This past Christmas, I made eight quilts as gifts for my family, and one of them was a cozy, masculine Zig Zag quilt for my adult son. For his quilt, I chose to use the Farmhouse Flannels 2 collection by Lisa Bongean. The rich blues, greys, blacks, and browns were the perfect combination for a quilt suited for a man, and when set against a soft cream background flannel, the result was a warm and inviting quilt. To complete the cozy feel, I used a 108” black plaid flannel backing from the same collection, ensuring the quilt was as comfortable as it was stylish.
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Fabric Selection & Preparation
To create this quilt, I started with a fat eighth bundle of Farmhouse Flannels 2. Since some of the lighter prints didn’t provide enough contrast against the cream background, I set those aside. For each fat eighth, I cut a matching-sized piece of cream solid flannel.
To make the half square triangle (HST) units quickly and accurately, I used Triangles on a Roll for 3” finished HSTs. Each fat eighth print was paired with a cream background piece, placed right sides together, and then topped with 10 squares of Triangles on a Roll paper. Pinning the layers together ensured stability, making it easy to stitch directly on the dotted lines.
After stitching, I trimmed along the solid lines to create perfectly sized HST units. The resulting count was 680 HSTs, which provided more than enough for my quilt top layout.
Related Post: Making Precise Half Square Triangles
Quilt Layout & Assembly for the Zig Zag Quilt
For the quilt top, I arranged the HST units in a 26 x 26 grid, using 676 of the completed units. The layout followed a zig-zag pattern, with the cream background fabric forming the negative space between the printed flannels. The repetitive nature of this design made the assembly process smooth and efficient.
To streamline the piecing process, I sewed each row of 26 HST units together and pressed the seams in one direction. For the next row, I pressed the seams in the opposite direction, ensuring that the rows nested together neatly when sewn. This technique helped achieve crisp points and a well-aligned pattern.
The Finished Quilt
To finish the quilt, I used the Tread Lightly pantograph by Long Arm League, which added a beautiful texture to the quilt. I chose Glide thread in the color mocha, which blended seamlessly with both the front and back fabrics, enhancing the overall look without overpowering the design.
The finished quilt turned out exactly as I had envisioned—warm, rustic, and perfect for my son’s home. The flannel fabrics made it exceptionally soft, and the plaid backing added an extra touch of coziness. This project was not only simple and fast but also an enjoyable way to showcase the versatility of half square triangles in quilt design.
This Zig Zag quilt is a perfect project for anyone looking to make a quick yet stunning quilt using HSTs. Whether using flannels for extra warmth or cottons for a lighter feel, this pattern is a great way to create a bold, graphic design with minimal effort!
