Triple Irish Chain Quilt Pattern Designs

The perfect quilt for the Confident Beginner!

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The Triple Irish Chain quilt pattern is based on a four fabric, 7x7 grid, pair of blocks.

Strips subcut into squares and rectangles are all that's needed to create these stunning, yet easy, traditional patchwork designs.

A bold 'X' runs through this block from corner to corner.

And just like the Double Irish Chain and Single Irish Chain quilt patterns an alternate block is needed to complete the triple chain design. The alternate block designs are quite simple, making them relatively quick to piece given the visual complexity of the finished patchwork.

All the Irish Chain quilt patterns shown are drawn in Electric Quilt, a quilt design software that's now available for both PCs and Macs.

I love this product and have used it since it was DOS based (WOW! that's ancient history!)

It's easy to learn and makes auditioning color placement a breeze—which is especially important in a Triple Irish Chain.

Tools to make quilt designing easier...

Click any image for more information, reviews, and pricing.

Electric Quilt 8 for Mac and PC

Quilter's Fabricalc

No Math Quilt Charts & Formulas

Also available from Amazon.

Block Base + Software License quilt pattern by Electric Quilt

Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman

EQ8 Lessons for Beginners Reference Book quilt pattern by Electric Quilt

The Building Blocks

These patchwork designs are shown without borders to make it easy for you to identify the block layout.

No sashing strips or cornerstones are necessary. The blocks are stitched edge to edge to form this quilt pattern.

The number of blocks in the rows and columns is shared underneath each quilt illustration.

Triple Irish Chain Quilt Block

AKA: Three Irish Chains

Grid: 7x7

Block 1

Block 2

Layout the blocks in straight rows and columns.

7x9

And now we organize the blocks in diagonal rows.

The triple chains form in horizontal and vertical lines.

6x8

This is something to consider as you design your own quilt. Do you want to go to the efforts of piecing half and quarter blocks (which means dealing with bias edges) to get this more static design.

IMHO, there's simply not enough movement added to justify the additional work.

What do YOU think?

Triple Irish Chain Checkerboard Quilt Block

AKA: Checkerboard

Grid: 7x7

The background fabric is now used in the 'chains'.

Contrast is key to this variation so that the chain design is apparent after the piecing is complete.

Even with a good contrast, though, the 'X' is not as robust as in the first example.

Block 1

Block 2

Constructed in a horizontal layout...

7x9

Or in a diagonal setting.

Triple Irish Chain Quilt - Checkerboard - diagonal set

5x7

This quilt pattern is a terrific way to use up scraps. Allow extra time for its construction if you are using a variety of different size fabric scraps.

To learn to calculate yardage for this Irish Chain, straight set design, click below for:

Part 1: Step-by-step instructions

Part 2: The math charts and what happens when you change the grid size

Checkerboard Variation

Grid: 7x7

Using the same block, but with a slightly different color placement. The strong 'X' is back and the background fabric is again used for one of the 'chain' fabrics.

Triple Irish Chain Quilt Block - Checkerboard Variation

Block 1

Block 2

The blocks are set in straight rows.

7x9

The blocks are set in diagonal rows.

6x8

Large Triple Irish Chain Quilt Block

AKA: Three Irish Chains

Grid: 11x11

Just like we saw with the Double Irish Chain, the size of the open space can be increased simply by increasing the number of units in the grid, in this case, from a traditional 7x7 grid to an 11x11 grid.

See how much more open space there is between the blocks as compared to the first two designs on this page.

Up until this point, all of the Block 1 examples can be strip pieced to simplify and speed up the piecing process. With this larger block, it'll have to be constructed partially in rounds like Log Cabin or Courthouse Steps quilt block.

Triple Irish Chain Expanded Quilt Block 1

Triple Irish Chain Expanded Quilt Block 2

First is our straight setting.

Triple Irish Chain with an expanded quilt block

7x9

And now in a diagonal layout.

5x6

A final word about the Triple Irish Chain

As you design your own Triple Irish Chain quilt, remember that straight, horizontal settings need odd numbers of rows and columns to create a symmetrical design.

On-point layouts are symmetrical regardless of the number of blocks.

Happy Piecing!