template

The Ohio Star quilt block is our second in our series of 6 to create a quilted wall hanging for our homes.  We, as a group, are going to spend the year quilting together and at the end I hope we will all share our results!

So let’s look into the make-up of the Ohio Star pattern.  Just as the Patience Corner was a four patch block, with each patch being made up of 3 pieces, the Ohio Start is also a block made up of patches.

It is a nine patch, with 5 of the patches being a simple square of fabric and 4 of the patches squares made up of four triangles each.  I noticed that my original Ohio Star used four of the same squares but added an accent in the center.  Of all of the blocks I made in the past, I was happiest with the Ohio Star.  So, I copied my fabric pattern as you can see above.  However, many other options are available. 

All in all, the construction of the Ohio Star is not too difficult, but as you may recall from the Patience Corner, getting all the seams to line up just right does take some careful sewing and pinning!  But first let’s take a look at what materials are required.

Materials List:

• 5 – 4 ½” squares (includes ¼” seam allowance all the way around)
• 16 – 3 7/8” x 3 7/8” triangles (includes ¼” seam allowance)
• Cotton thread for sewing
• Quilter’s Straight Pins (with large heads)
• Sharp fabric scissors
• Template Plastic
• Scissors for plastic
• Ruler to measure plastic
• Pencil

Instructions:

1)  Begin by cutting out the plastic templates for the square and triangle.  Download and print the template I’ve made checking to be sure your square measures 4 ½” on all sides.  Remember, the templates include ¼” seam allowance all the way around the piece.

(click on Project sheet template) 

2) Place the plastic template on the wrong side of your fabric, trace around it with a sharp pencil or white pencil on dark fabrics.  Then, cut out your pieces.

3) Work with your fabrics to determine which block pieces will be in which colors.  You may have to replace pieces with another color even after you have them all cut out.  Save the ones you’ve cut and replaced.  They may work in another quilt block.

4) Once you are sure about your color choices and their locations, it’s time to put the four squares together that are made up of 4 triangles each.  It’s always best to sew the smallest pieces together first and then join them with the larger or longer ones.

5) So start by pinning two of the four neighboring triangles together.

6) Pin the remaining two together.

7) Sew them both together.  Remember to use a ¼” seam allowance.  My presser foot has an indentation on it to signify the ¼” position, and it makes the sewing so much easier.  I have found that marking it with painter’s blue tape can work nicely as well.

8) Hand press the seams in opposite directions, pin the two pieces together and stitch in place.

9) Once the pieces are sewn together, press the seams down towards the darker colored fabric when possible.

10) Now it’s time to connect three squares in a row.  Make sure to pin carefully and don’t forget the ¼” seam allowance.

11) With one row complete, move on to the second row, repeating the steps you took to put the triangles together.  Once you have three rows complete, iron seams that will meet in opposite directions, and then sew the rows together to complete the block.  The last step is to iron the entire block flat.

OK, we’re doing great, two blocks down and 4 to go!  As you can see, mine aren’t perfect….I have speed issues I have to deal with…hahaha! 

The next block is called Card Trick.  It too is a nine patch, but a little bit more complicated.  As you can see it uses four different fabrics and gives the impression of overlapping squares.  It’s nice to use some dark and some light fabrics together and if you squint your eyes at them you can see which are which.

So, get your Ohio Star complete and I’ll look forward to working on the next block with you all in February!!

Shari

For more quilt information and for quilt patterns visit our friends at Free Quilt Patterns @ http://www.freequiltpatterns.info  or  http://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com

 

Comments (2)

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written by Marie, August 09, 2009

Is the size listed for the small triangles correct?
I tried using this, and they seemed too small.
I think in the video you said they were 4 inches; seems like that size will work.

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written by Shari, August 11, 2009

Hi Marie,

Thank you for catching this mistake. I'm not sure what I did wrong but I've remeasured everything and the triangle is supposed to be 3 7/8" by 3 7/8". I've checked to see if the template is correct and it is the right size.

Shari

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