How To Make The Twelve Flying Geese Block For The Underground Railroad Quilt? (Solved)

What are flying geese blocks?

• Flying Geese are one of my favorite quilt blocks. They are so crisp and useful in so many quilt designs. But just like their wonderful and useful cousin–the half square triangle–there is more than one way to make a flying geese block.

How are flying geese blocks calculated?

To make custom-sized flying geese blocks, cut one large square and four small squares. These five squares will yield four flying geese blocks. Check it out: One large square makes four “geese.” Four small squares make eight pieces of “sky.”

How do you make a flying geese template?

Basic Flying Geese – Produces 1 Block

1. On the wrong side of 2 dark 3 ½” squares, draw a guideline from corner to corner.
2. Place 1 dark square right side down on a light 3 ½” x 6 ½” rectangle. Sew along the guideline. Using a rotary cutter and ruler, trim ¼” from the seam.
3. Repeat step 2 with the other 3 ½” dark square.

How do you make flying geese 2 at a time?

Cut between the lines and press. With each of these cat-eared segments, place a small square. Sew a scant ¼” seam on either side of this line. Voila – you have two flying geese!

BLACK HISTORY: QUILTS ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD- NORTHSTAR, FLYING GEESE.

Image courtesy of Canva This quilt design is referred to as the North Star pattern in some circles. This block goes by the name of Sawtooth Star, which is more recognizable to me. I’m sure there are a couple of additional names that come to mind. This was just a reminder to the slaves that they needed to keep their eyes on the North Star as they traveled down the route in order to go where they intended to go in the first place. It would take them to the spot they needed to go, a location farther north where they would be free of restriction.

(It is referred to by a different name in the video.) Image courtesy of Canva The Geese in the Sky Blocks are frequently used as fillers in quilts, in addition to being the primary pattern.

It is also set out in a variety of different ways.

l Others will arrange them in a square with the triangles pointing in opposite directions from one another.

• However, the same website also provides a range of other quilts in a variety of other designs.
• Because geese were migrating south throughout the winter, slaves would want to travel in the opposite direction of the geese.
• The passengers (slaves) and their conductors on the Underground Railroad were able to identify and follow the geese flying north in this manner.
• Browse through the other tutorials on this same page to discover how to use Flying Geese Blocks in other configurations.
• Bowtie and Log Cabin will be the quilts shown next week.
• If I am unable to see her this week, I will make it up to her the following week.

Super Simple Flying Geese Quilt Tutorial

The Flying Geese quilt block is easy to construct, flexible, and takes little time to complete. Flying Geese can be used as a standalone block or as a component of many other well-known quilt blocks, including the Sawtooth Star, which is one of the most well-known. During my study into the history of this block, I discovered that there were very few data to be found. There are a few misconceptions, especially regarding Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, but there isn’t much further to learn about them.

• The practice of naming a quilt block after a simple remark seems to be a typical occurrence.
• Due to the fact that quilt pieces represented everyday items, it’s simple for storytellers and quilt enthusiasts to rush to the conclusion that quilts may have been used to transmit basic messages to runaway slaves during the American Civil War.
• Leaving aside the question of whether it is true or not, it is a fantastic narrative, even if it is only a story.
• It was rated 5.00 out of 5 dollars thirteen dollars and thirteen cents.
• Even then, the majority of the “proof” is hearsay, with no recorded first-hand testimony to back it up.
• Furthermore, several aspects of the “quilt code” are incompatible with the symbolism found in African cultural traditions.

As told in tradition, settlers who were assisting fugitive slaves would leave household things, like as quilts, outside their homes in order to communicate with people in need. Listed below are a few quilt blocks together with their corresponding codes.

Make Your Own Flying Geese

The directions for making the Flying Geese block may be found below the fold. There are two methods to do it. Tip: Once you’ve mastered Flying Geese, have a look at my Sawtooth Star Quilt Pattern to see how you may expand on their adaptability even more!

Basic Flying Geese – Produces 1 Block

The techniques provided here will result in a final block measuring 3″ x 6″. Add 12″ to the desired size of the block before cutting it to determine its measurements for bigger or smaller blocks, respectively. Consider the following example.

