Zigzag quilting
Rows of straight lines that turn every 1½", stacked 1½" apart, so the quilt is covered in chevrons. It suits half-square triangle quilts, where the turns can land on the seams.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch zigzag
- Fit a walking foot and lengthen the stitch to about 3 mm, 8 to 9 stitches an inch. Roll the sides of the quilt so the part under the machine lies flat, and support its weight on the table so it doesn't drag.
- Mark the first row of turning points with chalk. At each point stop with the needle down, lift the foot, turn the quilt and carry on.
- Stitch each next row with the walking foot's edge along the row before.
Home machine, longarm or by hand
| Level | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Home machine | Beginner | Walking foot |
| Longarm | Intermediate | Straight ruler |
| By hand | Better by machine | Too dense or too long a line to stitch by hand |
Thread for zigzag
40 or 50 weight cotton.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 56 yd | 77 yd | 77 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 89 yd | 123 yd | 123 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 130 yd | 179 yd | 179 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 167 yd | 230 yd | 230 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 201 yd | 277 yd | 277 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 241 yd | 332 yd | 332 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at 1½". A lockstitch takes about 1¼" of top thread and 1¼" of bobbin thread for each inch it sews; we add 10% for starts and tails. To check your own machine, sew 12", then measure what came off each spool.
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