Over the next month or so I am going to try something a little different for Paper Piecing Monday.  I recently found an old book of quilting patterns at a local thrift store and fell in love with the simplicity but complexity of the blocks.  I was fascinated how many of the blocks used this simple square block …

So each week I am going to present a 12 x 12 inch classic block, and the pattern to make it…. starting with the Sawtooth Block.

To make this block you will need 9 components all of which are 4 1/2 inches square unfinished…

You can find the paper piecing pattern for the simple square block, which will be using over the next couple of weeks here…WQ Simple square block   For the half square triangles you can easily make these traditionally or you can use a paper piecing pattern which you can find here….WQ Half Square triangle

You can also traditionally piece the simple square but I love the accuracy that you get from paper piecing for this.  It also allows you to get your fussy cut center just right .

When you have made all your components, lay the block out and then start piecing it together.

You can remove the paper at this stage, particularly if you have traditionally pieced the half square triangle corners.  To complete my block I sewed the three blocks together in rows and then sewed those rows together.  Easy.

With all the blocks I will be showcasing over the coming weeks, there is so many ways to interpret the pattern.  I will be using Lizzy House’s Catnap fabric range for all my blocks, but the patterns work just as well with solids and scrappy colour play as they do with complete fabric lines.

You get different feeling blocks depending on how you choose to place your colours and fabrics….

there really is so many options and so much you can do with just this block….

This is definitely a pattern that I will be revisiting.  I already have a plan for a whole quilt just out of Sawtooth blocks.

So see you next week for another traditional block given the paper piecing treatment….