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Sawtooth Star; Postage Stamp Variable Star; Sawtooth Star, Square and Points
CITE THIS QUILT
QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-9141
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
01.0007
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2001:158.7
Object label:
Sawtooth Star
Mrs. Jacob Sauder
Churchtown, Pennsylvania
c1900
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2001:158.7
Essay:
Mrs. Jacob Sauder was described to collector Kitty Clark Cole as an "Old Order Mennonite" who made all of her quilts entirely by hand. It is believed that this piece was made by Mrs. Sauder prior to her marriage. Mrs. Sauder passed the quilt to her only daughter, who in turn, gave it to her daughter.
Star patterns in many variations have long been popular among American quilters. This variation, known as "Sawtooth Star," is also known as "Evening Star" or "Variable Star." The quilt contains 361 hand-pieced stars in blocks that measure 2-3/4" square and are hand quilted with concentric circles. A star design is quilted into the alternate blocks. A unique pieced border design of a yellow "X" repeated on the red background surrounds the star blocks. The small scale of the star blocks, combined with the use of color and fabric placement, creates a dynamic pattern that showcased Mrs. Sauder's highly developed quiltmaking skills.
By Mary Worrall, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.
Quilt's title:
Sawtooth Star
Owner's name for the quilt:
Postage Stamp Variable Star
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Sawtooth Star, Square and Points
Brackman # or other source & #:
2138c
Name of the group that made the quilt:
Mrs. Jacob Sauder
Where the quilt was made, city:
Churchtown
Where the quilt was made, county:
Lancaster
Where the quilt was made, state:
Pennsylvania (PA)
Time period:
1876-1900
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's city:
Churchtown
Quiltmaker's county:
Lancaster
Quiltmaker's state:
Pennsylvania (PA)
Quiltmaker's birth date:
1884
Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:
Old Order Mennonite
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
86 1/2
How long is the quilt?
87
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Gray; Red; Yellow
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
361 pieced, 324 alternating plain blocks
Size of quilt blocks:
2 3/4 x 2 3/4
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
On point or rotated on 45 degrees
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Alternating with plain squares
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
Number of borders:
2
Describe the borders:
outer border, blue, grey print 5" inner border, pieced of yellow X's on a red background that create a chain, 2" wide
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Multiple scrap
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
4
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Front turned to back
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
less than a half inch
How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?
3/8
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cotton
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
9
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
8
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Other
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Cables; Other
Describe the quilting designs used:
The stars are quilted with 2 concentric circles. The alternate blocks are quilted with a star. The first border is quilted in straight lines through the center of the X's. The second border is quited with a cable.
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Mrs. Jacob Sauder made this quilt before she was married. She gave it to her only daughter who passed it to her daughter. The granddaughter sold the quilt. Mrs. Sauder made everything by hand.
Source of the information on this quilt:
KItty Clark Cole, donor and museum employee
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public- Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's name:
Michigan State University Museum
How was this quilt acquired?
Gift
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
Kitty Clark Cole donated this quilt to the Michigan State University Museum.
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
Mrs. Jacob Sauder made this quilt before she was married. She gave it to her only daughter who passed it to her daughter. The granddaughter sold the quilt. Mrs. Sauder made everything by hand.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Michigan State University Museum
Cite this Quilt
Mrs. Jacob Sauder. Sawtooth Star. 1876-1900. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-9141. Accessed: 03/28/24
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Exhibit
Patterns of Inquiry
Michigan State University Museum
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Collection
Kitty Clark Cole Quilt Collection
Worrall, Mary