Pattern Description:
This Easy Herringbone Quilt Pattern uses 2 ½-inch jelly roll strips to create a striking zigzag design with a modern twist. Strips are cut at a 60-degree angle, with mirrored cuts to form the herringbone layout.
Alternating white and colored fabrics add contrast. The oversized twin quilt finishes at about 63 ½” x 92″ and is suited for confident beginners to intermediate quilters.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Following these instructions results in an oversized twin quilt that is approximately 63 1/2″ X 92″.
| Material | Requirement/Measurement | |
| Fabric (Precuts) | 1 jelly roll of assorted colors (2 1/2″ strips) | |
| White Fabric | 1 white jelly roll OR 3 yards of white fabric cut into 2 1/2 inch strips | |
| Backing Fabric | 2 yards 108″ quilt backing fabric OR 6 yards 43″ fabric | |
| Binding Fabric | 1 1/4 yards 43″ fabric for binding | |
| Batting | Not specified (material needed) | |
| Thread | Not specified (material needed) | |
| Tools | Rotary cutter / cutting mat / straight edge | |
| Tools | Sewing machine | |
| Tools | Sewing scissors | |
| Tools | Pencil | |
| Tools | Iron and ironing board | |
| Tools | Square ruler with 60 degree markings (highly recommended for cutting angles) |
Instructions for Making the Easy Herringbone Quilt Tutorial Pattern:
Cutting the Fabric
You will need to cut a total of 380 pieces of fabric. Each piece must be 2 1/2 inches wide and 8 inches from point to point.
Half of the pieces must be white, and half must be assorted colors. Within both the white and the assorted fabric groups, half of the pieces must have a mirrored angle.
The required quantities are:
- 95 white pieces
- 95 white pieces with mirrored angle
- 95 assorted pieces
- 95 assorted pieces with mirrored angle
To begin cutting the main angle, layer 5 long strips of fabric on top of one another, placed right side up, in the corner of the cutting mat.
Use the 60-degree marking on the mat to cut off the end of the fabric. To measure the 8-inch length from point to point, line up your ruler so that the 60-degree marking is vertical to the strip, placing that marking on the 7-inch line.
Then, move the ruler up or down so that the edge of the ruler aligns with the 8-inch tick mark at the bottom of the fabric, and make the cut.
Repeat this procedure until 95 pieces of the assorted fabric and 95 pieces of the white fabric are cut in this manner.
Cutting the Mirrored Angle and Layout
The process for cutting the mirrored angle is the same as the main cut, except you must start with the fabric wrong side up.
Repeat the cutting process to yield 95 assorted mirrored pieces and 95 white mirrored pieces.
Once all the pieces are cut, lay out the quilt in the herringbone pattern. The white strips should alternate with the colored pieces both vertically and horizontally.
Laying out several rows of white pieces first and then filling in the colored pieces randomly can make the process easier.
Attempt to distribute the fabrics so that too many dark or too many light colors are not grouped together.
The completed layout will consist of 10 columns, with 38 pieces in each column. When the layout is finalized, stack the pieces, starting with the top piece placed on the one below it.
Label each stack from right to left with numbers 1 through 10 using a small piece of paper, pinning the label to the corresponding stack. Criss cross the stacks to keep everything together until you are ready to sew.
Sewing Together the Strips
Begin sewing by selecting the first two fabric pieces from a numbered stack. Flip the bottom fabric piece upward so the right sides are together.
The bottom corners should not line up, but should overlap approximately 1/4 inch on both sides. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew a straight stitch along the bottom edge.
Repeat this process for the remaining strips in the pile, sewing each strip to the bottom of the column.
After the column is sewn together, press the seams on the back.
The seams should be pressed away from the white strips and toward the colored strips. Continue sewing the remaining columns.
Sewing the Columns Together
Once the individual columns are assembled, sew them together. Stack two columns with right sides together, lining up and pinning each seam.
Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the columns together, removing the pins as you proceed. Press the resulting seam flat to either side. Repeat this process until all columns are joined.
Finishing the Quilt
After the quilt top is finished, assemble the layers. Place the backing fabric wrong side down, then place the batting on top.
The backing and batting layers should extend about 4 inches beyond the quilt top on all sides. Place the finished quilt top on top of the batting, and pin evenly throughout the quilt to secure all layers.
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