1. Draw a guideline from corner to corner on the wrong side of two dark 3 12″ squares
2. Place one dark square right side down on a light 3 12″ x 6 12″ rectangle
3. Repeat with the remaining dark squares. Sew along the guideline to complete the project. Trim the seam allowance to 14″ with a rotary cutter and a ruler. Exit by pressing the button
4. Step 2 should be repeated with the other 3 12″ dark square.

No Waste Flying Geese – Produces 4 Blocks

For the Flying Geese, you’ll need one square that’s the same size as the finishing width you want the unit to be plus 1 14″, and four squares that are the same height as the completed unit you want plus 7/8″. The directions provided here will result in four completed blocks measuring 3″ x 6″. Consider the following example.

Modern Flying Geese Quilts

The quilts shown here are examples of how quilters today are using the Flying Geese block into their designs to create magnificent contemporary quilts. Imagination is the only limitation to what you can do!

Spectrumby Fresh Lemons Quilts

Flying Geese quilt blocks are one of my personal favorites. They are extremely sharp and may be used in a variety of quilt designs. However, much like with their magnificent and handy cousin, the half square triangle, there are other ways to construct a flying geese block, each of which has its own advantages. You never know which strategy will be the most effective for you, therefore I advise you to experiment with them all. (Disclosure: Some of these are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something via them, I receive a little compensation at no additional cost to you.) You may be confident that I only recommend things that I personally know and enjoy.) Five commonly used methods are shown here, and I put them through their paces by building a finished (4′′ x 2′′ finished) and an unfinished (4.5′′ x 2.5′′ unfinished) flying goose unit.

1. Stitch and Flip Method

This is perhaps the most popular method of constructing this unit.

1. Start with a rectangle measuring 4.5′′ x 2.5′′ and two squares measuring 2.5′′ each to create a final unit of 4′′ x 2′′. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner across all of the squares, as illustrated on the wrong side of each square. If you don’t want to deal with all of the marketing, the Clearly Perfect Angles cling is a lifesaver that is well worth the money you spend on it. In the future, you will never have to draw lines like these again
2. Place the square on top of the rectangle, right sides together (RST), as indicated in the illustration above
3. And Make a stitch on the line
4. Make a 1/4-inch seam allowance allowance from your stitched line and trim away the extra corner. Unit should be opened by pressing the unit’s button. The process is repeated on the other side of the rectangle, but this time the square is placed with the diagonal as illustrated. Make a stitch on the line
5. Cut away the extra corner, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance
6. Press open the seam.

Pros:

• Making marks
• Dealing with crooked edges
• If your stitching isn’t excellent, the results might be wrong. Fabric is wasted

2. Stitch and Flip Oversized Block With Trimming

The procedure described above can occasionally produce flying geese units that are less than flawless. Imperfect stitching, bias stretching, and plain ol’ human imperfection can all contribute to the problem. Making your unit a little bit larger and then trimming it down to a perfect flying geese block in the end will help to alleviate this problem. Although it appears to be a lot of labor, this is my favourite approach since it is so satisfying to sew with blocks that are perfectly square! It’s important to remember that this is all about enjoying the journey rather than winning a race.

In addition, certainly, some fabric is wasted, but I believe the return is well worth it.

1. Cut the rectangle 4.74′′ x 2.75′′ and the two squares 2.75′′ each to get a completed unit that measures 4′′ x 2′′. Using a pencil, draw a diagonal line across the back of each square
2. Cut the extra corner off and press it once you’ve sewn on the line. Repeat the process on the other side of the rectangle. Cut to the appropriate size. Using aBlocLoc ruler is my preferred method of accomplishing this, but you may also use a conventional quilting ruler if you want.

Pros:

• Cut the rectangle 4.74′′ x 2.75′′ and the two squares each 2.75′′ to get a completed unit that measures 4′′ x 2′′. The back of the squares should be marked with a diagonal line. Cut the extra corner off and press it once you’ve sewn it on the line. Repeat the process on the other side of the rectangular shape. Cut to the appropriate length and width. Although a BlocLoc ruler is my preferred tool for this, a basic quilting ruler would suffice as well.

