I am finishing up this quilt top that is a single Irish chain with appliqued Sunbonnet Sue/Sam. I did 2" finished squares with 10" blocks for the applique. I added the extra squares in the corners to mimic being on point (Cross in a Square block). Depending on your pattern, you can actually turn them on point from the get-go, or you can use a non-directional print or solid and sew your rows together & just finish with a HST on either end of your row. Here's a link to some sketches of various Single Irish Chain patterns:
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ish-chain.html
And here's a photo of my mostly finished quilt top:
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