Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top
Hello Dear Friends and Readers, and a warm welcome to today’s post. This is a post, I have been working on for a long time. It is a great way to use all kinds of scraps. This quilt top is made from small squares, which, when incorporated together look good, despite their many differences.
Today I am sharing a kind of scrappy Irish chain variation made with postage stamps blocks.
By collecting up all the small pieces of fabric and cutting them to a size that will actually become something beautiful down the track. Cut Up Your Quilting Off-cuts and Obsession with Pre Cuts / Make Your Own
As a project is completed, cutting the leftovers into useable strips or squares means they are ready to use when the need arises!
Today’s quilt has been put together by using two different blocks and alternating them. The challenge with the postage stamp blocks is to try to make them as even as possible, and with the points being as sharp as possible. I have to admit that I began making these blocks a long time ago, My seam allowance in the beginning was really too small. At this stage have decided to accept the fact that my blocks are a little bit uneven. I am putting it down to a learning curve, from which I believe I have progressed in that time. Sometimes finished is better than perfect. I did become waylaid with this project because I ran out of the background fabric hand despite looking around I could not really find a perfect match, so, with those imperfections in mind, I believe it’s better not to dwell on it any longer, and to complete the project. Despite that, it’s still a pretty quilt top, I am sure you will agree, and learning from the journey is good.
I have mentioned it before, but one thing which I believe I have done correctly, is to pre-wash all these fabrics so that when the finished quilt finally is washed, there won’t be too much shrinkage in the fabrics, given they are all so different.
I understand it is a personal choice. To Wash or Not to Wash?….This is the Question
Finished quilt top size 81 ½” x 63 ½”
Requirements for Making the Postage Stamp, Irish Chain Quilt Top
32 of postage stamp blocks 36 Patch Postage Stamp Blocks Tutorial
31 of Around the Garden in Scraps Blocks Around the Garden – In Scraps – Block
This quilt top could be made in any size you like, using the same approach whether it was a cot, single, double queen or king size, depending on how many scraps you would like to use.
Making the Postage Stamp Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt Top
Beginning with a Postage stamp Block, attach an Around the Garden in Scraps Block. Next row, Begin with an Around the Garden In Scraps Block and attach a 36 Patch Postage Stamp Block.
Repeat until this pattern has been repeated for a total of 9 rows. Begin the next row alternating the blocks as before so that the quilt top will be in a 9 x 7 configuration.
I call this scaffolding a quilt top. Please use the same method as making the 36 Patch Postage Stamp Blocks Tutorial.
This makes it very easy to put the quilt top together.
TIP
Use binding clips on the edges of the first row set to keep the blocksin order and prevent twisting.
Thank you for joining me for the is fun use of scraps. If you enjoyed this post, you may also like
And this great scrappy quilt block Arkansas Cross Road Quilt Block Tutorial
Scrappy Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Reimagined
Happy stitching,
Susie
© Susan Stuklis 2026