Père-Noël zigzag quilt tutorial part one: quilt top

This is the first tutorial in a series of three that makes a Christmas themed lap quilt.

Part one: quilt top assembly

Part two: embroidery embellishments

Part three: improv patchwork back of quilt

Quilt top pattern

The quilt top has a zig zag or chevron pattern with a Christmas theme.

Finished size: 51 in x 53.5 in

Needs for the quilt top

• 81 x 5 inch square charms or two charm packs (typically charm packs contain 42 x 5 in squares)
• White fabric:
  • 162 4 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in rectangles
  • 18 x 6 1/2 in square for the large on point triangles
  • 2 x 3 3/4 squares for the corners small triangles

Important: do not throw away any of the charm squares trimmings. They will be used in the backing of the quilt.

The layout is very basic and is made of 2 rectangles of contrasting fabric stitched together.

Block construction

For each block, trim 1/2 inch off one side of the 5in charm square. You will obtain a 5in x 4.5in rectangle.

Then cut the resulting rectangle in two again so that you have 2 rectangles measuring 2.5 in x 4.5in each.

For each rectangle cut an equal rectangle 2.5in x 4.5in in white.

Stitch both rectangles together. You have one block.

Number of blocks: 162 blocks

Block placement

Place the blocks in a zig zag way as per diagram below.

The quilt is set on point. This tutorial illustrates what set on point is. Basically you sew the quilt in rows in the diagonal with each row starting with a triangle.

In this quilt, after you place all blocks as per diagram above you will end up with 2 corners where you will place 2 large triangles together to make a larger triangle (see first photo – the top corners in the photo are made of 2 large triangles). And you will have two more corners with just one small triangles ( and the bottom corners use the 2 small triangles).

The top is now completed.

In part two we will embellish the top.