3. “No Waste” Flying Geese Method

This approach creates four flying geese units at a time using a single mold.

1. Make a 5.5-inch square and four smaller 3-inch squares
2. As indicated, place the smaller squares on the bigger square, RST, in the opposite corners of the larger square, RST. To mark the corners of the squares, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner across the squares, or avoid the marking entirely by using aClearly Perfect Angles cling
3. Place 1/4 inch seam allowance on either side of the designated line
4. Cut along the marked line. Unit should be opened by pressing the unit’s button. Place a square on the unit, as shown above, then draw a diagonal line from corner to corner through the square
5. Embroider a 1/4-inch seam on either side of the specified line
6. Cut along the line that has been drawn
7. Unit should be opened by pressing the unit’s button. Repeat the process with the last unit, for a total of four flying geese building blocks.

Pros:

• If your stitching isn’t excellent, the results might be wrong. Marking

4. Flying Geese Using Specialty Rulers

It should come as no surprise that there are rulers available on the market to assist you in properly cutting these units with little fabric waste.

TheCompanion Angle and theEZ Angle are the two that I suggest. Due to the fact that the bigger triangle is a quarter square triangle, and the two side pieces are half square triangles, you will want both of them.

1. With the Companion Angleruler, cut the bigger triangle out of the larger triangle. There are several videos on the internet that demonstrate how to accomplish this, but the markings are extremely obvious. Bonnie Hunter has a fantastic video on this subject
2. Check it out. Make smaller triangles with the Easy Angleruler
3. The rulers even help you by trimming the dog-ears off your finished product! Placing the smaller triangle on the left RST on top of the larger triangle with the corners matching, stitching it together
4. Open the device by pressing the button on the right side.

Pros:

• There will be no waste. If you require a large number of blocks made from the same fabric, this method will save you time.

Cons:

• If your stitching isn’t excellent, the results might be wrong. Cost of rulers (but they are quite valuable rulers to have! )
• The cost of rulers

5. Triangles on a Roll

UsingTriangles on a Rollis a method of stitching together the flying geese units that is based on foundation paper. One significant advantage of this method is that if you have a row of flying geese blocks, you can just piece them one after another, and they will already be sewed together in the row. You can learn how to utilize this triangular paper by watching this excellent video on TheQuilter’s Planner.

1. Triangles should be cut as illustrated (measurements and cutting instructions are included on the roll)
2. Place the bigger triangle on the paper, making sure it is aligned with the lines drawn by the guidelines. Place one of the smaller triangles on top of the larger triangle, RST, so that the corners of the paper are aligned. Sew a 1/4-inch seam with a straight stitch
3. Open the paper and repeat the process on the other side, following the recommendations printed on the paper. You may just continue down the page if you require numerous flying geese to be assembled at the same time. The next huge triangle should be positioned as illustrated, so that it is lined up with the line on the paper. Repeat the process for as many flying geese blocks as you require to be stitched together. Once you have finished trimming and removing the paper, your flying geese will already be put together.

Pros:

• Very precise
• Very little waste
• Several components already sewed together
• Very minimal downtime.

Cons:

• The cost of a Triangle on a Roll of Paper
• The time it takes to master the technique.

The fact that everyone’s brain is built differently means that various strategies may work better for you than they do for someone else. The method I use varies from project to project and is described below. Your preferred approach would be greatly appreciated, so please share it with me in the comments section. Save this for later:

Block of the Month Sampler – The Underground Railroad Part Twelve

Quilts are made up of several layers of cloth. Currently, one technique for attaching these layers is still in use. A string or thick thread is sewn through all of the layers and then tied off with knots to complete this technique. Even though one or two knots are usually adequate to hold a quilt, some ancient quilts have had odd knot designs, with some having as many as five knots in them. This was well in excess of what would be required. Is it possible that this was a method of informing runaway slaves of the distance they needed to walk between safe houses or hiding places?

