{Classic Quilt Blocks} Ohio Star - An Introduction

Classic Quilt Blocks have been sewn for centuries, are easy to recognise and are every quilters favorite. Let's celebrate these gorgeous blocks and add them to our quilting projects!

Welcome back to my Classic Quilt Blocks series! It's been a bit of a wait, but it's finally time to celebrate the gorgeous Ohio Star - I appreciate you're patience while I've been needed elsewhere!

The month of August is all about celebrating this classic block, and as we look at it a little closer over the coming weeks, I'm hoping you'll love it as much as I do and be inspired to use it in future projects. 

You can't beat a pretty star block, and I think the Ohio Star is right up there with the gorgeous Sawtooth and Lemoyne Star blocks. It's popular with designers and quilters because it's versatile, and it adds a touch of movement to any quilt design. 

Let's take a look at this block in a little more detail, and appreciate it's rich history, enjoy it's beauty and simplicity and be inspired by it's versatility.

Block History:

The Ohio Star block is rich in history and has been around since the early 1800's. Like a lot of blocks, it's known by a few other names - Variable Star, Eastern Star and Western Star, depending on it's geographical location or time period. 

It was a popular block amongst pioneer quilters because it was an introduction to QST's (quarter square triangles) and it allowed the quilter to use lots of scraps and create a stunning and unique block. There's gorgeous angles and wonderful movement in this pattern which is why it's stood the test of time and is still popular with today's modern quilter. 

This block is a staple in any sampler quilt, and you frequently see it used in medallion quilts as a border or cornerstones, but nothing beats a quilt full of Ohio Stars. We'll take a look at some stunning examples of antique quilts later in the post, and you can see some traditional ways to set the blocks.

The Ohio Star block is a respectful nod to the town Oberlin Ohio and to Mary Leary Langston, and you can read all about it's illustrious history by reading the article, Civil War Quilts: 38 Ohio Star - Barbara Brackman.

Block Design:

The Ohio Star block is a simple nine patch and drafted using a 3 x 3 grid:

The block is made up of simple squares and QST's (quarter square triangles), and it's a stunning example of geometry creating movement in a block.

To determine the finished size of each square, simply divide the block size by three and add your seam allowances. This means each square and QST must finish at this size unfinished.

Don't worry about all the math, in next week's step by step tutorial I'll provide a Cutting Chart with six sizes, so you don't have to work it all out!

Colour Values:

Traditionally the Ohio Star is pieced using a light and a dark fabric:

So pretty, but why stop there? This design allows you to create many different looks by simply playing with the colour values:

These examples give you some idea of the blocks versatility and ideas for injecting more colour or scrappiness into the block. As long as you have enough contrast in the fabrics you choose, your star will always shine!

Next week is my step by step tutorial, and we're going to be sewing our own 6" (finished) Ohio Star block. It's my favorite week because we get to sew together, and if you haven't sewn one of these blocks before then you're in for a treat.

I've prepared a colouring sheet for you to print and plan some blocks ready for the tutorial. Simply click on the link to download and print:

Grab your pens, pencils or crayons and get creative!

Antique Inspiration:

{photo from Google Images}

I love using antique quilts as inspiration, and this collage of Ohio Star quilts has some gorgeous examples that I want to snuggle under. They illustrate how well this block works in scrappy quilts, and how a simple layout creates a homey and inviting quilt. 

I think my favorite is setting the block with a solid secondary solid square either in a horizontal or on point layout.

There's so much to love about each of these quilts, and I often wonder who snuggled under them or who they were made for - do you ever wonder? I'll show you some modern Ohio Star quilts in the coming weeks, but you can't beat sweet, simple and antique!

So, here's what to expect in the coming weeks of my Ohio Star Classic Quilt Blocks series:

• Week 2 - a step by step tutorial for a 6" (finished) block, plus a cutting chart with six sizes of the Ohio Star block for future projects.

• Week 3 - a look at some gorgeous modern and traditional quilt patterns showcasing the Ohio Star block, plus links to purchase or download etc.

• Week 4 - a free block pattern which includes my little twist on this gorgeous block.

And that's it for this week's introduction post to the Ohio Star block. We're going to have a fun month celebrating this little cutie and hopefully I'll inspire you to start your own quilt using this Classic Quilt Block.

Happy quilting :)