How to Make a Single Irish Chain Block

This year, for the quilt guild I am apart of, I am providing instructions for how to make a different quilt block each month. For the month of January, we learned about the Single Irish Chain. This block is also known as the Pennsylvania, the Criss Cross, and the Simple Cross. 

Single Irish Chain Block

For a 12 inch finished block (12.5 inch unfinished), you will need to cut the following:

4 of 4.5 inch squares in white

1 of 4.5 inch squares in blue 

1 of 2.5 x 20 inch strip in white

1 of 2.5 x 20 inch strip in blue

Start by doing some strip piecing. What is strip piecing you ask? It is sewing some strips of fabric together, then cutting them apart to make lots of parts of a block. 

First, line up the strips.  (Pictured are shorter strips, so don't worry if your strips look longer.)

Strip piecing for Single Irish Chain Block

Stitch them together using a 1/4 inch seam. Press to the dark side.

Strip piecing for Single Irish Chain Block

Then cut across them at 2.5 inch intervals. You should end up with 8 of these rectangles. 

Strip piecing for Single Irish Chain Block

Take two rectangles and sewing them together, matching seams to make a four-patch block. 

Strip piecing for Single Irish Chain Block

You should have 4 four patch blocks.

Strip piecing for Single Irish Chain Block

Using these blocks and the 4.5 inch blocks, sew the squares together to create the 3 rows and stitch the 3 rows together. Again, press to the dark side.

Creating an Single Irish Chain Block

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below! 

Check back each month for a new How-To of quilt blocks! To see the other block, just search my blog for Quilt Guild Block of the Month.

If you would like a PDF version of these instructions, please check out Group #1 of the How-To Block of the Month Downloads.

(Although this block is a classic and can go by many names, as I have mentioned before, these block designs come from the book 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone. (c) 2003.)

Have fun quilting!


14 comments

  • Thank you for the pattern, I needed some free quilt therapy. I’m going to make a pink and white throw for my room.

    Laurie
  • Hi Cathy! You can use charm packs but you would have to cut down the pieces a bit. Thanks for asking!

    Becky Smith
  • Can this be done using charm packs? I have some I need to use.
    Thanks

    Cathy
  • Hi Elizabeth!
    For at 80" square quilt, you will need to make 36 blocks and add a 4 inch border on all sides. You will need about 3.5 yards of white and blue, plus what you need for the border.
    Thanks for asking!

    Becky Smith
  • Thanks for asking Patty!
    For a 9 inch finished block (9.5 inch unfinished), you will need to cut the following:

    4 of 3.5 inch squares in white

    1 of 3.5 inch squares in blue

    1 of 2 × 20 inch strip in white

    1 of 2 × 20 inch strip in blue

    Becky Smith

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