Free Pattern - Ohio Star Quilt Block
Today we’re going to sew together an Ohio Star block – maybe you’ve heard of it by a different name like Sawtooth Star, Lone Star – it goes by quite a few names! Usually the star points and center block are the darker colored fabrics but in my example I’ve made the background fabric the dark color and the star points the light.
Fabric Requirements for an 8" Ohio Star Quilt Block:
- Pink – 1 – 4.5″ square for the center
- Yellow – 8 – 2.5″ squares for the star points
- Black Print – 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 2.5″ squares
Sewing Directions:
Flying Geese Units:
Step 1:
First you will need to make 4 Flying Geese patches. You can find my instructions for how to sew a perfect, no-squaring-up Flying Geese block here: https://fabric-406.myshopify.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block
Step 2:
Lay out the four Flying Geese units, the four Black Print 2.5" squares, and the Pink 4.5" square as shown in the picture below.
Step 3:
The components of the block are sewn together just like a basic Nine Patch block. Sew the units into 3 rows.
Step 4:
Press the seam allowances away from the Flying Geese patches as shown in the picture below. Pressing the seam allowances in opposite directions means that when you sew the rows/columns together, the seams will nest together nicely and makes for nice intersections that lay flat.
Step 5:
Sew the rows together.
Step 6:
Press seam allowances toward the inside of the block and you’re all done! Trim/square up the block to an 8.5″ square if necessary.
Variations:
Here are 2 other examples of different layouts for the Ohio Star. In the first picture, I’ve replaced the center 4.5″ patch with a Four Patch made of 2.5″ squares. My tutorial for a Four Patch is at https://fabric-406.myshopify.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-four-patch-quilt-block.
In the picture below, I’ve replaced the center patch with a 4.5″ Square in a Square patch and changed out the 4 corner 2.5″ squares with matching blue squares. You can find the Square in a Square tutorial at https://fabric-406.myshopify.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block.
Additionally, you can make the Ohio Star block entirely out of half square triangles (HST) and squares. Just replace the Flying Geese units with two HSTs as shown below in a picture from my blog post about blocks made with HSTs.
Layout Ideas:
Here's the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial.
Same layout as above but with narrow (1") sashing and cornerstones added.
Here's what a scrappy layout could look like.
This is an alternating example using a simple chain block for the alternate block.
This example shows scrappy one-color stars alternating with an Alabama block made in coordinating colors.
This is an on-point example with narrow sashing and cornerstones and coordinating colored setting triangles.
This on-point example uses the Alabama block for an alternating block that extends into the setting triangles. Also, the background fabric has been changed to black. Quite dramatic!
Conclusion:
The Ohio Star (or Sawtooth Star, or Lone Star, ...) is such a beloved staple of the quilting world. Simple in it's construction but it can add so much sparkle to a quilt!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you liked this post and want to see more quilting tutorials like this, simply click here to sign up for my newsletter and also receive a free PDF quilt pattern called Chained Weathervane.
Happy Quilting!
Elaine
P.S. Looking for more easy blocks? Take a look at these beginner-friendly tutorials: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/tutorials_beginning-blocks
P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406