Block of the Month 1800's Quilt February

February

February’s block is a simple Sawtooth Star.   Because I’ve seen many versions of this block in early 1800 quilts, I chose one quilt from the International Quilt Study Group’s (IQSG) web site to represent the many Sawtooth Star quilts that were made in the early 1800’s.  You can see the photograph of a wonderful quilt made between 1820 and 1840 by Elisabeth C. Jones.  (Have you labeled all of the quilts you have made?  Because Elisabeth did, we know who made this beautiful two-color quilt.)  Go to http://tinyurl.com/7vo46v5

If you would like to see more quilts from the IQSG go to http://www.quiltstudy.org/index.html , which is its web page.  If you scroll down you’ll be able to Search The Collections.  You can search on variety of terms.  I used dates of 1820 t0 1850 along with pieced quilts as the technique.  Enjoy browsing through these pioneering quilts.  I will be using several of the blocks I found in this collection in our quilt.

Cutting:

From background fabric cut 4  - 2 ¾” squares.

From background fabric cut 4 - 5 x 2 ¾” rectangles.

From colored fabric cut 8  - 2 – ¾” squares for the points

From colored fabric cut 1 - 5” square for the center

Sewing:

Draw a diagonal line down the center of the 8 colored 2 ¾” squares. Draw a second line just shy of ½” away from the first line.  Place one of these colored blocks on one side of the 5 x 2 ¾” rectangles as shown.  

Sew on the center marked line. Sew the second line. (Be sure when you place these blocks down that the second line is actually in the area that will be cut off.) Cut off the excess fabrics leaving a ¼” seam. Repeat for the other side making a flying goose unit. Press all to the dark.  Set the extra half square triangles aside. (There are lots of ways to make flying geese – choose your favorites if you’d like to do it a different way.) 

Sew into rows as shown. Top and bottom rows press to the background pieces.  Center row press to the middle piece. Sew the rows together.

The second block is now done.

Trim the leftover half square triangles to 1-1/2”. Stash these in a plastic baggie to be used later in the year.

If you have any questions please leave me a comment or send me an email: brsinstitches @ gmail.com  (just take out the spaces.)