Free Pattern + Strip Piecing Tutorial

Written by: Abigail Kelly

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How To Strip Piece An Irish Chain Quilt

Strip piecing is a fast and efficient way of piecing a quilt. It won’t work for every quilt, but for patterns like our upcoming Laura's 4-Patch, and the classic Irish Chain (pattern below), strip piecing eliminates hours of cutting and sewing.

Now there are a few downsides to strip piecing. For one thing, if you are making a scrappy quilt, it will never look quite as scrappy or random as it would with traditional piecing if you use strip piecing. Second, there are certain patterns where it simply won't work. For example, the Gertrude's Star quilt pattern has many shapes and intricate details that cannot be achieved with strip piecing.

The Difference Between Strip Piecing and Traditional Piecing

When piecing a quilt, you typically cut out each individual piece needed to form the blocks. You then sew all of these individual pieces together. With strip piecing, you cut the fabric once, let's say into a 3½" strip (cause that's what we've used in the pattern below!) and then sew it onto another 3½" strip. From here, you are then able to cut these now pieced strips into completed units, in a fraction of the time it would have taken you to cut and sew all of the individual pieces of the units together!

To demonstrate, we've written a pattern for an Irish Chain quilt, using the strip piecing method. 

Irish Chain Quilt Pattern

Approximate Finished Size: 51½" x 51½" (130cm x 130cm)


Skill Level: Beginner


Yardage Requirements:

   Fabric A (Pure Solids 467 Night Sea): 1⅛ yards

   Fabric B (Pure Solids 519 Pacific): 1½ yards

   Binding (Pure Solids 503 Eucalyptus): ½ yard

Irish Chain Baby/Lap Quilt Pattern

Cutting Instructions

from Fabric A cut:

(10) 3½" x WOF strips


from Fabric B cut:

(4) 3½" x WOF strips

(4) 9½" x WOF strips; sub-cut onto (13) 9½" x 9½" squares


from Binding fabric cut:

(6) 2½" x WOF strips

Strip Set #1

Sew a Fabric A strip onto either side of a Fabric B strip. Press seams towards Fabric B. Make two of Strip Set #1. Figure 1

Strip Set #2

Sew a Fabric B strip onto either side of a Fabric A strip. Press seams towards Fabric B. Make one of Strip Set #2. Figure 1

Strip-Pieced Irish Chain Quilt Pattern
Figure 1

Cut each strip set into (12) 3½" x 9½" to make (24) of Unit #1 and (12) of Unit #2. Figure 2

Strip-Pieced Irish Chain Quilt Pattern
Figure 2: Cut strip sets to create Unit #1 and Unit #2

Sew a Unit #1 on either side of a Unit #2. Figure 3 Press seams to the middle of the block.

Strip-Pieced Irish Chain Quilt Pattern
Figure 3

Assembling the Quilt Top

Sew 9-Patch squares with Fabric B squares to create rows. Press seam towards Fabric B squares. Sew rows together. Figure 4 Press seams to one side.

Strip-Pieced Irish Chain Quilt Pattern
Figure 4

Sew the short sides of the remaining Fabric A strips end to end. Press seams open. Cut (2) 3½" x 45½" strips and (2) 5½" x 51½" strips. Figure 5

Sew a 45½" strip to each side of the quilt. Press seams to the border. Sew a 51½" strips to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press seams to the border. Figure 5

Strip-Pieced Irish Chain Quilt Pattern
Figure 5

Now you are ready to make your quilt sandwich. Once you've done that, quilt as desired. Attach binding and voila, you're done!

New to borders? You can find a tutorial on how to properly attach borders here on our sister site: Lindley General Store - How To Attach Borders to A Quilt Top

Did you learn anything new from this tutorial? Would you make this quilt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Meaford Pattern Press

About the Author

Hello there, I'm Abigail!

I've been quilting on and off since the age of 8! I have always loved quilts and quilting. I also love teaching about quilting and helping others to get started in this wonderful craft! My non-quilting hobbies include sewing, baking, and hand embroidery. You can find me on IG @abigaildkelly where I share snippets of work and life!

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