Week Three - Scrappy Sawtooth Star

Hi ladies, how has your week been? We have had a marvellous week in Level 2 and it has been so lovely

Here we are at week 3 for our Sew A Long. I have a wee love of star blocks so this week we are making a Scrappy Sawtooth Star block.

You have options of course - you can make all your star points from the same fabric or use multiple fabrics for a more scrappy look. For my 12” blue block, I have used eight fabrics for the points.

The variations are all in the pattern for you to try.

Click on the link for your pattern for this weeks block.

Don’t forget to use the hashtag #dqc52sewalong if you are putting your blocks on Facebook or Instagram.

Each of these quilt blocks have a history to them and this is one of the things that I love to know about. I thought I would add some history detail for you each week as I find it.

History:

The Sawtooth Star received its name because the right-angle triangles are reminiscent of the teeth on the saws cutting edge. Often block names were based on household items or things observed in pioneer homesteads, and what tool would have been more valuable to the pioneer men than the humble saw? 

In 1884 the pattern was published in the Farm and Fireside magazine and it was called the Sawtooth Star but since then it has also been referred to as the Variable Star, North Star and the Morning Star just to name a few.

There are theories that quilts were used as code for the Underground Railroad during the American Civil War, and a quilt using these blocks would tell slaves to follow the North Star to find safety - hence the block name North Star. I like to think that quilts were used this way because it shows how brave and ingenious women were and that humanity existed in a time of oppression.

For Native Americans the star is a sacred symbol equated with honour. Their sawtooth star quilts (called Morning Star) were a symbolic way to honour and protect the recipient as their travelled through life. 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.

Regardless of the blocks name, the Sawtooth Star is one of the oldest quilt blocks that has stood the test of time. It will continue to be used in our modern quilting world because of its simplicity, its beauty and its colourful history. 

source: threadbearcreations

Images: pinterest

Have a great week, take care.