Chevron quilt block
Half-square triangles stacked so their diagonals align into continuous arrows running the length of the block.
Also known as Zigzag, Streak of Lightning.
Chevrons and zigzags are among the oldest decorative motifs in textiles, and in patchwork they arrive as the simplest possible arrangement of HSTs: all leaning the same way in a row, then reversed in the next. Modern quilting revived them hard in the 2010s, usually at large scale with high contrast.
Chevron cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 2⅜" × 2⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅛" × 3⅛" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅜" × 3⅜" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 8 | cut once on the diagonal → 16 triangles |
How it goes together
Rows of HSTs, all facing the same direction within a row and mirrored between rows. The alignment across row seams is what makes or breaks it — the arrow must be continuous.
Tips
- Match the diagonal seams where rows meet; a misaligned chevron is obvious from across the room.
- Works best with strong value contrast and few fabrics — the shape is the subject.
- At large scale it makes a fast, graphic quilt from very few pieces.
How much fabric for a Chevron quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Chevron blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 1¼ yd · Dark 1¼ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 2⅞ yd · Dark 2⅞ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 6⅞ yd · Dark 6⅞ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Chevron questions
How do I keep chevrons aligned across rows?
Pin at every diagonal intersection and check that the seams meet a quarter inch from the raw edge, which is where the point will land after the row seam is sewn.