Patchwork and Quilting: Ohio Star Block

Below is a picture you can print of this pattern and colour in, so you can decide which colour you would like each patch to be before you start choosing fabric or cutting. It will also give you a good idea of what the end block will look like.

I am using a pack of templates from ‘Prym’, I have had them for 8 years, they are in constant use and they are still going strong. The pack contains 6 templates, 3 squares (2”, 2&4/5”and 4”) and 3 triangles (2”, 2&4/5”and 4”). I recommend buying some templates as they will last for many years and so they are definitely worth it if you are planning to do a lot of patchwork, but if you are unable to buy these templates, you can make your own. I drew around the templates and scanned the images for you to download with the following link, print them out and carefully trace them onto a vinyl template sheet and cut them out (it is very important to be accurate when tracing and cutting otherwise the patches will not match up).

1. Wash and iron your fabrics and decide which one you would like to be the star and which one will be the background. Play around a bit with different colours, make use of the downloadable pattern above and colour it in to give you an idea of what it will look like because you don’t have to use just two colours, it looks great with more too.

2. Using the largest square (4”) template and the medium sized triangle (2&4/5”) template, cut out 5 squares and 16 triangles out of paper.

3. For the star, cut out 1 square and 8 triangles in your chosen fabric, remembering to add the ¼” seam allowance all the way round.

4. If you are using one colour for the background, cut out 4 squares and 8 triangles in your chosen fabric, remembering to add the ¼” seam allowance as before. If using more than one colour then refer to your coloured pattern for how many of each patch to cut out.

5. Pin the paper templates to the centre of each patch of fabric and tack in place, making sure all edges and corners are neat and crisp.

6. Lay out all the patches out in front of you in their correct place, this will help you see which patches will be sewn together.

7. Start by making the squares that comprise of four triangles. Remember always sew with right sides facing and use oversewing stitches. Sew two of the triangles together (one from each colour), short sides together, this will make a larger triangle. Sew the other pair in the same way to make a second larger triangle. Then with long sides facing sew the two larger triangles together, when unpinned and opened out this will make a square. Repeat this three more times for the other sets of triangles.

8. You can now start sewing your rows together. Start with the top left hand corner square and sew it to the square made from four triangles. Please double check that you are sewing the correct sides together by referring to the pattern and photos provided. Next, sew the top right hand corner square to complete the row.

9. Sew the middle and bottom rows in the same way, referring to the pattern as you go.

10. Once you have completed the three rows, pin and sew the top row to the middle row, then the bottom row to the middle row, always double checking that the pattern is correct. Remember when pinning to carefully match up the edges and points where the patches meet.

11. Take out the pins, but DO NOT take out the tacking or papers. You have now completed the ‘Ohio Star’ and it is ready to be used in a project or stored to be used at a later date.

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