Square in a Square Sawtooth Quilt Block for Beginners

The Square in a Square Sawtooth quilt block is an easy block for a beginning quilter!  This is the tenth block in the Scrappy Stars Quilt Pattern series.  

In about an hour you can make this easy 8 ½” x 8 ½” block!!!   

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Cutting Fabric for the Square in a Square Sawtooth Quilt Block

Refer to the Scrappy Stars Quilt Pattern for total fabric requirements. 

Center:  Red fabric cut 1 – 4 ½” x 4 ½” and 4 – 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares (for contrast make these either lighter or darker than the 4 ½” square) . 

five squares of red fabric rotary cutter plastic ruler on cutting mat

Outer Corners:  Cut 4 – 2 ½” x 2 ½” white squares

Flying Geese:  Cut 1 – 5 ¼” x 5 ¼” white square and 4 – 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞” red squares.

Sew the Square in a Square Sawtooth Quilt Block

Refer to the Easy No Waste Flying Geese Block post on how to sew the four flying geese needed for this block.

four no waste flying geese units in red

Sew the 4 ½” x 4 ¼” Center Block

Draw a diagonal line on the back of each of the 2 ½” squares.

drawing diagonal line on fabric squares

Lay out two squares in opposite corners of the 4 ½” red square so the diagonal lines are perpendicular to the corner of the red square.

two small fabric squares pinned in opposite corners of red fabric square

Pin and sew these squares onto the corners of the large red square, stitching along the drawn line.

Trim the outer edge of each corner ¼” from the seam.

Press seams toward the inside square.

Sew the other 2 ½” squares onto the other two corners of the large red square.  Press toward inside square and trim outside corners ¼” from the seam.

pressing square in a square block open

Trim to 4 ½” x 4 ½” square, if needed.

Finish the Block

Arrange the flying geese blocks around the center of the 4 ½” x 4 ½” center square.  Place the 2 ½” x 2 ½” white squares in each corner.

layout of square in a square sawtooth star block fabric units and squares in red and cream

Sew both white corners onto the top flying geese block and both white corners on the bottom flying geese block.  Press the seams outward toward the corners.

sewing corner square on flying geese unit

Sew each of the flying geese blocks to the sides of the 4 ½” x 4 ½” center square.  Press the seams inward toward the center.

sewing flying geese units on center square

Now there are three rows to sew together!

three rows of square in a square sawtooth star block

Sew the top row onto the top of the center row.  Then sew the bottom row onto the bottom of the center row.

Press seams open.

Trim the block, if necessary, to measure 8 ½” x 8 ½” square.  I like to use the 12 ½” square Omnigrip Plastic Ruler to accomplish this task!

trimming square in a square sawtooth star quilt block with rotary cutter and plastic ruler

Square in a square blocks are so cute!

Watch for the next block in this series to continue making the Scrappy Stars Quilt Pattern.

Happy quilting!!!

~Bonnie

red and cream square in a square sawtooth star quilt block

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