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How to Make a Sawtooth Star Quilt Block – November Quilt Block of the Month

I hope you’re enjoying the Block of the Month series here on the Polka Dot Chair!  This month I have a tutorial for you to make a Sawtooth Star Quilt Block.  

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

This is block #3 of 12.  It’s also designed to be a skill builder block, teaching you more ways to use the Half Square Triangles that we learned to make last month!  

If you’re playing along be sure to share your finished blocks on social media with the hashtag #PolkaDotChairBlocks (if you have a private IG account, hashtags won’t work for you, so share it to my Facebook instead) , I’m on Instagram as @Polkadotchair or you can also share it right to myFacebook Page (you can post a photo over there)

If you missed it be sure to check out this post offering tips and trick to picking out fabric for a quilt.  You can find an index to all the posts in this quilt block series to date by clicking here.

Quilt Block of the Month series on polkadotchair.com - create a quilt in 12 easy steps!

UPDATE: You can now purchase a PDF with ALL of the block instructions for each month in one place!! Click here to PURCHASE

Holy cow, how can it be the last day of November? Didn’t the kids JUST start school? It seems like the Fall has just flown by and now I’m getting out my Christmas tree.  

Last weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving with our family and were lucky enough to have my oldest daughter home from college.  I think that we “forgot” how to manage ourselves with 3 kids again because we couldn’t find a way to get to anything on time the entire week.   There was also the daily “who has to sit in the middle seat in the car” fight…. oh the joys of family togetherness *wink*.

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

About our Block of the Month Program:

As a reminder, this block of the month series is meant to help you learn to quilt one month at a time. I don’t want it to feel overwhelming at all and hope that it makes you WANT to create a quilt. Each month we add a new block and a few more skills. If you’re an experienced quilter then it’s meant to give you a fun and simple quilt project to do each month.

About the Sawtooth Star Quilt Block:

This months block is a Star block, or more precisely a Sawtooth Star block.  I have it stitched up in 2 different combinations to show you today.

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

I could not resist this jolly Santa Claus print at JoAnn’s last week and decided to make him the center of this months block.

If you’ve been following along then you know that I’m working on 4 variations of the block each month. I’ll share the other two variations with you in December because honestly they are not even cut out yet, because, of well, Thanksgiving.

This block features a large center block that is perfect for fussy cutting. “Fussy Cutting” means to cutting out a specific motif or section of the fabric, it’s a great technique to use with novelty fabrics.

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

How to Make a Sawtooth Star Quilt Block:

Cutting Directions:

4 pieces each 4″ x 4″ of background fabric

2 pieces each 4″ x 4″ of color #1 fabric (I cut each from a different print, but you can use the same print for both)

2 pieces each 4″ x 4″ of color #2 fabric

4 pieces each 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ of background fabric

2 pieces each 2″ x 12 1/2″ of background fabric

2 pieces each 2″ x 15 1/2″ of background fabric

1 piece 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ for center square

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

One: Create the Half Square Triangles

Begin by making 8 HST using the 4″ x 4″ background and colored pieces of fabric. If you need to know how to make a HST (Half Square triangle) refer to last months block.

Trim all HSTs to 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″

Two: Lay out the Pieces and Construct the Block

Arrange the HSTs around the center 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ square.  Pick a color/pattern arrangement that you like. I alternated colors going around the block.

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

Stitch the two HSTs on the sides of the block together. Press. Stitch each to the center block. Press seams towards center.

Stitch one 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ background piece to each side of the HSTs on the top and bottom of the block (refer to above photo). Press seams towards outside edges.

Step Three: Add the Block Borders

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

Stitch the sewn rows to the top and bottom of the block. Press.

Stitch the two 2″ x 12 1/2″ pieces to the two sides of the block. Press.

Stitch the two 2″ x 15 1/2″ pieces to the top and bottom of the block. Press.

Trim finished block to a 15″ square (if all of your measurements/seams were prefect the block will be 15 1/2″ before trimming. Mine is never perfect and the odds are your block is a hair smaller than a 15 1/2″ square, so I’ve added a bit of “wiggle room” for you in the block.)

That’s it!!

Make sure you let me see your blocks!!

A few of the other blocks featured in our Block of the Month Series:

The October Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple pinwheel block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

October Block of Month

The September Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple pinwheel block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

September Block of Month

The November Quilt Block of the Month, a variation of a simple sawtooth star quilt block. Join in the block of the month series and make a quilt one month at a time.

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6 Comments

  1. I LOVE the Santa block! Could you please share what the other fabrics are that you used in it? I want to recreate it exactly and put it on my daughters bed for Christmas!

  2. When will you release December block? Looking forward to it.
    I like the hints and easy-to-follow/understand instructions for a new quilter like me.
    Thank you for taking the time for this.

  3. I’m confused as to how to find the first couple of blocks of this quilt block of the month. The blocks are pretty randomly placed on the blog.

    1. There is one block posted per month. In the article there is a link you can click on to see all of the blocks that have posted so far. There are other sewing/DIY/craft projects posted on this blog during the month so the blocks are mixed in with the other content.

  4. I love the fabric with the little girl and horses. Where can I find this fabric and the others you used for this project?

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