The Ohio Star blocks illustrated are sewn with either pink or orange stars against a white-on-white fabric background—called WOW for short. Select tone-on-tone fabrics for the stars. The color selection was originally used for a quilt block exchange but you can make the quilt blocks with any color combination that you like. Ohio Star is a nine-patch quilt block made with five plain squares and four quarter-square triangle units. It’s a classic block that’s easy to make, but do take care to sew an accurate quarter inch seam allowance when assembling the patchwork units.
Cutting Chart
Quarter square triangle units are quick pieced using the half-square triangle units as ‘parents’. It’s often best to cut the 5 1/4" parent squares listed below just a bit larger and then trim the resulting half square triangle units you produce to their exact unfinished size before turning them into quarter square units. Don’t worry if this is a new technique for you—the instructions on step 2 explain the process.
Pink or orange (or other colors of your choice):One 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square for block centerTwo 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" squares to make quarter-square triangle unitsWhite on white (or any other contrasting background):Four 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" for block cornersTwo 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" squares to make quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Ohio Star Quilt Block
Now that you’ve cut your pieces you are ready to sew and assemble your quilt block. The Ohio Star quilt block should measure 12 1/2" x 12 1/2". If your block is smaller than it should be, or skewed, press again and recheck. If it still isn’t quite right, use my easy squaring-up method before swapping it with others or sewing it to other blocks.
Option for Half Square Triangle Units
Try the easy Magic 8 method to assemble groups of eight identical half-square triangle units to use as parents.
