Sawtooth Star Quilt Block History

Many call this star a sawtooth star today.

Sawtooth star quilt block history.

All details for this block. Regardless of the blocks name the sawtooth star is one of the oldest quilt blocks that has stood the test of time. Align one marked gold floral 2 1 2 square with one end of a cream print 2 1 2 4 1 2 rectangle diagram 1. How to make a perfect sawtooth star quilt block.

How to make a perfect sawtooth star quilt block. The sawtooth star has many names. Pioneer era patchwork was a necessity in a time when new fabric was a scarce commodity. The sawtooth star block is also sometimes known as evening star.

Sometimes the patterns that were shared had a name that was passed on while other quiltmakers gave each of their quilts a brand new name. Trim the seam allowance to 1 4. Whatever you decide to name your block it is certainly one that has stood the test of time. In 1907 the fancywork department of a popular farm magazine hearth and home asked readers throughout the country to contribute pieced block patterns representing their state.

Patterns were no doubt passed from one generation to the next and one woman to the next. It s 2138 in my encyclopedia of pieced quilt patterns with the name sawtooth referenced as from farm fireside magazine in 1884. Assemble an 8 sawtooth star block. Note the placement of the sewing line stitch on the marked line.

Although quilting is known to have existed since ancient times the art of quilting is uniquely associated with american women throughout u s. A star quilt was given to a bride and groom to show honour and respect for the marriage to newborns to guide its young life to young warriors to protect and show admiration and to families of the dead to show respect and sympathy. But i personally prefer to use flying geese units for the points as it eliminates an unnecessary seam between the points reducing extra bulk and leaving larger pieces of fabric design intact. Nebraska state block the history of the state quilt block goes back many years.

Selected blocks appeared in monthly issues of the magazine until the series ended in 1912. In 1935 carrie hall called it variable star. In the tradition of quilt blocks being named after everyday items sawtooth refers to the right angled triangles looking similar to the teeth of a saw. The ladies art company published it as evening star a few years later.

This sawtooth star quilt block can be constructed using half square triangles for the points. Its name can be traced back to a us magazine in the 1880s however the block can be seen in quilts from the mid 19 th century.