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    Home » Quilts

    Herringbone Baby Quilt Pattern using 8 at a time HST Method

    Updated: Jan 27, 2023 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 16 Comments

    Learn how to make a simple modern baby quilt. This Herringbone baby quilt pattern features a quick-to-piece 8 at a time half square triangle method.

    navy and white herringbone quilt on white wall

    Last year we added a new baby to our extended family! My brother and his wife had a baby girl.  As soon as I found out my sister-in-law was expecting, I started bugging them about baby quilt designs. I mean, of course, I’m making a quilt for that new baby!

    Table of Contents
    • Simple Herringbone Quilt Pattern
    • Baby Quilt Dimensions: 36″ x 54″
    • Quilt Supplies
    • Cutting Directions
    • How to Make 8 Half-Square Triangles at One Time
    • How to Assemble the Quilt Top

    While talking to my brother about what he liked regarding quilting designs and colors, we kept returning to a simple herringbone pattern. I was up for making something more intricate, but my brother and his wife have a simple modern style, and the herringbone pattern seemed like it would blend into their nursery design perfectly.

    navy and white herringbone quilt with pink backing

    We settled on using solid fabrics for the front of the quilt then he asked me if I had any elephant fabric for the back.

    I had to laugh because, YES, I have elephant fabric. My Safari Party fabric line had a print with rows of mama and baby elephants. I was so excited that I could use the print in the quilt.

    Simple Herringbone Quilt Pattern

    navy and white herringbone quilt on chair

    At first, I wasn’t going to write a tutorial for this quilt, show photos, and give some general dimensions. Then I remembered what happened the last time I did that and didn’t want a million emails again asking for specific directions, LOL!

    Before I share the tutorial, know I did not “invent” a herringbone quilt pattern. It’s been around for AGES.  I’m not claiming that I invented it.  I’m just sharing how I made this quilt in case you want to make one yourself.

    For this quilt, you need 54 Half Square Triangles (HST). I’m going to show you how to make 8 Half Square Triangles at a time, saving you LOADS of time while making this baby quilt.

    navy and white herringbone quilt on chair

    Baby Quilt Dimensions: 36″ x 54″

    The Half Square Triangles in this quilt are 6″ x 6″ finished (which means they are 6 ½″ x 6 ½″ before they are sewn into the quilt). You can make the quilt bigger by making more blocks; you’ll have to do a bit of math.

    Quilt Supplies

    Assuming 40″ of useable fabric width

    • For Baby Quilt Top:
    • 1 ¾ Yards of Fabric A (I used Riley Blake solid in Riley Navy)
    • 1 ¾ Yards of Fabric B (I used Riley Blake solid in Riley White)
    • For Quilt Back: 1 ¾ Yards of Fabric (Pink Elephant from Safari Party Fabrics line – out of print)
    • Binding: ⅜ Yard of Fabric
    • Quilt batting at least 40″ x 60″
    • Basic Quilt Supplies
    • Recommended: 6 ½″ x 6 ½″ Bloc-Loc Ruler

    Cutting Directions

    • 7 pieces from Fabric A 13.75×13.75
    • 7 pieces from Fabric B 13.75×13.75

    How to Make 8 Half-Square Triangles at One Time

    Step One Mark the Fabric:

    On all of the lightest pieces of fabric, draw an X diagonally on the wrong side of the fabric.

    Step Two Pin:

    Pin one marked fabric square with one fabric square from a 2nd fabric, right sides facing.

    Step Three Sew:

    Ensure you know where the ¼″ seam mark is on your sewing machine foot. For these steps, it’s important to stitch exactly ¼″ on each side of the line.

    Stitch ¼″ on each side of the line you drew in both directions.

    Step Four Cut:

    You are now ready to cut your square into eight smaller pieces. To do this, you will make four cuts using your rotary cutter and quilt ruler.

    First, cut a line horizontally across your block exactly in the center. Next, make a vertical cut also in the center.

    The last cuts are made diagonally along the line that you drew in step one.

    Step Five Press & Trim:

    You should now have 8 pieces of fabric.  Open up the HST’s and press the seam towards the darker fabric.

    Trim up each sewn HST to 6 ½″ x 6 ½″. I like to use a Bloc-Loc ruler to trim and square up my HST’s.

    How to Assemble the Quilt Top

    There are dozens of ways to stitch half-square triangles together to create patterns in quilts. You can create chevrons, triangles, stars, pinwheels, and so many other patterns. The herringbone pattern created in this quilt is made by arranging the triangles in such a way to create a herringbone pattern.

