Starry Irish Chain

Inspired by "Garden Paths" from designer Marianne Elizabeth of Classically Home.

Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke

• 1/3 yard pink print (star blocks)
• 1/3 yard yellow print (star blocks)
• 7/8 yard multicolor paisley print (star blocks, middle border)
• 1/8 yard brown spiral print (star block centers)
• 7/8 yard mottled brown (star and Irish Chain blocks backgrounds)
• 1/3 yard aqua print (Irish Chain blocks, inner border)
• 1-1/2 yards brown flower print (outer border, binding)
• 3-1/4 yards backing fabric
• 57" square batting

Finished quilt: 50-1/2" square

Finished blocks: 10" square

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics.

Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order. Click on "Download this Project" for patterns.

From pink print, cut:

• 1--1-3/4x30" strip
• 2--1-3/4x15" strips
• 20 each of patterns A and A reversed

From yellow print, cut:

• 40 of Pattern B

From multicolor paisley print, cut:

• 2--4x39-1/2" middle border strips
• 2--4x32-1/2" middle border strips
• 40--2-1/2" squares

From brown spiral print, cut:

• 5--2-1/2" squares

From mottled brown, cut:

• 1--3x15" strip
• 2--1-3/4x30" strips
• 16--3x5-1/2" rectangles
• 8--1-3/4x3" rectangles
• 20 each of patterns C and C reversed

From aqua print, cut:

• 2--1-1/2x32-1/2" inner border strips
• 2--1-1/2x30-1/2" inner border strips
• 1--1-3/4x30" strip
• 2--1-3/4x15" strips

From brown flower print, cut:

• 5--6x42" strips for outer border
• 6--2-1/2x42" binding strips

1. Aligning marked matching points, sew pink print A and A reversed triangles to a yellow print B triangle to make a star point unit (Diagram 1). Press seams toward pink print pieces. The unit should be 2-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 20 star point units total.

2. Referring to Diagram 2, sew together four multicolor paisley print 2-1/2" squares, four star point units, and one brown spiral print 2-1/2" square in three rows. Press seams away from star point units. Join rows to make a star block center. Press seams toward outer rows. The star block center should be 6-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make five star block centers total.

3. Aligning marked matching points, sew mottled brown C and C reversed pieces to a yellow print B triangle to make a side unit (Diagram 3). Press seams toward mottled brown pieces. The side unit should be 6-1/2x2-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make 20 side units total.

4. Referring to Diagram 4, sew together four multicolor paisley print 2-1/2" squares, four side units, and a star block center in three rows. Press seams toward side units. Join rows to make a star block. Press seams toward outer rows. The block should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make five star blocks total.

1. Referring to Diagram 5, join an aqua print 1-3/4x30" strip and a mottled brown 1-3/4x30" strip to make strip set A. Press seam toward mottled brown. Cut strip set into 16-1-3/4"-wide A segments.

2. Sew together two A segments to make an aqua-and-brown Four-Patch unit (Diagram 6). Press seam in one direction. The Four-Patch unit should be 3" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make eight aqua-and-brown Four-Patch units total.

3. Using pink print strip instead of aqua print, repeat steps 1 and 2 to make eight pink-and-brown Four-Patch units (Diagram 7).

4. Using aqua print 1-3/4x15" strip and pink print 1-3/4x15" strip, repeat Step 1 to make a B strip set, cutting it into eight 13/4"-wide B segments. Using B segments, repeat Step 2 to make four aqua-and-pink Four-Patch units (Diagram 8).

5. Referring to Diagram 9, join an aqua print 1-3/4x15" strip, a mottled brown 3x15" strip, and a pink print 1-3/4x15" strip to make strip set C. Press seams toward mottled brown strip. Cut strip set into eight 13/4"-wide C segments.

6. Referring to Diagram 10, sew mottled brown 1-3/4x3" rectangles to opposite edges of an aqua-and-pink Four-Patch unit. Press seams toward mottled brown. Add a C segment to top and bottom edges of Four-Patch unit to make a chain block center. Press seams toward C segments. The chain block center should be 5-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four chain block centers total.

7. Referring to Diagram 11, sew together two aqua-and-brown Four-Patch units, two pink-and-brown Four-Patch units, four mottled brown 3x5-1/2" rectangles, and one chain block center in three rows. Press seams toward mottled brown rectangles. Join rows to make an Irish Chain block. Press seams toward outer rows. The block should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four Irish Chain blocks total.

1. Lay out star blocks and Irish Chain blocks in three rows, alternating blocks (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Sew together blocks in each row. Press seams toward star blocks.

2. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 30" square including seam allowances.

1. Sew short aqua print inner border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long aqua print inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward border.

2. Sew short multicolor paisley print middle border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Sew long multicolor paisley print middle border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward middle border.

3. Cut and piece brown flower print 6x42" strips to make:

• 2--6x50-1/2" outer border strips
• 2--6x39-1/2" outer border strips

4. Sew short brown flower print outer border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long brown flower print outer border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward outer border.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2. Bind with brown flower print binding strips.