissa Corry from Happy Quilting.
I am so excited to be visiting Fave Quilts today. My name is Melissa Corry and I regularly blog at Happy Quilting. I have a love for Irish Chain Quilts, which lead me to writting my new book, Irish Chain Quilts, Contemporary Twists on a Classic Designs (which there will be a giveaway for at the end of this post 😉 Irish Chain Quilts are a classic design that have been around since Colonial Times. They are known for their wonderful movement, ease of piecing, and beautiful color collaboration. When most people think of an Irish Chain, they think of Single, Double, or Triple. So today, I am going to share with you a tutorial for this amazing Triple Irish Chain quilt, but of course, it has a twist. This is a Super Scrappy version of the Triple Irish Chain.
This is such a fun quilt to make!!! You are going to love it!!!! This is a great scrap buster and will also work fabulous as a Leader and Ender project. So, let’s get going!!!
To Start – You will need:
Lots of Scraps!!!
I will be using scraps in
Yellow, Navy (or dark blue), Medium Grey, and Low Volume (white on white prints)
of course, you can choose any color combo you like, just pick your favorite 3 colors together
and a background color. I will continue to refer to the colors I have chosen throughout
the tutorial, so just make a mental note of what colors you want where in your block.
STEP 1 – CUTTING
To make 1 block, from your scrap piles cut the following number of 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares from the designated colors.
36 – Low Volume squares
36 – Medium Grey squares
28 – Navy Blue squares
21 – Yellow squares
Honestly, I think cutting took longer than piecing the whole block. There really is no speedy way to cut through your scraps, just stick to it and know that you are busting those scraps 😉
STEP 2 – PIECING THE CORNER BLOCKS
Layout 4 Yellow squares, 6 Grey squares, 4 Navy squares, and 2 White squares as shown below.
Sew the squares into rows. To do this, I like to align the first and second squares in the row with right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge, then repeat that for the third and fourth squares in the row. That gives you 2 pairs. Now align the 2 pairs with right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge to make a row. Repeat for all 4 rows (**chain stitching here saves time 😉
Press the first and third row to the left and the second and fourth row to the right. This will allow your rows to nest together and gives you nice crisp points 🙂
Now you are ready to sew the rows into a Corner Block. Place the first row onto the second with right sides together. Align and pin each of the nested seams. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge. Repeat for the third and fourth row.
Now place the first and second paired rows onto the third and fourth paired rows with right sides together. Align and pin each of the nested seams. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge.
Press the seams in your Corner Block open.
Repeat the steps above to make 4 blocks total. **Note – If you want to speed it up a bit and aren’t worried about where each print ends up, you can chain stitch each of the steps above. Row 1 and 4 are the same and Row 2 and Row 3 are the same. So you can simply chain stitch 8 Yellow/Grey square pairs, 8 Blue/White square pairs, 8 Grey/Yellow pairs, and 8 Grey/Blue pairs. This speeds up the pairs of 2 process and you are ready to start making rows, which you can layout and chain stitch once again 🙂
STEP 3 – PIECING THE SIDE BLOCKS
Layout 7 White squares, 3 Navy squares, and 2 Gray squares as shown below.
Sew the squares into rows. To do this, I like to align the first and second squares in the row with right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge. That gives you a pair. Now align the third square in the row with the pair with right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge to make a row. Repeat for all 4 rows (**chain stitching here saves time 😉
Press the first and third row to the left and the second and fourth row to the right. Once again, This will allow your rows to nest together and gives you nice crisp points, and we all love crisp points 🙂
Now you are ready to sew the rows into a Side Block. Place the first row onto the second with right sides together. Align and pin each of the nested seams. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge. Repeat for the third and fourth row.
Now place the first and second paired rows onto the third and fourth paired rows with right sides together. Align and pin each of the nested seams. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge.
Press the seams in your Side Block open.
