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Quilt Reveal – Single Irish Chain – FREE Quilt Pattern

The quilt pattern I’m talking about today, I haven’t made in years, but when I first started quilting I made this quilt often.ย  It’s one of those quilts that uses up a fair amount of scraps, somehow always looks good, and the beginner quilter can handle easily.

If you are have lots of smaller cuts of fabrics or have a box of 3.5″ squares like me, this is the quilt for you.ย  Keep reading!ย  I’ve got you a free pattern download today!



While working on this quilt I was often thinking back when I first started quilting.ย  A time when hours of simple chain piecing thrilled me.ย  Who am I kidding?ย  I still love hours of chain piecing.ย  I find the monotony soothing and relaxing.ย  I always did.

So unlike her sisters, the double and the triple Irish Chain, Single Irish Chain takes a whole lot less time.ย  It’s pretty basic, but such a good scrap buster and a quilt that you don’t have to put a whole lot of thought into.ย  It’s really all about the doing.

I think this would also be a great quilt to do in a single color.ย  I’m thinking I’m going to do that in the near future.


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Get the Details


Download Single Irish Chain Quilt Pattern here.

A password is required to enter the free PDF pattern library. Password is given in every one of my bi-weekly newsletters. If you are not yet signed up for it,ย you can do so here.

Please note that this is a free quilt pattern and it has not been tested by anyone but myself.

I’ve included some chain piecing tips and some easy resizing tips as well.



Quilt Details:

Pattern โ€“ Single Irish Chain

Size โ€“ 108×108โ€ณ

Blocks โ€“ (72) 9-patches and (72) background blocks

Top Fabricsย โ€“ย Main:ย  Scraps and Stashย ย Background:ย Vanilla – Grunge,ย Black Stars – Darlings, Copper Metallic – Add it Up, Miss Thread in Anew, Stripe Natural, Metallic Gold – Brushed,ย The Spot Vanilla and more.

Backing Fabrics โ€“ย  Spackle News Paper Clipping

Binding โ€“ย  Ivory Floral – Summer Sweet

Battingย โ€“ย Warm and Natural batting by the Warm Company

Threadย โ€“ย So Fine by Superior in Blizzardย for piecing,ย Microquilter by Superior in natural whiteย for quilting

Techniques Usedย โ€“ย free motion quilting in a meander pattern,ย wall basting, andย ditch binding

Quilt Labelย โ€“ย from my shop here, tutorial forย how to install it here

Skill Level – Beginner


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Read About It


This particular quilt is off and heading to its new home.ย  I do hope it will be loved and snuggled.ย  I made this king size version for a commission.ย  Never do I opt to “just” make a king size quilt.ย  Anyway, I’m in the room off to my sewing room where the Bernina sits (I only ever use it for quilting), it’s just the domestic 550 model, but a good machine.

My husband walks in and just stares at me.ย  There is quilt everywhere.ย  There’s quilt smooshed up in the throat to the right of the needle, quilting falling off the table to the left of the needle.ย  Quilt smooshed between the wall and the machine and quilt draped all over my lap and I’m just meandering along.ย  And he says, “We have got to get you a longarm.ย  How are you doing this on that little machine?”

It’s patience, but it’s actually not as hard as one might think.ย  There’s a bit more stopping and starting to adjust, but it can be done.ย  Then again, I won’t say no to a longarm, but where in the world would I put the thing?


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11 Comments

  1. Thank you for the pattern and the spray basting video! My goal this year is to use my scraps in every quilt.

  2. How kind of you to create and provide this tutorial and PDF for your lovely Irish Chain quilt! Thanks so very much, Melanie. Your quilts – and you – are truly an inspiration. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Ha, ha! Yes, where to put the longarm. People tell me ,”they aren’t that expensive”. I usually reply that it would be once I build the room to put it in. I had been thinking about something more complicated for a new bed quilt, but now I might have to consider making an iconic Irish Chain. Thanks for all the lovely inspiration.

    1. They are crazy expensive! But I did find out this past year that if you purchase one at a show (like Quilt Week in Paducah or Quilt Con) they mark them down to half the price on the last day of the show. When I can afford one and house it, I’ll definitely be purchasing one that way.

      1. I have had my long arm for about 18 months….. itโ€™s amazing how many more quilts you can complete! Itโ€™s super easy and super fastโค๏ธ I donโ€™t think I could go back to FMQ on a domestic, my hands couldnโ€™t take it!

  4. If you are like me, the longarm occupies the largest room in the house!!! Definitely my favorite quilting tool, hands down! I would go back to using templates and scissors before I would give up my longarm!!

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