Zig Zag Quilt

A few months ago, I challenged my Tech Know Quilter Masters members to design their own Zig Zag Quilt. In this post, I’m excited to share some of their amazing creations — along with the story behind my own Zig Zag design.

I am frequently inspired by antique quilts and used the layout employed in an antique quilt for my Zig Zag Quilt.

Inspiration: Antique Roots with a Modern Twist

Four Patch Quilt from the Quilt Index

I often find inspiration for my quilts in antique designs. For this project, I drew from a historic layout featured in an antique Four Patch quilt by Mabel Alic Davidson. I loved how the layout created a striking zig zag effect and knew I wanted to incorporate that same rhythm and movement into my own design.

Reference:
Davidson, Mabel Alic. 4 Patch. 1876–1900. From Connecticut Quilt Search; New Milford Historical Society Collection. Published in The Quilt Index. View the quilt here. Accessed: 10/29/25.

Zig Zag Quilt Design using EQ8

My Zig Zag Quilt design includes three distinct zig zag elements:

1. Zig Zag Layout
   
2. Zig Zag Block
   
3. Zig Zag Border
   

Let’s take a closer look at each of these design components.

#1 - Zig Zag Layout

Vertical Strip Layout with Alternating Diamonds and Half Drop Diamonds Strips

I began with a Vertical Strip Quilt layout in Electric Quilt 8 (EQ8). The zig zag motion comes from alternating two types of strips: Diamond Strips and Half Drop Diamond Strips.

• Strip #1: Width = 8. It contains six full diamonds, each with a length of 8 (keeping them square). Total length = 48 (6 × 8).
  
• Strip #2: Width = 8. It includes five full diamonds and two half diamonds — one at the start and one at the end.
  
• The remaining strips alternate between Strip 1 and Strip 2, creating that classic zig zag rhythm across the quilt.
  

#2 - Zig Zag Block

Zig Zag from BlockBase+

For my featured block, I turned to BlockBase+, selecting Block 1339b, which goes by two published names — Virginia Reel (Workbasket) and Zig Zag (Comfort).
If you don’t have BlockBase+, you can easily draft this block in EasyDraw:

• Set block size to 4 x 4.
  
• Set Snaps Horizontal and Vertical to 4.
  
• Under Snap Settings, enable only Snap to Grid.
  

This simple structure gives you the foundation for a clean and consistent zig zag block.

#3 - Zig Zag Border

For the border, I turned again to the EQ Library and found inspiration in Border Blocks → Triangular → Zig Zag Border Block 2.
However, I wasn’t thrilled with the available corner options, so I designed my own corner block to complete the look and maintain a smooth flow of the zig zag lines.

Zig Zag Border Block 2 from the EQ Library

Border Corner Block Designed in EasyDraw

Finishing the Quilt

Border Layout for the Zig Zag Quilt

Once all the blocks were placed, I decided to carry the zig zag theme into the first border for a cohesive finish.
​

• Border #1: Used the Points Out style. I adjusted the number of blocks to match both the number of vertical diamond blocks and the number of strips in the quilt center.

• Border #2: Used the Tile Squares style with six horizontal blocks, aligning neatly with Border #1 for a balanced frame.

Watch the video below to see my complete design process step-by-step.

And here’s the finished quilt!

Zig Zag Quilt Design by Kari Schell using EQ8

Zig Zag Quilts by Tech Know Quilter Masters Members

For our recent Zig Zag Quilt Challenge, I invited Tech Know Quilter Masters members to design their own versions. The creativity that emerged was absolutely inspiring!
​
Each quilt interprets the zig zag theme in a unique way — some playful, some elegant, all beautifully original.

Mary Groesbeck I have a block. It zigs. It zags.

Mary Groeseck Zig Zag Quilt

Elly da Silva Block

Elly da Silva Quilt

Renae Frank Butler I recently purchased Barbara Brackman's book. I searched in the index for blocks called ZigZag. I then drafted the block. When I purchased the book I didn't realize that the blocks were bare bones diagrams which is fine. It gave me a challenge to figure out size, snap points etc. Interesting additional "challenge".

Renae Frank Butler Here is my finished quilt. With July 4 coming up I decided to use Red and Blue.

Julie Pedersen Zig Zag Block

Julie Pedersen I looked to google for inspiration for this quilt. I saw a quilt similar to this and decided to use it as my Zig Zag quilt. Here is my 9 patch Zig Zag quilt.

Dianna Carter Masters Challenge Zig Zag Block.

Dianna Carter Master Challenge Zig Zag Quilt

Nancy Dugger Weeks Inspirational Quilt from a pattern by Coleen Grainger's Circle Quilts.

Nancy Dugger Weeks I redrew Colleen's block/quilt. I tried for 2 days to draw this in Polydraw, which I have never mastered, before I switched to Easydraw. Would you believe, in Easydraw it took me about 30 minutes, only because I had to edit some nodes. This is foundation pieced in rings, which EQ does not understand at all. So, if I actually make this, I'll use the patterns in the book. I finally have a little free time, so it will be fun designing the rest of the quilt.

Fran Heisey My block was inspired by a graphic from Shutterstock that I found on Pinterest. I thought it could be easily drafted as 2 blocks - wrong. It kept me busy for quite a while. My experience was similar to Nancy's, but just the reverse; I started in EasyDraw and finally had success in PolyDraw. Once it was drafted, I couldn't resist playing. The daisy quilt uses a simplified version that I drafted to help figure out how to do the final block.

Curryanne Hostetler My Zig zag challenge using blocks from the Geofusion Lessons.

It’s amazing to see how one simple design concept can lead to such a wide variety of artistic expressions. Bravo to all who participated!

​Ready to Design Your Own Zig Zag Quilt?

Whether you’re inspired by antique layouts or modern geometry, Zig Zag designs are a wonderful way to experiment with movement and rhythm in your quilts.

If you’d like to learn how to create layouts like this in Electric Quilt 8, explore my classes or join the Tech Know Quilter community to continue growing your design skills.  Send me a note to learn more.

Share Pictures of Your Zig Zag Quilt in the Learning EQ Facebook Group

​​Happy quilting.

​Kari

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