How to Sew the Classic Sawtooth Patchwork Quilt Block

I did switch the dark and light placement in the block to make it my own as well as introducing a third color.

 

Using the two Light/Tan 5" squares and the two Dark/Green 5" squares, sew together four Half Square Triangle units like the ones in the picture below. Trim/square up the units to 4.5". You can find my tutorial for making basic Half Square Triangles at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block

 

Using a Light/Tan 4.5" square, two Dark/Rust 2.5" squares, and two Dark/Green 2.5" squares "snowball" the corners of the Light/Tan 4.5" square. I like to work on two opposite corners at a time. Click Square in a Square for a detailed tutorial on making this unit.

Here are the first steps:

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the 2.5" squares. 
• Sew a Dark/Rust square and a Dark/Green square to the Light/Tan square along the marked line (top left image). Note the orientation of the marked line.
• Match the corners of the 2.5" squares and press (top right image).
• Open up the 2.5" squares and trim the seam allowances (bottom left image).
• Refold (bottom right image).

Repeat Step 2 on the remaining two corners of the Light/Tan square.

 

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for a total of four two-color Square in a Square units as shown in the picture below.

 

 

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 only using four Dark/Rust 2.5" squares. You only need one unit with this coloring.

 

Lay out the Half Square Triangle units, and the Square in a Square units as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together like a basic Nine Patch block. 

 

Sew the units into three rows.

Press the seam allowances away from the Step 4 Square in a Square units as shown in the picture below.

Step 9:

Sew the three rows together to complete the block.

Step 10:

Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown in the picture below. That went together fast!

Layout Ideas:

This is the basic 4 x 4 layout. It makes interesting diamond and hourglass shapes where the blocks come together.

This is the same layout but with dark sashing and cornerstones added.

For this layout I used a simple chain block as an alternating block.

For this alternating layout I used a large Hourglass block. The coloring of the Sawtooth Patchwork block is the traditional two-color and a background block.

This on-point layout uses a modified traditional coloring with dark sashing and cornerstones, and background fabric is used in the setting triangles.

Also an on-point layout. This layout has a simple chain block as an alternating block that extends into the setting triangles.

And this on-point layout uses the dark fabric for the setting triangles.

Conclusion:

This was a quick and fun block to sew! I made it my own by adding the rust color so that the star design would "pop" and by switching the dark and light colors.