Aren’t these blocks cute? They’re 8″ Sawtooth Star blocks framed with long skinny navy triangles that make the blocks twist and turn. The star blocks date back to 2021 when I bought prints from the “Gingham Foundry” line by Riley Blake — the very prints you have seen most recently in my third version of the Ribbon Box quilt pattern:
I never got beyond the first few star blocks in 2021, probably because I didn’t have a project in mind and wasn’t sufficiently thrilled with the Sawtooth Star blocks to continue making them. But there they were in my project box nestled in with the Gingham Foundry fabrics.
Then it occurred to me that I could put those orphan blocks on the back of my quilt. The idea to make them twist and turn came about through a bit of serendipity. One of my quilt students is making a t-shirt quilt and had seen a photo of one made with blocks that twisted right and left. I knew about the technique because I had taken a class almost 20 years ago — and still had the book:
Published in 1996 by Chitra Publications, Twist ‘n Turn is now out of print but I have seen a few copies for sale on the Internet (eBay, Etsy, Amazon). I finished a quilt in 2006 using this technique but now I was having trouble wrapping my head around the directions. How could I help my student if I couldn’t figure this out? The solution was to make some test blocks at home. I’m so glad I did. Not only is the process clear to me now, I wound up with blocks that I could use on the back of my quilt. Win-win!
Here’s my completed quilt backing:
It seems to me those stars are dancing their way across the quilt back.
By the way, are you wondering about the title of this post? One of the fabrics in the Gingham Foundry line — and in my quilt top — is a text print featuring the lyrics to the song “Wonderful World:”
Isn’t that the perfect name for my quilt?
Serendipity certainly does seem to alight upon you frequently in your quilting odyssey and it must be very satisfying! The turning and twisting blocks look very much like they are dancing to Louis Armstrong singing. I love it!
Fantastic front and back! Glad you made some practice blocks to help out your student. Such a stellar example of the dedicated teacher!
That’s a fantastic use of the quilt blocks! I couldn’t tell from my computer what color the triangles were around the block, but I’m so glad they are navy. It’s not as stark as black would be, and of course it complements the gold in the blocks perfectly. Beautiful quilt all around, Dawn.
I have loved Sawtooth Star from the moment I first met it in a Marsha McCloskey quilt in the early 80’s, when I was still just hand-piecing! I just love the versatility of that block, and have done several quilts which STAR the Sawtooth Star! : ) Love your dancing stars on the back. I took Sharyn Craig’s class on “Twist and Turn” in the late 1990’s and have used it for several projects. I had 42 friendship blocks that ranged in size rather dramatically, and her technique allowed me to put all those friends in a quilt together! Helpful technique, for sure!
Fiber Hugs, Suzette