Block Library
Sawtooth Star
A beloved classic star block built from Flying Geese units surrounding a center square. Popular in sampler quilts, patriotic quilts, and traditional patchwork.
Why quilters love the Sawtooth Star
- Strong star shape with high visual impact
- Great focal block for sampler and traditional quilts
- Easy to enlarge by scaling up piece sizes
- Works beautifully with high contrast fabrics
- Natural next step after learning Flying Geese
Construction at a glance
What you'll work with
- Center square
- Flying Geese units for star points
- Corner background squares
- Straight seams only
- No templates required for the beginner stitch-and-flip method
The primary method uses stitch-and-flip Flying Geese, which is easy to learn and requires no templates. Optional methods include No-Waste Flying Geese (four at a time), foundation paper piecing, or templates for precision.
Common finished sizes
- 8"
- 12"
- 16"
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Cutting guide
For an 8" Finished Block (Stitch-and-Flip)
- 1 center square at 4.5" × 4.5"
- 4 corner background squares at 2.5" × 2.5"
- 4 background rectangles at 2.5" × 4.5"
- 8 star-point squares at 2.5" × 2.5"
Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each star-point square before sewing.
Method Note: Stitch-and-flip creates a small amount of fabric waste but is the easiest method to learn. Once you are comfortable with Flying Geese, try the No-Waste method to make four units at once.
How to sew the Sawtooth Star
- 1
Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 8 star-point squares.
- 2
Place one star-point square on one end of a background rectangle, right sides together.
- 3
Sew on the drawn line, trim to a 1/4" seam, and press open.
- 4
Place the second star-point square on the opposite end of the rectangle.
- 5
Sew, trim, and press open to complete one Flying Geese unit.
- 6
Repeat to make all 4 Flying Geese units.
- 7
Arrange pieces in a 3×3 grid: corners at each end, geese pointing inward toward the center square.
- 8
Sew the top row (corner + goose + corner), press seams toward corners.
- 9
Sew the middle row (goose + center + goose), press seams toward center.
- 10
Sew the bottom row (corner + goose + corner), press seams toward corners.
- 11
Join the three rows, nesting seams at intersections.
- 12
Press flat and check that star points are sharp.
Accuracy tips
- Preserve at least 1/4" above each goose point so it will not be cut off when sewing rows
- Double-check all geese orientation before sewing — points must face inward toward center
- Nest row seams carefully at intersections for tight joins
- Use a scant 1/4" seam if points are consistently getting trimmed off
- Press after every seam to keep the block flat and square
Common mistakes
- Star Points Cut Off
- The goose point is too close to the seam line. Leave 1/4" above each point and check seam allowance.
- One Geese Unit Rotated Wrong
- A Flying Geese unit was placed with the point facing outward instead of toward the center. Always lay out all pieces before sewing.
- Block Too Small
- Seam allowances wider than 1/4" shrink each piece. Use a scant 1/4" seam throughout.
- Intersections Do Not Match
- Row seams were not nested or pinned before joining. Press row seams in opposite directions so they lock together.
Fabric ideas
- High contrast star and background for strong graphic impact
- Scrappy star points with a consistent background
- Traditional red, navy, or gold on cream
- Modern solids in bold two-tone combinations
- Seasonal prints for holiday quilts
- Patriotic fabrics for classic Americana designs
Variations
- No-Waste Flying Geese Sawtooth Star
- Foundation paper pieced star points
- Double Sawtooth Star
- Ohio Star (HST variation)
- Friendship Star (simplified)
- Giant Sawtooth Star (whole quilt)
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