1. Taking all of this into consideration, and then having to factor in the trajectory of travel, we get to this month’s stumbling block.
2. Flying Geese is a design that uses a single group of geese within a single block to indicate which way is up.
3. If you look at a completed quilt top, certain blocks of brighter tones and colors will stick out amid the darker patterns, forming an arrow that will point in the direction of travel.
4. Deborah created an original Birds in the Air quilt, which may have been used as a directional quilt in the past.
5. A single descendent was finally given ownership of the two halves of the quilt, and the bindings of the quilt were opened and the raw edges were sewed back together.
6. The words “Deliver me from the oppression of man” were written beneath the image on the wall.
7. If you are having difficulties drafting a block to the size you desire, send Katy an email with your original block design and the completed size you require, and she will redraft it for you.

Underground Railroad (also known as the Underground Railroad System) It is believed that sampler quilts produced with specific block patterns were used as signals to transmit a message to African-American individuals who were fleeing slavery in the United States by traveling in secret to Canada, which gave rise to the tradition of sampler quilts.

It has been a point of contention among quilt historians and academics in recent years whether quilts were truly used as a widespread mode of communication. You can read more about this in Xenia Cord’s essay, The Underground Railroad.

Decoding Our Logo

Quilt code patterns were utilized on the Underground Railroad, and the Inclusive Journey logo is a contemporary interpretation of this pattern. It was typical for abolitionists to stitch subtle variations into the same old quilt designs in order to transmit instructions and directions to individuals attempting to flee for freedom. Some of these quilts were strung on clotheslines or placed on window sills by people who were devoted to assisting slaves in their escape to the North. The majority of enslaved individuals managed to escape during the spring, and with the help of this unique quilt code, the slaves learnt that they were to take their cues from migratory geese in terms of direction, timing, and conduct.

A single block might be significantly modified (for example, by having all of the top triangles point upward) in order to provide further guidance.

In recognition of the importance of the tale behind this code to us, we commissioned skilled sewer Nancy Rezac to create a special “ally quilt” for our purposes.

Besides creating this extraordinary quilt for us in accordance with our instructions, Nancy also surprised us with four additional quilt codes, one in each corner, and wrote a piece to explain the meaning behind this specific work for us as well as what the additional codes meant on the Underground Railroad.

1. I still am.
2. I’ve used those abilities throughout the years to produce hundreds of garments as well as more than 100 quilts, wall hangings, and home décor items for family and friends, as well as for myself.
3. Although I did not go on to work in the field of textile design, my fascination with textiles has never waned.
4. When I walk into the fabric store, there is always one design that catches my eye.
5. As part of theVirtual Green Bookproject, Crystal informed me that she was seeking a color palette that was “granny green.” I immediately recognized the color she was referring to, and, as is customary, one pattern revealed itself as the ideal beginning point for the quilt!
6. The irony is that this was my first sampler quilt, which I made more than two decades ago, and I still have the book that contains illustrations for each of the Underground Railroad quilt patterns.
7. The designs are as follows: The Underground Railroad/Ladder Jacob’s (also known as the Jacob’s Ladder) The origins of this design, as well as its use prior to the twenty-first century, are up for discussion.

It has been suggested that this block, which has an alternating route of dark and light, may have been used to indicate direction on the Underground Railroad, although there is no substantial, recorded evidence to support this claim.

The fact that this frequently occurs is vital to remember since it is often how entire peoples’ history are erased: one culture asserting that it cannot be verified while oral histories and customs are passed down from generation to generation as gospel.

After all, why would anyone want to document a secret code that had the potential to bring the Underground Railroad to its knees?

It was possible to cause someone to lose their track by using a variety of methods, such as looping back on your own route, zigzagging across a forest, and making random decisions such as abruptly going through a creek.

Making an unusual option, such as jumping into a freezing river, might throw off a slave catcher who is attempting to predict the next step based on reasoning and experience.

Any slaves wishing to flee should begin gathering the tools and resources they will need for the long journey north as soon as this block was revealed.

Additionally, it was equally vital to gain mental resources, such as wilderness survival skills, knowledge of healthy foods that could be foraged along the journey, capacity to read strangers’ intentions, and, yes, brushing up on the Quilt Codes.

A repetitive sequence of heavy anvil hits might also be used by the blacksmith on the plantation to send secret messages around the estate without drawing suspicion.

This might frequently be a whole different set of “lyrics” from the original.

