Sail: an Easy Modern Quilt Pattern for Beginners

The Sail quilt pattern is a modern Half Square Triangle quilt pattern for any skill level quilter! The block-based quilt pattern design features one of the easiest foundational quilt blocks in 2 different sizes, and the pattern teaches you 2 different Half Square Triangle techniques! If you like easy quilt patterns and a fast, fun quilt finish – this quilt pattern is for you! And, if you’re thinking of making your first quilt, this is a great option!

This easy modern quilt pattern might be considered a skill builder, as it will teach you 2 different main ways to make Half Square Triangle quilt blocks, and it includes helpful diagrams & instructions for every step of making the quilt top! This easy half square triangle quilt pattern PDF is available as a digital download as well as a paper pattern.

Get the Sail Pattern

Find out more about the Sail pattern by watching this video or read more below:

Sail Quilt Sizes

Sail is a modern half square triangle quilt pattern that includes 3 sizes. It’s block based quilt pattern includes Baby, Throw, and Queen sizes and of course since it is block based you can use more or less blocks to make it unique to your needs too! Here are the dimensions of each size in the quilt pattern:

Baby: 40″ x 48″
Throw: 64″ x 80″
Queen: 88″ x 96″

Helpful Quilting Tutorials & Tools:

My goal is that a quilter of any skill level is able to make their own Sail quilt, so I’m here to offer as much help as possible with lots of quilting tutorials too! If you’re brand new to quilting I highly recommend you check out these 12 Steps to Making a Quilt.

The Sail quilt pattern is an easy modern quilt pattern, featuring exclusively Half Square Triangle quilt blocks. You can find tips for making basic 2 at a time HSTs on this tutorial or for making Magic 8 HSTs on this tutorial.

The Sail Quilt Pattern also includes some Quilting Tutorial Videos

I love making my modern quilt patterns easy to follow, so the Sail pattern includes links to the tutorial videos, written instruction, and of course, lots of diagrams too! One of the greatest compliments I get from customers is that my quilt patterns provide clear instruction and that they are easy to follow.

Additionally, the patterns include links to where you can find more extensive tutorials with videos too!

Sewing Tools for the Sail Quilt Pattern

Since the Sail Quilt Pattern is a great modern quilt pattern for beginners, you really don’t need much more than the basic essential quilting supplies.

Personally, I always use Best Press on my fabric prior to cutting. The starch keeps the fabric from stretching when you are sewing your quilt piecing stitches on the bias – which is essential for making Half Square Triangles! Speaking of Half Square Triangles, I really like using heat erasing pens when I draw the diagonal lines.

For trimming your Half Square Triangles, I recommend getting a special ruler, but it’s not entirely necessary. Maybe consider this large Bloc Loc HST trimming ruler so you can trim a wide variety of sizes of Half Square Triangles. One of my favorite ways to trim HSTs is to trim before pressing, which you can do with these Slotted Trimmers.

Alternatively, you could use an AccuQuilt Cutting Machine and skip the need for trimming altogether! The Sail quilt pattern includes AccuQuilt instructions and you can find out more about it below.

Using AccuQuilt for the Sail Quilt Pattern

I personally LOVE using my AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine whenever possible, and since this quilt is exclusively HST quilt blocks, an AccuQuilt is perfect for this quilt! The pattern includes alternate instructions and fabric requirements if you are using an AccuQuilt fabric cutting machine to make your Sail quilt.

To learn more about my favorite way to cut quilting fabric, check out Everything You Need to Know About AccuQuilt fabric cutting machines and also check out the Best AccuQuilt Dies.

Fabric Requirements for the Sail Quilt Pattern

When it comes to fabric for quilting, I personally recommend quilting cotton. One thing you might want to keep in mind is that I do include a little bit of wiggle room in my fabric requirement calculations, and if you want to try using alternate fabric options just look at the cutting instructions once you get the pattern. One of my testers actually made hers with a Layer Cake instead of yardage! Also, if you are using an AccuQuilt you can use Fat Quarters instead of 1/3 yds cuts, due to how the fabrics are cut.

Grab a Sail Quilt Kit

I have a couple quilt shops putting together fabric bundles to make your own Sail quilt! First, my friends at Rosie Girl quilting are offering the fabrics you need to make a quilt just like the one on the cover of the pattern.

Victoria from @midlife_quilter also put together a bundle of her picks for this quilt, which you can find here.

Additionally, Fabric and Reason put together this gorgeous bundle too! You can grab it here.

Finally, MDQ (Mother Daughter Quilting) has this awesome bundle of 10 – 1/3yd cuts from the Warp and Weft fabric collection, which is PERFECT for making the throw size sail quilt! You can grab it here while supplies last.

warp and weft fabric bundle for sail quilt

Get inspired to make your own Sail Quilt

I’ve personally made a few different variations of the Sail quilt. It’s such a fast & easy quilt pattern that I really enjoy! I’ve written all about them in these articles:

Modern Solids Throw Size Sail Quilt (on the pattern cover!)
Half Square Triangle Baby Boy Quilt
Easy AccuQuilt Baby Girl Quilt

Quilt Pattern Tester’s Sail Quilts

The Sail quilt pattern would not be as clear & easy to follow without the help of some really great quilt pattern testers! These people work through all the pattern quilt math and give me tips for making the instructions more clear. Take a look at their beautiful Sail quilts!

Stephanie from @octoberinthewild put together this super fun baby quilt! She used a nice denim chambray cotton fabric as the background that brings these print fabrics all together.

Charlene @sweetgardeniaquiltco picked out a beautiful green fabric to use for the background and used a stack of 10″ squares from a layer cake for the Triangles! What a brilliant way to use some pre-cut fabrics!

Victoria @midlife_quilter is a new tester to my team and she did an amazing job with this cute & girly baby quilt! You can grab a bundle to make your own here. I love the use of greens and pinks and florals and low volume all in one gorgeous quilt!