How to Make a Sawtooth Star Quilt Block & Quilt

October 25, 2024 Crafts & Projects, Fabric & Sewing

Featured Fabric: FreeSpirit Fabrics A Spring in Paris by Nathalie Lete

Pattern Design by: Meredith Daniel

Sewn by: Meredith Daniel

The perfect complement to a beautiful collection of fabric is a simple quilt block that allows the fabric to really shine. One of my all-time favorite blocks is the Sawtooth Star, which I am showing you how to make today. I’m going to share one of my favorite tricks for saving time and fabric creating this block, and you’ll find a note for making a full quilt out of these striking blocks if you fancy sewing a quilt like mine.

Skills Learned: sewn quilt block

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: 8.5” x 8.5” (21.59cm x 21.59cm)

Fabric Requirements for one block:
Printed fabric: fat quarter (est. 50cm x 56cm)

I used: Dream - Cream || A Spring in Paris

Solid fabric: fat quarter (est. 50cm x 56cm)

I used: Solids - Black || FreeSpirit Designer Essential Solids

Additional Recommendations:
Cutting tools, acrylic ruler, coordinating thread, pencil

Cutting:
From print fabric: (1) 4 ½” x 4 1/2”, (4) 3” x 3”
From solid fabric: (1) 5 3/8” x 5 3/8”, (4) 2 ½” x 2 1/2”

Instructions:

Begin by making a line from one corner to the other diagonally with a pencil on the wrong side of the 3” squares of printed fabric.

On your solid 5 3/8” square, align the marked printed fabric right side down so that you can use the lines as a stitching guide.

Sew a scant 1/4” from one side of the marked line.

Turn the block around, and sew another line a scant 1/4” away from the other side of the marked line.

Cut along the marked line, open and press the seam toward the printed fabric.

Next, align one of the other 3” printed fabric squares right side down onto the black section that you have just sewn and pressed. Sew a scant 1/4” seam to one side of the marked line.

Repeat on the other side of the line. Repeat with second set of the sewn section and remaining 3” printed fabric squares.

Cut in half along the marked like on both. Open and press seams toward the printed fabric.

You now have four (4) star points that need to be trimmed down to size.

To trim, align your ruler so that the top point (of the solid fabric) is at 2 1/4”, and the top of the ruler extends 1/4” above the point. (See photo below). Using your rotary cutter, trim excess.

Next, rotate the block, and you should be able to align the left and bottom of the ruler to 4 1/2” and 2 1/2” respectively. Trim excess so that you have a perfect 4 1/2 x 2 1/2” block.

Repeat with remaining three (3) star point blocks. You will now have four (4) trimmed star blocks. Note: these sections are also referred to as flying geese in the quilting world. In this block, they act as star points.

It is now time to assemble the star block. Layout your block as pictured below, using your remaining (4) 2 ½” x 2 1/2” solid fabric pieces for the corners and (1) 4 ½” x 4 1/2” print fabric piece for star center.

Placing right sides together, align your top left corner (solid fabric piece) with the top star points, and sew a 1/4” seam. Don’t bother cutting the thread, just keep feeding the next pieces into your machine. This is called chain piecing and is a big time saver, as well as a more efficient use of thread.

Next, place the star center on top of the left middle star points, and sew a 1/4” seam.

Finally, repeat this method with the bottom left corner and bottom star points.

At this point, you should have a section that looks like this:

Placing your fabric right sides together, repeat this to sew the right side of the star onto the already sewn portion. Don’t cut your sections apart.

Before we sew these sections together, we will press the seams so that they nest together nicely in the next step.

Your seams should “nest” together like this when you place your top section right side down onto the middle section which should make pinning unnecessary.