Ohio Star quilt block
A nine-patch star whose four points are quarter-square triangles, giving it a crisper, more angular point than the Sawtooth Star — and four seams meeting at the centre of every side.
Also known as Variable Star, Texas Star, Lone Star (regional).
Ohio Star is one of the most widely distributed pieced blocks in North America and collected under a long list of regional names. It belongs to the quarter-square triangle family, which quilters exploited hard in the nineteenth century because a single square cut twice diagonally yields four triangles with the straight grain on the outside edges — no stretching, no wavy blocks.
Ohio Star cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | QST square | 3¼" × 3¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 2½" × 2½" | 4 | finishes 2" × 2" |
| Dark | QST square | 3¼" × 3¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 2½" × 2½" | 1 | finishes 2" × 2" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | QST square | 4¼" × 4¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 4 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Dark | QST square | 4¼" × 4¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 1 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | QST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 4 | finishes 3⅜" × 3⅜" |
| Dark | QST square | 4⅝" × 4⅝" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 1 | finishes 3⅜" × 3⅜" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | QST square | 5¼" × 5¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 4½" × 4½" | 4 | finishes 4" × 4" |
| Dark | QST square | 5¼" × 5¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 4½" × 4½" | 1 | finishes 4" × 4" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | QST square | 6¼" × 6¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Background | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 4 | finishes 5" × 5" |
| Dark | QST square | 6¼" × 6¼" | 2 | cut twice on the diagonal → 8 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 1 | finishes 5" × 5" |
How it goes together
Four corner squares, one centre square, and four quarter-square triangle units. Each QST unit is built from two squares cut twice on the diagonal and rearranged, so the outer edges of the finished unit sit on the straight grain.
Tips
- Cut QST squares 1¼ inches larger than the finished unit — the extra over the HST allowance covers two bias seams instead of one.
- The four bias edges inside each QST unit want to stretch. Press, do not iron; lift and set rather than sliding.
- Trim each QST unit square before assembly and the star points will land where they should.
How much fabric for a Ohio Star quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Ohio Star blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 1½ yd · Dark 1 yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 3⅝ yd · Dark 2 yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 8⅜ yd · Dark 4⅝ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Ohio Star questions
Why use quarter-square triangles instead of half-square triangles?
A QST unit puts the straight grain on the outside edge of the unit, so the block edge does not stretch. It also produces a sharper, narrower point than two HSTs would.
What size to cut for a 12 inch Ohio Star?
Grid units finish at 4 inches. Cut plain squares 4½ inches, and QST squares 5¼ inches, cut twice on the diagonal.