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CG Giveaway: Pretty Little Mini Quilts

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I’m honoring the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo this week by hosting a giveaway. The prize is this lovely little book Pretty Little Mini Quilts by Ray Hemachandra. Entering is simple. Just leave a comment on this post letting me know if you’ve ever been to a Cinco de Mayo celebration no later than Wednesday May 5th. I’ll announce the winner Friday May 7th.

[tags]CG giveaway, quilting book, Pretty Little Mini Quilts, 2010, Cinco de Mayo[/tags]

Looking for more Cinco De mayo quilt patterns? Check these out.

Comments

  3. I have not gone to one “out” but we usually do something small at home with family and a few friends… a good excuse for having fun with food!

  4. I goggled to find out more about this holiday. Interesting to read about other cultures. No, I have not been to a Cinco de Mayo celebration, but would love to join if there is ever a chance.

  6. I have never been to one. I see them on the news, since the city hosts one, but I am city phobic;) Looks like a lot of fun and community sharing.

    Debbie

  7. I’ve actually been to one in Mexico. The food, drinks, colors, people…it was all so amazing!

  9. I have never been to a Cinco de Mayo celebration, but someday….. Thanks for the chance!

  10. I’ve never been to one – I’m not sure there are many up here in Canada. But it sounds fun!

  11. I’ve never been to one, it’s not celebrated in Canada, but I have seen pictures of the celebrations from different cities, it looks like tons of fun!

  14. Yes, I am a member of a volunteer organization and we celebrate every year by holding a dinner and delicious refreshments for a fundraiser!

  15. Going to a Cinco de Mayo celebration or event has always been apart of my family’s tradition. This year I will be spending it with a group of women artist in Southern California.

  16. When I was growing up the Nuns at school always threw a Cinco de Mayo party. There were a lot of migrant workers who settled in our very Mormon community and the Nuns worked very hard to teach the students at my school to embrace and respect other cultures and traditions.

  18. Its only my third favorite holiday ever (after Saint Patty’s and Halloween, of course)! Every year we go out for Mexican food and margaritas 🙂

  21. No, I live in The Netherlands and we celebrate the end of World War II on the 5th of May

  23. Yes, sort of. One of my friends birthday is on Cinco de Mayo, so we would have a themed birthday party for him.

  25. yes, in honolulu. One of our friends made his mama’s tamale’s from scratch and many other family foods, was wonderful!

  28. no, i dont think so… i live in israel now so we dont have that holiday here
    thanks for the giveaway
    i would love to win

  29. We used to have fun Cinco de Mayo parties in the office with everyone bringing in food and having a big lunch together. Sometimes I miss stuff like that now that I’m a SAHM.

  30. I haven’t been to a “real” one, but I hosted one in the teachers’ lunch room at my kids’ school once. Does that count? (Thanks for the opportunity to win Pretty Little Mini Quilts!)

  31. I’ve never been to one but I heard it’s tons of fun – great food, great parties, lots of bright vibrant colors!

  32. I’ve never been to a Cinco de Mayo party, but I do like an occassional margarita! Thanks for the giveaway – the book looks great!

  33. I have never been to a Cinco de Mayo celebration. I would love to win this book!

  34. I haven’t had a chance to ever go to a Cinco de Mayo celebration, mainly because I have no Mexican friends. All my Spanish speaking friends are from elsewhere, like Spain, Costa Rica and Argentina and they don’t celebrate this holiday.

  35. While I never have been to a celebration, it was 9 years ago on Cinco de Mayo that I was in an awful highway car crash after the car in front of me spun out and came back towards me to crash into us. My son was with me, he was 17 at the time. Our guardian angels were working hard that day as we all escaped with only minor injuries. I say a prayer of thanks every Cinco de Mayo!

  37. I have never been to a big cinco de mayo party but my senior prom fell on May 5th. My prom date later became my husband and we are celebrating 11 years together this month.

  38. Nope, I too have never been to a Cinco de Mayo celebration even though my birthday is May 3rd so I have a good excuse to celebrate

  40. I’ve never been to a celebration that was specifically for Cinco de Mayo, even though I live in Texas. A few years ago we went camping on Cinco de Mayo, which was great fun.

  41. I haven’t been lucky enough to celebrate Cinco de Mayo yet. It sounds like a lot of fun though.

  44. I haven’t been to a Cinco de Mayo celebration. I was, however, asked by a girl at local pizza hangout/bar several (10+) years ago when Cinco de Mayo was. lol. It was late. 😉

Have you read?