Repeat the steps above to make 4 blocks total. **Note – Once again, you can speed things up by chain stitch each of the steps above. You can simply chain stitch 8 White/White pairs, 4 Blue/White pairs, and 4 Grey/ Blue pairs. Then you can chain stitch the last square in each block onto the pairs to finish making your rows.
STEP 4 – PIECING THE CENTER BLOCK
Layout 5 Yellow squares, and 4 Grey squares as shown below.
Sew the squares into rows. This is just like the last block. Align the first and second squares in the row with right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge. That gives you a pair. Now align the third square in the row with the pair with right sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge to make a row. Repeat for all 3 rows.
Press the first and third row to the left and the second row to the right. Once again, nesting is the goal here 🙂
Now you are ready to sew the rows into a Center Block. Place the first row onto the second with right sides together. Align and pin each of the nested seams. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge. Then repeat to add the third row to the now pieced first and second row.
Press the seams in your Center Block open. You only need one of these Center Blocks so you are ready to move on.
STEP 5 – PIECING THE SUPER SCRAPPY TRIPLE IRISH CHAIN BLOCK
With all of your small unit blocks made you are ready to make a Big Block!!! Layout your 4 Corner Blocks, 4 Side Blocks, and 1 Center block as shown below.
Now it is just like before only with more seams 😉 You will sew the blocks into rows. So Align the first and second blocks in the row with right sides together and nest and pin each seam. (and yes, I pin each and every seam, this helps with those crisp points 🙂 Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge. Now align the third block in the row and the remainder of the row with right sides together and nest and pin each seam. Once again, sew a 1/4″ seam along the edge to make a finished row. Repeat for all 3 rows.
Press all of the seams open. This will allow the block to lie nice and flat. Almost done!!!
Now, you just have to sew the three rows together. Place the first row onto the second with right sides together. Align and pin each of the nested seams. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the pinned edge. Then repeat to add the third row to the now pieced first and second row.
Press the two seams open.
And now stand back and enjoy your beautiful Super Scrappy Triple irish Chain Block!!!! Isn’t it just so fun!!! This block should measure appx. 22 1/2″ x 22 1/2″. It will finish at 22″ x 22″ when put in the quilt 😉 These blocks are super fun to make and a little addicting 😉
Making The Quilt Top 🙂
Once, you have your blocks made, you can put them all into a quilt top. Repeat the above block making process to make a total number of blocks for your determined quilt size, see below.
4 blocks would be a 2 x 2 layout and would measure 44″ x 44″, perfect for a baby quilt
12 blocks would be a 3 x 4 layout and would measure 66″ x 88″, for a large lap quilt
16 blocks would be a 4 x 4 layout and would measure 88″ x 88″, fit for a queen 🙂
Whatever size you make, lay the blocks into rows as described above. Then pin and sew the Blocks into rows. You will want to pin each seam to ensure everything lines up. Press the seams open, or if you don’t like the seams open, press the seams in opposite directions from row to row. Then pin and sew the rows together, finishing the quilt top. Once again, pinning each seam will help align everything so you get lots of pretty squares lined up. Press the seams open.
Finishing the Quilt 🙂
Then with your quilt top done, you are ready to Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind It. I know, a lot of work in one little sentence. If you are unsure on how to do this, you can see my Quiltmaking Basics video tutorials that go over these three steps in detail 😉
Then just sit back and enjoy snuggling in your new quilt 😉 I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial for the Super Scrappy Triple Irish Chain!!! If you make your own, I would love to see it!!! You can add it to my Flickr group here or email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com 😉
Oh, and one last note, if you liked the Super Scrappy Triple Irish Chain, you might also love the Super Scrappy Single Irish Chain!!! You can find a free step by step tutorial for it at my blog, as well as on Fave Quilts 😉 Ya, I so love Irish Chain Quilts 😉
Thank you so much to Fave Quilts for having me hear today. Wishing you all many Happy Quilting Days!!!!
