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Stars · Confident beginner

Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center quilt block

A Sawtooth Star with a quarter-square triangle hourglass in place of the plain center square.

Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center: main, background and accent. A 4 × 4 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares4 1/4" × 4 1/4"6 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background4 squares2" × 2"–
Accent1 square4 1/4" × 4 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)

8" Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares5 1/4" × 5 1/4"6 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background4 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 square5 1/4" × 5 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)

10" Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares3 3/8" × 3 3/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares6 1/4" × 6 1/4"6 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background4 squares3" × 3"–
Accent1 square6 1/4" × 6 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)

12" Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"8 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares7 1/4" × 7 1/4"6 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background4 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 square7 1/4" × 7 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)

How to make a 12" Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
  3. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  4. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 4 × 4 grid, and each cell finishes at 3". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  5. Join the rows. The block should measure 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center quilt (12" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby3 × 4 (12)42" × 54"5/8 yd1 3/8 yd1/2 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap4 × 5 (20)54" × 66"1 yd2 1/8 yd1/2 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw5 × 6 (30)66" × 78"1 1/2 yd3 1/8 yd3/4 yd1 3/8 yd5 yd
Twin6 × 8 (48)78" × 102"2 3/8 yd5 1/8 yd1 1/8 yd1 3/4 yd9 1/4 yd
Queen8 × 8 (64)102" × 102"3 1/8 yd6 7/8 yd1 5/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd
King9 × 9 (81)114" × 114"4 yd8 1/2 yd2 yd2 1/8 yd10 1/4 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 12" Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side3066" × 78"–
With sashing2060" × 74"Sashing 7/8 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks15 pieced + 15 plain66" × 78"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1857" × 74"Setting triangles 1 1/2 yd

See Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center block need?

Three: main, background and accent. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 12 inch Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center?

4 main squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 2 background squares at 7 1/4" × 7 1/4"; 4 background squares at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 accent square at 7 1/4" × 7 1/4".

How many Sawtooth Star with Hourglass Center blocks for a lap quilt?

20 blocks at 12", set 4 by 5 with a 3" border, make a 54" × 66" quilt.

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