10 Modern Zig Zag Quilts That Feel Fresh and Graphic

Zig zag quilts have been around for decades, but modern quilting has completely reinvented them.

Gone are the busy calicos and tightly packed traditional layouts (although we still love those too). Today’s modern zig zag quilts lean into negative space, bold contrast, oversized blocks, and intentional color choices. The result? Clean, graphic quilts that feel more like art than heirloom.

If you’ve been searching for modern zig zag quilt patterns, contemporary chevron quilt ideas, or bold triangle quilt layouts, this guide focuses specifically on quilts that feel current, fresh, and design-forward.

Let’s talk about what makes a zig zag quilt “modern” — and then dive into patterns that truly showcase it.

What Makes a Zig Zag Quilt Feel Modern?

Modern zig zag quilts usually include one or more of these elements:

  • High contrast color palettes
    • Large-scale blocks
    • Negative space
    • Limited fabric prints
    • Minimalist layouts
    • Strong directional flow

Instead of relying on busy fabric to create interest, modern zig zag quilts use structure and contrast to do the heavy lifting.

Now let’s look at patterns that do this beautifully.

Descending Zig Zag Quilt

This pattern shifts the zig zag direction gradually across the quilt, creating a sense of movement that feels almost architectural. It’s not just repetition — it’s progression. Using a tight color palette here really enhances the modern feel.

Best for: Confident beginners and up
Fabric tip: Try a monochrome gradient for a dramatic effect.

 Lightning Zigzags

This version leans bold and graphic, especially when made in high contrast solids. The sharp peaks give it an energetic edge. It’s ideal if you want your quilt to feel like a statement piece.

Best for: Modern home décor
Fabric tip: Black + white or navy + cream works beautifully here.

Jelly Roll Triangle Quilt

Pre-cuts meet modern design. This pattern uses jelly roll strips to streamline cutting while keeping the zig zag lines crisp. The layout feels clean and organized rather than busy.

Best for: Quick finishes
Fabric tip: Choose solids or tone-on-tone prints for a sleeker look.

 Zig Zag Without HSTs

If trimming triangles isn’t your thing, this strip-pieced version creates the chevron illusion using straight seams. The result still feels graphic and modern, especially in minimal color schemes.

Best for: Beginners who love clean lines
Fabric tip: Stick to two strong contrasting colors.

Modern Chevron Tutorial – Lickety Split

This pattern embraces simplicity. Large zig zag rows and generous spacing give the design breathing room. It’s subtle, sleek, and very contemporary.

Best for: Minimalist quilters
Fabric tip: Low-volume background with bold accent color.

Super Easy Zig Zag Quilt

While colorful, this quilt can easily lean modern if you limit the palette and increase contrast. Scale plays a huge role here — bigger blocks feel more current.

Best for: Scrap lovers going modern
Fabric tip: Group scraps by color families to avoid visual chaos.

Herringbone Chevron Baby Quilt

This softer interpretation still feels modern thanks to clean construction and thoughtful color placement. It’s subtle but intentional.

Best for: Nursery décor
Fabric tip: Muted neutrals with one standout accent color.

Zig Zag Rail Fence

Rotating rail fence blocks to create zig zag movement gives you a modern feel without heavy triangle piecing. The structure feels orderly and balanced.

Best for: Fast weekend projects
Fabric tip: Alternate light and dark strips for clear definition.

Make This: Zig Zag Chevron Quilt

This quilt allows fabric to shine while maintaining strong geometry. The negative space makes it feel lighter and less crowded than traditional versions.

Best for: Modern scrap control
Fabric tip: Use solids as anchors between prints.

Modern Fuse Applique Zig Zag Quilt

Adding applique over zig zag piecing introduces texture without overwhelming the layout. It’s a hybrid technique that feels playful but still modern.

Best for: Creative experimentation
Fabric tip: Keep background neutral to let applique stand out.

How to Keep Your Zig Zag Quilt Looking Modern

If you want your zig zag quilt to feel fresh instead of traditional, focus on:

  • Value contrast over print variety
    • Bigger blocks over tiny repeats
    • White or low-volume backgrounds
    • Limited color palettes
    • Clean quilting lines (straight-line quilting works beautifully)

Modern quilting is less about complexity and more about intentional simplicity.

Zig zags are timeless — but with the right fabric and scale, they can feel completely current.