Imagine yourself in this situation.

Following the instructions in this design, one should change into a more formal ensemble, complete with a “satin bowtie.” Occasionally, this was hanging in front of a friendly church, where free Blacks, abolitionists, or preachers would be able to supply clean garments in the current trend and style of the town.

The Virtual Green Book has a lot of promise, and I’m enthused about it.

With heartfelt greetings, Nancy Nancy Rezac resides in Longmont, Colorado, and she is a quilter who does a lot more than that.

The sewing skills of Nancy are unmatched; she can create everything from personalized apparel to wall hangings to placemats to pillow covers to hot pads to pot holders to curtains and even masks. To get in touch with Nancy, you may send her an email at the following address: [email protected]

Follow the Flying Geese

Slave traders in West and Central Africa in the 1700s and early 1800s were on the lookout for the most competent, bright, and healthy individuals that they could locate. Despite the fact that they were separated from their communities and forced to labor in Caribbean and American houses and fields, enslaved Africans maintained their links to African civilization, culture, and religion despite their circumstances. They had brought their abilities. And their will to live as free human beings never faded away from them.

As the economy of the southern United States became increasingly reliant on slavery in the late 1700s and early 1800s, slave-owners strengthened their control over the slave trade in the region.

Slaves would be severely punished if they congregated with one another unless they were being watched over by whites.

Simply speaking amongst themselves necessitated the development of a secret language or code by the slaves.

The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a network of free blacks and sympathetic whites who worked together to aid runaway slaves from their masters’ jurisdiction. A statement made by a man who was closely pursuing a slave escaping from Kentucky, according to some accounts (including those of Wilbur Siebert, an Underground Railroad historian who published a major study of the Underground Railroad in 1893), is said to be the origin of the term “Underground Railroad.” When the escapee abruptly vanished from a riverside, the pursuer surmised that the man had “boarded a subterranean train,” according to the report.

• Between approximately 1830 and 1865, while the Abolitionist movement was gaining power in the United States, the organization was at its peak, particularly after 1850, when Southern political leaders gained the reinstatement of the Fugitive Slave Laws.
• While slaves were unquestionably better knowledgeable about the surrounding region than their masters, they were less knowledgeable about where they were traveling.
• During a voyage that may span four or five months, runaways moved only around ten miles per day, going through wilderness and difficult country.
• Because every escape attempt had to be planned and carried out in complete secrecy, there was little contact inside the network itself.
• In order to escape, not only did slaves throughout the South need to grasp the code, but so did the loosely linked free blacks who were vital in supporting the fugitives.
• Many parts of the secret signaling system used to assist slaves in their escape to freedom have been exposed via research and the transmission of family legends.
• The Underground Railroad Quilt Code is one of the secret communication techniques that has just lately come to light as a result of historical research.
• Tobin and African American art historian and quilter Raymond G.
• Tobin and Dobard were co-authors of the book.
• A significant portion of the language has completely disappeared.

Secret Signals

As far as we can tell, the Quilt Code operated in the following ways: Afro-American slaves blended standard quilt designs and stitching processes with traditional African symbols and motifs to create bed quilts that could be used to communicate messages. It was only for those who had mastered the language, whether via church services, storytelling, or hidden meetings with elders, that the messages themselves had any sense. Slaveholding families and white supervisors had no reason to suspect anything strange about slave women who were producing quilts for white families or for themselves, and they had no reason to be suspicious.

They served as billboards, broadcasting encoded signals to slaves planning to leave as well as to those who were fleeing for their lives.

In most cases, the quilts exhibited a single design made up of multiple squares of the same pattern combined into one larger design.

In the spring, slaves who see the Monkey Wrench quilt hanging in plain sight will know it is time to make ready to go, and they will gather not only the hardware they will need, but also the mental and spiritual skills they will need to prepare themselves.

According to Ozella Williams, the first message in the Quilt Code was “The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on a bear’s paw path to the crossroads.” The second message was “The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on a bear’s paw trail to the crossroads.” A slave who understood the code would recognize this phrase as well as the four symbols included within it, which are the Monkey Wrench, the Wagon Wheel (also known as the Bear’s Paw), and the Crossroads (or the Cross).

