Chain piecing

Chain piecing means feeding pairs of patches through the machine one after another without cutting the thread between them. It's faster and saves thread.

Pinny's tip
Keep the pieces in the right order if your pattern or design isn't interchangeable.

What you'll need

• Pinned or paired patches: ready to sew.
• Quarter-inch foot: for accuracy.
• Small scissors or snips: to cut the chain.

Step by step

1. Sew the first pair, but don't lift the foot or cut the thread at the end.
2. Sew a couple of stitches off the end, then feed the next pair straight in.
3. Continue until all pairs are sewn in one long chain.
4. Snip the threads between pairs.
5. Press, then chain the next stage.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up the order. Stack by row.
• Gaps too long. Wastes thread.
• Not pressing before the next step. Seams won’t nest.

Watch it done

• How to Chain Piece Quilt Rows by Suzy Quilts on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.
• How to Chain Piece - Time Saving Quilting Technique - Fat Quarter Shop by Fat Quarter Shop on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.
• How To Chain Piece A Quilt by ISeeStarsQuilting on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Dorset Patchworks: Chain piecing: what it is and how to do it
2. YouTube: How to Chain Piece Quilt Rows (Suzy Quilts)
3. YouTube: How to Chain Piece - Time Saving Quilting Technique - Fat Quarter Shop (Fat Quarter Shop)
4. YouTube: How To Chain Piece A Quilt (ISeeStarsQuilting)