the zig zag is easy.. sew strips... cut 2 inch.. 2 1/2.. what ever you need.. the drop one down 1/2 of block to sew.. for each strip.. plan ahead for the heighth and as you drop the strips down you unsew the bottom blocks and add to the top.You drop down for a few strips.. then start back up.. I like to have the point even so at the top position and the bottom, you have two strips the same