• The patchwork square design may be found in each of the four symbols as well.
• The Wagon Wheel is a typical quilt pattern that can be seen in a variety of variations, but always in the form of a wheel.
• The mountain routes were far safer than the roadways that were more often frequented.
• Additionally, animal trails may aid fugitives in their search for water and food along the journey.

They displayed visual messages that were “hidden in plain sight.” Runaways who traveled over the Underground Railroad’s many routes, both enslaved and free blacks in the South and North, were familiar with the Code and placed quilts along the routes to convey local circumstances to runaways who they knew would be traveling during specific seasons.

Fugitive fugitives were instructed to follow the North Star by the well-known five-pointed Star quilt pattern. Even the stitching on the reverse side of a quilt had a secret road map code, which could be used to indicate, for example, the distance between safe homes along the route.

The Underground Railroad Quilt Code Patterns

(This is an adaptation of an account by Ozella McDaniel Williams, which appears in “Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad” by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard.) Doubleday published the book in 1999. First Anchor Books published a softcover edition in 2000.)

Monkey Wrench

Prepare the tools you’ll need for the long journey, including the mental and spiritual tools. Or (as a Ship’s Wheel), the pilot is prepared to begin the transport.

Wagon Wheel

Load the wagon or prepare to board the wagon to begin the escape.

Bear’s Paw

Take a mountain trail, out of view. Follow the path made by bear tracks; they can lead you to water and food.

Crossroads

Refers to Cleveland, Ohio, a destination offering several routes to freedom. It also signifies reaching a point where a person’s life will change, so one must be willing to go on.

Log Cabin

A secret symbol that could be drawn on the ground indicating that a person is safe to talk to. It also advises seeking shelter.

Shoofly

Possibly identifies a friendly guide who is nearby and can help.

Bowtie

Dress in a disguise, or put on a change of clothes.

Flying Geese

Points to a direction to follow, such as where geese would fly during spring migration.

Drunkard’s Path

Create a zig-zag path, do not walk in a straight line, to avoid pursuers in this area.

Star

Follow the North Star. Worked in conjunction with the popular song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” a reference to the Big Dipper constellation.

Week Five – Geese Tracks — Delbrook Quilt Company

Dear Sir or Madam, Please accept our apologies for the few days it has taken to post this block on our website. We were experiencing technical / computer difficulties, and as a result, everything came to a grinding halt yesterday. It’s been an extraordinarily frustrating journey, but here we are. I was wondering how you got on with your New England Block the other week. I’ve seen some very gorgeous blocks created. Don’t be concerned if you haven’t arrived yet or if keeping up with the weekly schedule is a challenge.

1. To make things even easier, you may print off the PDF patterns for each week and save them in a folder so that you have one less thing to worry about when it comes time to put your blocks together.
2. Now, as I previously stated, I adore half square triangles and points, so there are a couple of them this week as well as last.
3. Making these blocks might be a little intimidating for some individuals, as previously said.
4. I’ll lead you through the process of making flying geese in the PDF instructions, and everything will be perfect.
5. Sashing runs across the centre of the 12″ block, but I haven’t included it in the 6″ block because the 6″ block is smaller.

History

Various perspectives exist on the Underground Railroad quilt blocks and the history of how these blocks were utilized as symbols for persons attempting a safe journey from enslavement to freedom. The chart below provides an explanation of each of the blocks that have been reported as being used – flying geese being one of them. There has been a great deal written about the Underground Railroad quilt codes, and you can learn more about them here and here for some of the many perspectives. Personally, I am intrigued to the notion that the blocks aid those who have been enslaved in their efforts to regain their freedom.

Have a wonderful week, and I hope you have fun creating this block!

BBQG Bees

Month-to-Month Blocks | Previous Years The inspiration for this year’s blocks came from Jennifer Chiaverini’s book “The Union Quilter.” Please make your block look as close as possible to the color photographs that are included with each month’s instructions.

Due on February 11th -campfire- 12-1/2″ block

Quilts made in the Amish style are often made up of two or three prominent colors.

An inner border is added to the quilt to give it a finished look; a second border (twice as wide as the first) is added to finish it off.

