Sawtooth Star Quilt Block History

The sawtooth star block has had many different names throughout history.

Sawtooth star quilt block history.

In 1935 carrie hall called it variable star. Many call this star a sawtooth star today. Patterns were no doubt passed from one generation to the next and one woman to the next. The sawtooth star block is also sometimes known as evening star.

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. 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. The ladies art company published it as evening star a few years later. Trim the seam allowance to 1 4.

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. Pioneer era patchwork was a necessity in a time when new fabric was a scarce commodity. 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.

Whatever you decide to name your block it is certainly one that has stood the test of time. This sawtooth star quilt block can be constructed using half square triangles for the points. 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. Some may call it the 8 pointed star block while others call it the evening star block.

Regardless of the blocks name the sawtooth star is one of the oldest quilt blocks that has stood the test of time. Assemble an 8 sawtooth star block. Selected blocks appeared in monthly issues of the magazine until the series ended in 1912. 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.

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. It s 2138 in my encyclopedia of pieced quilt patterns with the name sawtooth referenced as from farm fireside magazine in 1884. Note the placement of the sewing line stitch on the marked line. Before quilt patterns were commonly published women created patterns on their own or borrowed them from friends.

How to make a perfect sawtooth star quilt block. Nebraska state block the history of the state quilt block goes back many years.