How to Make an Ohio Star Quilt Block

What makes a block an Ohio star?

An Ohio star sits on a nine-patch grid: three rows of three equal squares. The four corners and the center are plain squares. The four middle squares on each side are quarter-square triangle units, which are squares made of four triangles. Two of the triangles in each unit are star fabric, and they form the eight points of the star.

The sawtooth star looks a lot like it, but its points are flying geese (a wide triangle with a small triangle on each side) on a 4 × 4 grid. The Ohio star uses quarter-square triangles instead, so its points are a little shorter and its center square sits in the middle of an even 3 × 3 grid. For other star blocks, see star quilt patterns.

What size do you cut the squares for an Ohio star?

For a 12" Ohio star, cut the plain squares at 4½" and the quarter-square triangle squares at 5¼". Every plain square is its finished size plus ½". Every quarter-square triangle square is its finished size plus 1¼", because it loses a seam allowance on all four of its cut edges.

These are the same cuts the Patchwork Quilt Builder gives when you stamp its Ohio Star block at each size. Two fabrics are enough: background and star. Many quilters use a third fabric for the center square, as in the chart below.

How do you sew an Ohio star block?

The star points are made first, then the block goes together like a nine patch. The steps below are for a 12" block. Use a ¼" seam allowance throughout.

1. Cut the pieces from the chart: four 4½" background squares, one 4½" center square, and two 5¼" squares each of background and star fabric.
2. Cut each 5¼" square twice on the diagonal, corner to corner both ways. Each square gives four triangles, so you have eight background and eight star triangles.
3. Pair one background triangle with one star triangle, right sides together, and sew along one short side. Make eight pairs and press the seams toward the star fabric.
4. Sew two pairs together along the long edge so the star triangles sit opposite each other. This is an hourglass unit. Nest the center seams so the points meet in the middle. Make four.
5. Trim each hourglass unit to 4½" square, keeping the center point ¼" from where the seam lines will be.
6. Lay out the nine pieces in three rows. Corner squares go in the corners, the center square in the middle, and the hourglass units between them with the star triangles pointing out from the center.
7. Sew each row together, pressing the seams toward the plain squares. Then sew the three rows together, matching the seams.
8. Press the last two seams away from the center row. The block should measure 12½" square.
9. To see the layout and cut list before you cut, open the Quilt Builder, drag the Ohio Star from the block library onto a 4" grid, and check the cut list in step 5.

Is there an easier way to make the star points?

Yes. Cutting triangles first means you sew along their long diagonal edges, which are on the bias (the stretchy direction of the fabric). Bias edges stretch as you sew and the units come out wonky. You can avoid them by sewing first and cutting after.

For a 12" block, take two 5½" squares of background and two of star fabric. Pair each background square with a star square and draw a line from corner to corner. Sew ¼" on both sides of the line, cut on the line, and press. You now have four half-square triangles (squares made of two triangles). Pair two of them, star against background, and draw a line across the seam. Sew ¼" on both sides, cut on the line, and you get two hourglass units. Repeat with the other two. Trim all four to 4½".

The ¼" of extra size gives you room to trim each unit square. It uses slightly more fabric, but your points come out sharper. For more on sew-first triangle methods, see quilt blocks.

Why do Ohio star points get cut off?

Star points get cut off when the hourglass units end up smaller than 4½" or when the center point isn’t centered. Then the seam that joins the unit to its neighbor sews across the tip of the star point.

The usual cause is a seam allowance that is a little too wide. Each hourglass unit has two seams, and a scant extra ⅛" on each one takes ½" off the unit. Sew a test unit and measure it before you make all four. If it comes out small, move your needle or guide a thread’s width to the right.

Trimming fixes most of the rest. Line up the 45° line on your ruler with one of the diagonal seams and place the center point at the 2¼" mark both ways. Trim two sides, turn the unit, and trim the other two.

Pressing matters too. Press the seams in each row toward the plain squares so they nest against the hourglass units. When you join the rows, sew with the hourglass unit on top so you can see the point and sew just through it, not across it.

How do you put Ohio stars in a quilt?

The simplest Ohio star quilt is a grid of blocks with plain squares or sashing between them. Ohio Star in Quilt Explorer sets deep teal stars between plain cream blocks. Ohio Diamonds takes another route. It sets quarter-square triangles edge to edge, so the triangles join into diamonds on point across the whole quilt, framed by a periwinkle border. Ohio Blues is the palette it was drawn in: cream, two blues and a deep teal. For a modern take, Lone Star Corner sets one Ohio star off in a corner of a pale background. For more ways to set blocks, see quilt pattern ideas, and for picking fabrics, see quilt color palettes.

• Ohio Blues#F9F2E0 · #3E94AF · #8B9CDF · #064456Try it on a quilt
• Barn Star#2E2E44 · #EDF0F3 · #E31B3BTry it on a quilt

Frequently Asked Questions

What size squares do you cut for a 12-inch Ohio star?

Cut five 4½" squares (four background corners and one center) and four 5¼" squares (two background and two star). Cut the 5¼" squares twice on the diagonal to make the quarter-square triangle star points.

What’s the difference between an Ohio star and a sawtooth star?

An Ohio star is a 3 × 3 grid with quarter-square triangle star points. A sawtooth star is a 4 × 4 grid with flying geese star points and a center square twice the size of its corners. Both have eight points.

How many Ohio star blocks do you need for a throw quilt?

Twenty 12" blocks, set 4 across and 5 down, make a 48" × 60" top. Patchwork’s Throw size is 50" × 65", so add a border about 1" wide on the sides and 2½" on the top and bottom, or a wider border all around. See the quilt size chart for other sizes.

Why are my star points cut off?

Usually the hourglass units came out smaller than 4½", most often from a seam allowance that is a little wide. Sew a test unit, measure it, and trim each unit with its center point exactly in the middle.

Which way do you press the seams in an Ohio star?

Press the hourglass seams toward the star fabric, and press each row toward the plain squares. The seams then nest when you join the rows. Some quilters press the hourglass seams open to make the centers lie flat.

Can I use 5" charm squares for the star points?

Yes, but the block comes out 11¼" instead of 12". A 5" square makes a quarter-square triangle unit that finishes at 3¾", so cut the plain squares at 4¼" to match.