Monday, March 31, 2014

Rainbow Scrap Sampler - Saw Tooth Star

I couldn't remember the name of this block for the life of me.  The entire time I was working on it I called it a goose star because it has flying geese.  Then while cruising some blogs, I found someone else making it -- Sawtooth Star, that was it.
The companion angle ruler goes nicely with the easy angle ruler and will make the middle part of the goose unit.  Using two inch strips of background fabric, cut 4 goose middles.  While you have the light purple strip out, also cut 4 squares of fabric for the corners of the block.
Here is the ever hand Easy Angle ruler which makes the wings of the goose.  Also from 2 inch strips use this ruler to cut 2 pairs of triangles.

If you are not a ruler person, you can also cut rectangles 3.5 by 2 inches for the goose and use 2 inch squares for the wings.  Draw a diagonal line on the square and use a "sew and flip" triangle to make your wing.  There is a nice tutorial here that goes through some of the MANY options for making flying geese.  The key is that your goose should be 2 inches by 2.5 inches unfinished.


In addition to the triangles for the goose blocks, you will also need four 2 two inch squares of background fabric and one (huge) 3.5 inch square of the darker fabric.  If you don't have a 3.5 inch square, you may also piece the center from four two inch squares of fabric.
Match the wings to one side of the middle pieces matching up the pointy ends.  Sew on all four right wings.
After sewing on the right side, finger press and line up the left side the same way.  Sew on all four left wings.
Press your geese units and remove the dog ears.
I like to assemble the rows individually on this block rather than webbing it as I would a regular nine patch.  See the little seam where the scissors are pointing?  If you can get your seam to line up here, you will get nice sharp points.
Sew one goose unit onto each side of the center square.  Make sure the wings are lined up with the wide base toward the dark center of the block.
While you are at the machine, also sew one light colored background square onto each end of the other two geese units.
Press the center portion toward the middle and the top and bottom sections away from the center.  This will allow the points of the geese to lie flat.
Sew the three rows together and press nicely.  Check your finished block to make sure it is 6.5 inches unfinished.  Add to your ever growing block collection and enjoy!

5 comments:

Teresa in Music City said...

LOVE that happy bright fabric in your star Angela! I use the Easy ruler and Companion ruler a lot!

Nell's Quilts said...

Love the saw tooth star block. Happy to making one for the RSC.

Lisa said...

Love love love purple

Kathy S. said...

Does this mean that the color for April is PURPLE???

sophie said...

I have always called this block Sawtooth Star, but when I did the research (for the year of traditional blocks on Blocklotto.com a few years ago), I found it was first published as Star and Points. Who knew?