    Normally I like to stitch my quilts together in rows; for this quilt, I think it’s easier to stitch it together by column.

    Follow the diagram below to arrange the HST’s in the quilt. There are 9 HST’s in each column of the quilt.

    After you’ve sewn 6 columns of HSTs together, you will stitch the columns to each other. Again following the diagram directions.

    Quilt and bind as desired. To quilt my quilt, I just quilted straight lines 1″ apart using my BERNINA and walking foot.

    So many cute baby quilts can be made using just Half Square Triangles. If you like this pattern, you may love this baby quilt pattern with six different layout options.

    navy and white herringbone quilt on chair

    More Free Baby Quilt Patterns:

    Dresden Burst Baby Quilt

    Turnstile Baby Quilt Pattern

    Scrappy Strips Baby Quilt

    More Projects You May Enjoy

    • English Bloom Mug Rug; an EPP Project
    • Color Combination Ideas for your Next Quilt or Sewing Project
    • 15+ Quilted Table Runner Patterns Perfect for Spring
    • First Edition; Book Quilt Block Mug Rug Pattern

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janelle says

      April 30, 2019 at 6:53 pm

      So simple and yet oh so pretty! Thanks for the tutorial! Does this way of making HSTs produce all on the bias, like when you sew around the edges of the squares to make 4 at a time?

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        May 01, 2019 at 10:37 am

        The diagonal edge is on the bias… but not the sides.

        Reply
    2. Kaholly says

      May 05, 2019 at 8:21 pm

      Thanks for this post! I’ve always wanted to make this, and you’ve given me just the nudge I needed!

      Reply
    3. Miranda says

      September 19, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      Will this be horribly off if I measure and hand cut these out without the rulers/cutting mats? I’m a perfectionist and while I’d love to have all that, it’ll be awhile before I’m able to get those so I’m trying to get over the “it has to be perfectly square” unless it actually needs to be perfectly square lol

      Reply
    4. Ruby says

      June 15, 2020 at 11:42 am

      What size do you cut the blocks to get 8 HST that’s are finished 6 inches.

      Reply
    5. Sarah says

      December 28, 2020 at 12:06 pm

      What was the purpose of this post if you’re not giving specifics? I don’t know what to do after the 13.75 cuts and you’re not giving specifics because you don’t want questions? Sheesh

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        December 29, 2020 at 10:41 am

        The specifics are listed. Just keep scrolling down, you stopped reading the blog post too soon.

        Reply
    6. Elizabeth says

      January 07, 2021 at 2:31 pm

      Beautiful and easy to understand. Thank you. I want to try this for a basinet with the scraps I used to make sheets.

      Reply
    7. Meme says

      June 13, 2021 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you for the tutorial. It was simple to follow and my quilt turned out beautiful.

      Reply
    8. Beth A says

      November 22, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      Hi- I’m new to quilting and decided to start so that I could make a blanket for my soon to be niece. I have a gifting etiquette question, should you wash the quilt before gifting? Since this is for a baby I have a strong inclination to wash first to get rid of all the starch and spray basting but on the other hand I love how crisp it looks and worry it won’t look fresh and new if washed (totally superficial reason!). Do you ever attempt to press a quilt after washing or do you embrace this cozier aspect of a quilt and let the crinkles reign supreme?

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        November 23, 2021 at 11:29 am

        It’s totally up to you and there is not really a right answer. I don’t wash mine, unless I feel like it got excessively handled or my machine quilting looks bad and a good wash and dry will make it nice and crinkly! If you do wash it, just included a note “washed and ready for use”. I’d also use a baby-friendly detergent like Dreft.

        Reply
    9. Sara says

      March 04, 2022 at 10:24 pm

      Love it!! I bought my fabric tonight and plan to follow your instructions. Thanks for posting this!!

      Reply
    10. Deborah Sinamark says

      July 22, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      Such a cute and fun pattern to make. Can you tell the width of your binding strip?

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        July 23, 2022 at 6:34 pm

        2 1/2″

        Reply
    11. Elaine Starkey says

      January 26, 2023 at 2:44 am

      Is it me or does the fabric seam off.

      If I’m am to cut 7-13.75” that’s 3 per width of the fabric, so that’s 3 cuts or 41.25” or 1 1/4 yds.

      I haven’t made it just yet, but bought supplies and now I’m kinda messed up and ver bought fabric…arg.

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        January 27, 2023 at 10:46 am

        If you notice, the pattern says “assuming 40″ of useable fabric width”. Not all fabric purchased has 42 useable inches. Some have very large selvage edges. In that case you would only be able to get 2 squares per cut.

        Reply

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    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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