And now, I am gonna pass it back to the awesome gals at Fave Quilts for the Giveaway!!! Let’s see if you happen to have the Luck of the Irish and score a copy of Irish Chain Quilts and other great stuff!!!
When “auditioning” placement of your blocks, where do you lay them out? Floor? Bed? Table? Let us know…
Official Rules for Daily Contest
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- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
- You have until tonight, September 8th, 2015 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
Enter daily for your chance to win the National Sewing Month 2015 Grand Prize Giveaway.
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I prefer to spread them out on the table. Of course, I have to put the leaf in for most projects just to get the right size. Sometimes I spread the blocks on the bed, but only if I know it’ll be a quick test run. Can’t leave it up overnight on the bed!
On the floor!
Always the floor. After I have vacuumed up cat hair of course.
95% of the time on the floor!
I’m a new quilter and just finished putting the borders on my first quilt top – a jelly roll race quilt! I love this tutorial, so easy to follow!! I think this will be my next project. So far I am using a 6-foot folding table
I wish I had a design wall, but the floor it is. I like to take a photo. Helps me see better than just looking.
I lay it all out on the bed…I don’t have to bend over so far…LOL. I have a spare King…very convenient.
l love this site for all its ideas insights hints and patterns that are for everyone beginner or expert thank you. jean
For bigger pieces, I use hte floor. Otherwise, I have a worktable that I use to laying out patterns and quilts.
I lay mine out on the floor or the bed. I have a king size bed. I wish I had the room to have a design wall. My sewing space is kind of small. I’ve been thinking about using the wall space in my hall for a design wall.
Dmac5958ataoldotcom
I use my kitchen table until time to pin the back and batting and that is when I move to the living room floor,
I always lay them out on the floor first before I sew them together.
For small items I use a table and for larger items I use a bed or sometimes the floor.
I lay them out on the floor! lol Tho lay small things on bed…or table. Thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way! 🙂
I lay mine on bed because there is no room on floor in my sewing room.
It depends on the size – small ones on the table and large ones on the floor.
I’m a new quilter and am now experimenting on the floor of my living room! Can’t wait to try this pattern.
I am a new quilter and am now experimenting on my living room floor. Can’t wait to try this pattern.
Mostly on the floor.
The bed; less strain on an old back :).
Floor for me. maybe one day i’ll invest in a design wall!
I put the cat outside and use the floor. Thanks!
Depending on the size of the quilt, I will use a bed, the dining room table or the floor, whichever is most convenient. Sometimes I just wing it to see what I come up with when I am pinning everything together. If I don’t like what I have, I can always unpin it and start over.
Mostly the bed or a flannel backed tablecloth on the wall. Since my knee replacement surgeries I don’t get up and down from the floor so easily!
Table
I just started quilting after my mother passed away and left me all her materials etc. and I am enjoying it. So far I have made two quilts and looking at this Irish Chain I think it is one I will do. It is the prettiest Irish Chain I have ever seen. I love the color scheme it is relaxing.
I use the bed and the floor in the living room and also the ironing board
My bed — my sewing machine and ironing board are in my bedroom right next to the bed, so the bed becomes my design wall. 🙂
I generally end up with them on the bed. But if it’s over queensized, the front room floor is where they end up. Thanks.
I have only done smaller baby quilts so far, so a table works fine. Eventually I’ll probably end up on the floor with a sheet! This book looks like fun- thanks for the chance to win!
Usually the floor, sometimes I pin to the dining room curtains. It depends on the Cat, of course.
I prefer to use my king size bed to audition the layout of fabrics when making a quilt. Your tutorial makes the Irish chain seem much easier than I thought. I will definitely use this pattern as a stash buster.
I spread them out on the bed or the floor – whichever works best.
On the bed in the spare bedroom…I can leave the blocks there and move them around until the whole layout pleases me!
I have a small design wall where I lay out small quilts; for larger stuff, the floor is great!
I lay them out on my bed
The table or the floor if it’s a larger project
On the floor. Thank you for the tutorial and the download!