Due on January 8 -Sheepfold- 12-1/2″ block

In case of questions, please refer them to Linda Winder (Chair), Connie Harrison, Peggy Mobley, or Rowena Reed.

2012 Block of the Month:designs from Charlotte Simpson.

(If you have any queries, please refer them to Charlotte Simpson.)

2011 Block of the Month Designs:

A quilt is made for Seth by his mother, Miriam, in Miriam’s Quilt, to serve as a reminder of his mother, who has died away. In order to produce a sampler quilt, she uses several different quilt squares from various collections. Miriam’s quilt, along with an explanation of four of the quilt squares, is shown below. The Churn Dash is the name given to this particular square. It is a highly popular design in Amish quilts because of its simplicity. It is also referred to as the Shoo-Fly, Monkey Wrench, and Hole in the Barn Door.

1. Hunter’s Star: This block is really a variant on the Hunter’s Star in that the star is vertical and horizontal rather than diagonal, as in the original.
2. Take note of how her corners are exactly aligned.
3. The Wild Goose Chase pattern is another name for this design.
4. Because slaves were not taught to read or write, abolitionists devised a secret technique to communicate with slaves on how to journey north by following the geese, something they could not do otherwise.
5. PINWHEEL: A Pinwheel is the name given to this quilt block.
6. This pattern is one of my favorites since it has a lot of movement and is a lot of fun.

Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks – Best Methods

Sawtooth Star quilt blocks are a traditional quilt block that is easy to make. It is an eight-pointed star that goes by a variety of names, including Evening Star, Variable Star, Morning Star, and North Star, among others. Quilt Blocks with Sawtooth Stars

Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks

Quilt blocks were traditionally named after ordinary items back in the 1800s, and this one is no different. The sharp teeth of a saw are represented by the points of the star. There are suggestions that this was one of the patchwork types that was used as a code for the ‘Underground Railroad,’ which assisted slaves in their escape from the slave-owning southern states to the slavery-free northern states. This artwork was supposedly used to instruct slaves to follow the North Star in order to find safety, which is whence the name “North Star” came to be associated with the star.

A gift of a North Star quilt is a thoughtful way to protect and respect the person who will be receiving it as they journey through life. In spite of the fact that it is a very old and historic quilt block, it is still in widespread usage today due of its simplicity and visually appealing design.

How to Make a Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks

Construction of a Sawtooth Star block may be done in two ways: one is by using Flying Geese units as your star points, and the other is by using half-square triangles as your star points. The center square can be constructed from a single solid square or four smaller pieced squares, depending on your preference. If you utilize a single solid square in the center, you may make it more interesting and distinctive by including a central motif made using fussy cutting. You may design your own pattern, using the blocks of your choice in the sizes you wish, or you might use the table below as a cutting guide for the components you need to cut.

Of course, you are free to select the colors that best fit your preferences.

Flying Geese Method

This diagram illustrates how to assemble your block using the flying geese approach.

• If you are only doing one solid center square, then A will be your rectangles for the flying geese, which will be the background color
• B will be your squares for the stars, which will be chopped into points
• And C will be your central square, assuming you are only doing one solid central square. In most cases, it is the same color as the star points, however this is not always the case
• D is the color of your corner squares and backdrop

Finished Block	4”	6”	8”	10”	12”
A – Cut 4	1 ½ x2½”	2x 3½”	2½ x4½“	3×5½”	3½x6½“
B – Cut 8	1½ x 1½“	2×2”	2½ x 2½”	3×3”	3½x3 ½“
C – Cut1	2½ x 2½”	3½x3½”	4½ x 4½“	5½x5½ “	6½x6½”
D – Cut 4	1½ x 1½”	2×2”	2½x2½“	3×3”	3½x3½“
Unfinished Size	4 ½”	6½”	8½“	10½”	12½”

Schematic diagram for the Sawtooth Star quilt block Schematic diagram for the Sawtooth Star quilt block

Flying Geese Method

This is the way of creating these blocks that is most typically employed. It’s probably because it’s the quickest and most convenient way to manufacture them!

