Triple Irish Chain quilt block

Triple Irish Chain

December 3, 1933-The Triple Irish Chain was the name of the quilt pattern published today in the Chicago Tribune by Nancy Cabot. It was being introduced "because the single and double chain motif proved so popular."

The Irish Chain quilt designs are still very popular today! Nancy Cabot published her pattern for the Single Irish Chain on July 13, 1933 and the Double Irish Chain on May 31, 1933.

Nancy felt today's design was "perhaps a bit more difficult to piece than its two predecessors, but it is considered more attractive when finished."

"Here's a chance for experts to show their skill!," she wrote of the Triple Irish Chain. This may be one of those quilts that is much easier to make with our modern quilting methods. It can easily be rotary cut and strip pieced as opposed to tracing all the pieces around templates made from a cereal box which then had to be cut with scissors and possibly pieced by hand in times past. There's a FREE pattern from McCall's Quilting here that uses our modern methods and makes the block easy to piece. You could even use a jelly roll and follow directions without having to cut your strips!

There is an interesting Mountain Mist batting wrapper from 1939 here that depicts the three Irish Chain quilts and shows some interesting quilting suggestions. Be sure to look at image #2.

I didn't make this block for my sampler because I don't think it's a good design for a 6" block and the pieces would be very tiny.

Here are some links to some antique Triple Irish Chain quilts-

very unusual scrappy version

two color

three color straight set

with black centers

Tomorrow-Basket of Roses