I usually lay my fabrics out on the table, stand back and see how everything looks together.
I use the table a bed or the floor . Whatever fits.
I usually lay them out on the bed and take pictures to remember where everything went after I pick them up again.
I have 16″ x 16″ design wall that I made that works for me.
I lay everything put on the island unit in our kitchen x
I use the pool table. Perfect height for me.
I lay my work on my table in my shed which I have as a work room, if it’s a really big quilt I move table and other items out to make room on floor of shed
On the table
I use my design wall, and sometimes the bed for smaller quilts
My design wall
I usually lay my squares, etc. out on my bed. I don’t have a large enough space or table to audition my blocks. The irish chain is definitely on my bucket list.
I am a kitchen table or dining room floor worker! Need lots of space!!!
On the bed
I have to use my bed. My apartment is very small and there is absolutely no room to lay it out on the floor. I don’t even have a kitchen table because it’s so small! Someday I will have a place that is bigger!
I lay mine on the guest bed, that way my puppy and cat can’t claim it!
I use the dining room table to lay out the blocks, do half the quilt then the other half. pin things together and spread it out on my bed to see how it’s working. Thanks for this pattern I really like the multicolored one.
I like to use our ping pong table. Large and no bending!
A neighbor who was moving gave me her design wall so I am now using that but before it was the counter top or floor
My first hand-quilted quilt was a Triple Irish Chain using blue and white fabrics. I was so very proud of it. I hadn’t been finished with it for even a week when I showed it to my teen-age granddaughter, Mandy. She took one look at it and asked if she could have it because she had fallen in love with it at first sight. Of course I couldn’t turn down my only granddaughter (at the time) so off it went. She literally enjoyed it much more than I could ever have imagined. Over the course of about 10 years, I have never made another Irish Chain quilt. After reading about this Super Scrappy Triple Irish Chain quilt, I feel moved to get busy on making another one, especially with your super instructions. Thanks for the pattern and the opportunity to be entered to win in this giveaway!!
I use the floor to lay out my blocks to see how the finished product will look. This isn’t exactly easy since I have two cats, Pepper and Cinnamon, who love every piece of fabric that I put anywhere for them to test for me!!
I am new to quilting(just place mats so far!) But I love to lay out all my sewing projects on the floor.
I would have to say the floor is the place to get a good perspective of a layout!
Well, I have to confess, I do it on the floor. I really have tried to do it on the table, but I don’t have one big enough. Also, I have 1 large old cat & 1 small young dog, that also think they have to watch everything I do. But if I win, I think I will try this one at the table.
Thank You for the opportunity to try and win also may God Bless 🙂
I have a pool table, I can lay them all out there and nobody gets to play pool till the quilt is done. Not much of a problem since the kids are all grown and live far away. I just make sure no quilts is on it when they come to visit.
On the kitchen peninsula/island, or on a table. Whichever surface is easier to clean at the moment!
I use the bed if I can sew the blocks together in that day. If the quilt will take awhile to create I use the floor.
I start out on the table and as it gets bigger, I move to the floor or the bed to get an idea what it’ll look like . I just hope the cat stays off it around nap time. She thinks I’m making her a new bed.
I use a bed. I put an old folding cardboard cutting mat down first and then arrange the blocks until I find the arrangement that sings.
Usually I use the bed, sometimes a table. I love your scrappy Irish Chain!
I use a design wall.
I usually lay my blocks out on a table.
Table for sure !,my days of floor working are over!,want to do this quilt for my 14 yr old grandson,very excited,after a 20 yr break from sewing (do to ill health)i’m back at it,missed it so much.thank you for all you do for the sewist community! i’m on a crusade to encourage everyone who sews to teach someone,young or old to learn how.
I lay them out on my design wall (50/50 batting attached to wall). I love the triple Irish chain pattern. Is there a way to print it?
I use both the Bed and Floor. I prefer the floor if I can keep my two very spoiled cats off the pieces! I love this tutorial, I am anxious to try this with scraps from family members past clothing! Thanks so much!!