• In order to begin, draw a diagonal line across all of your B squares with your detachable marker. Placing a B on top of an A with their right sides together
• Sew in a diagonal line across the fabric
• Make a slit in the excess fabric along the black line and press it
• Continue on the other side with a second B square, and so on. This will result in one unit of Flying Geese.

Using Flying Geese, create Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks.

• Make three more flying geese units in the same manner. If you want to make this section go faster, you may utilize chain piecing to do so.

Using Flying Geese, create Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks.

• Make a series of rows now. Sew the background D squares on either side of two of your flying geese units, alternating them. Sew with a 14-inch seam allowance. Seams should be pressed outwards. Your flying geese should be looking in opposing directions, one at the top and one at the bottom of your display. Sew the other two flying geese to either side of your centre square C, so that they form a triangle. These seams should be pressed in the opposite direction.

Using Flying Geese, create Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks.

• Sew all three of your rows together, making sure to nest the seams as much as possible. (This was the motivation behind all of the pressing in the opposite direction.) Before you begin sewing, pin your seams together to ensure that they are exactly aligned. Trim and square up your block of wood

Using Flying Geese, create Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks.

Half Square Triangle Method

For those of you who prefer working with half-square triangles, who have half-square triangles remaining from past projects, or who have scraps that you’d like to use up, this approach is a must-know. Cut the following pieces for an 8″ (20.3 cm) final block:

• A – 4 squares 3×3″ (7.6×7.6 cm) – half square triangles – background fabric
• B – 4 squares 3×3″ (7.6×7.6 cm) – half square triangles – background fabric (7.6x 7.6cm) – half square triangles
• – star point fabric
• – star point fabric The C block can be made up of four squares measuring 2×2″ (6.4×6.4cm) or one huge square measuring 412 by 412″. (11.4 x 11.4 cm) This is where the center of your star is located
• D – 4 pieces of background cloth measuring 212 × 212″ (6.4 x 6.4 cm) for your corners

Make the half-square triangles in the following manner:

• Draw diagonal lines across each of the background squares with a disposable marker
• Place the background squares and print squares together so that the correct sides of the squares are facing out. Sew 1″ (6 mm) on either side of the line on either side of the line. Chain piecing is a good technique for this phase since it is quick. Open the door and hit the button
• Trim to the appropriate size once you have squared everything up.

Half Square Triangles are used to create Sawtooth Star quilt blocks.

• Make a series of rows now. Use the 4×4 grid provided at the beginning of this article to ensure that each row is accurately placed. All of the seams should be pressed
• Now stitch the rows together. Before sewing, gently nest your seams and pin them in place. In the event that even one row is out of line, the’star’ illusion will be entirely lost.

Half Square Triangles are used to create Sawtooth Star quilt blocks. If you truly enjoy the notion of a complex block, you may utilize the center of your star block to be an entirely distinct block from the others. Consider the use of a windmill or a bow tie block. It is possible that you will lose some of the’star’ benefits if you do this.

Putting The Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks Together

Sawtooth star blocks can be used to construct a complete quilt, or they can be interspersed with quilt sashing to create a border. You may alternate star blocks with plain blocks to create a pleasing pattern. Different sizes of star and plain blocks can be used; just make sure they will all fit together at the end of your project. It is possible to build a quilt out of a variety of various and varied star blocks; there are many more designs available. Look for examples of historical quilts that have been made with these blocks as inspiration.

As a result, you will get a completely different result.

To make a decision, arrange your alternative blocks on a big flat surface called a design wall and think about it.

Set aside those ideas and experiments for a later day and another experiment. When you’ve settled on your block combination, you may move on to creating a quilt border, a “quilt sandwich,” the actual quilting, and the binding for your finished quilt top.

Sawtooth Star Quilt Blocks – In Conclusion

Choose your preferred technique of construction and create a prototype sawtooth star block for yourself to see how it works. After a while, if you keep to a specific final block size and create yourself a sample of each block every time you come across another example of a quilt block, you will have enough blocks to put together an entire sampler quilt. Make yourself a’star’! Today, give it a go. You will be overjoyed that you have learned how to construct the sawtooth star block, which is one of the most classic quilting pieces around.