On a bed ~ my old knees mandate just looking down at a floor!
Can’t win anyway because I’m in Australia but I do love Irish Chain quilts.
I use whatever works for a particular quilt depending on the size. Avoid the floor if possible – I might not be able to get up again not just because of my knees, but the dogs think if I’m on the floor, it’s play time!
I lay a sheet out on the living room floor and arrange blocks on it so I can roll it up if I don’t get it sewn in one day.
i find it easiest to send everyone out of the house for the afternoon and lay everything out on the living room floor. Everything stays flat and I don’t start matching squares with what is currently on the bed.
I’m also new to quilting, the floor is the biggest area in my house. If I ever clear off the queen size bed, in the spare bedroom, I could use it. There’s my reason to finish the job. Thanks you for a chance to win the
Irish Chain pattern. It’s kinda funny–I’m Irish to the bone !!
So far, the biggest quilt I’ve made is a baby quilt, so I use my king-size bed to lay them out. I really doubt I’ll ever make a king-size quilt, though. That would take me forever!
It depends on the size, I use the bed and floor for larger projects. My cutting table works well for smaller ones.
My usual spot for layout is the bed, but for smaller quilts, I can use my large cutting table.
Mostly on the floor. The table will work for small quilts and most wall hangings but the floor is where it’s at for large quilts.
I use the floor in the family room.
I lay out my blocks on the floor. I love this book! Thanks for the chance to win the book and pretty fabrics.
I like to use a design wall, even if it is a make-shift one. Yes, the floor and the bed are easier, but you can’t get as good of a view looking down as you can looking at the blocks straight out in front of you. Also, a door peep-hole is great for getting a far-away look.
6′ x 4′ harvest table, with fold-down leaves.
I lay them out on the floor.
If I’m just auditioning fabric for a square I lay it out on my sewing table. For something bigger I will usually lay it out on the floor. If the project doesn’t speak to me while on the floor than i will move it to the bed and think about it some more.
I lay them out on a table, would like to use the floor for better view but disabilities would not let stay down long to lay out properly.
Years ago I used the floor but getting up out of the floor becomes harder with age. I prefer to use the bed or my kitchen table now!
I used to lay quilts out on the floor. Then I moved and have very little open floor. Now I use my bed and sort of overlap things to fit them all on. It’s not perfect but it gives me an idea of what it will look like. Thanks for the chance at that book.
Usually on the dining room table, if not there, on the bed in the spare room.
To be honest with you, I have always been a little afraid of quilting, so I’ve never done one. But this tutorial makes it sound so easy that I just might try one. Who knows, I may like it!
I would love to win a copy. I love Irish Chains.
I am sorry not meant to be a duplicate I put the blocks on my design wall.
I have a piece of batting on my wall for small things and my bed for large ones.
I personally prefer the dining room table to the floor…so much easier on the knees and back! Currently in search of a good home for a design wall in my sewing room.
I use a design wall, table and sometimes do a color pencil sketch. 24Tangent@gmail.com
I bought a 4′ x 8′ foam insulation board from Lowe’s and hung in the wall and pin my blocks to it.
I have a flannel design wall that I use for smaller quilts, and I use the floor for larger one. Thanks for the great post on Irish Chains!
I LAY THEM OUT ON A LARGE TABLE.
I have some ancestry that’s Irish, on my mother’s side, and I think it would be wonderful to learn some of the ways the Irish did their quilting. Specially the styles and colors! It seems to make one fell closer somehow. I would love to make as many of my family’s favorite colors and give them to them for no other reason, but I love them! They would be well used, I still use the quilts my mother made by hand to this day and wouldn’t want anything else. Thanks so much for the opportunity for enter this contest! <3
I prefer to layout blocks on the floor and when I need more space, I lay them out on the bed. Your quilt is gorgeous!!!
if it is a small project I use the dining room table. If it is a large project I use the floor