The Ohio Star Quilt Block is a basic nine patch quilt block made from quarter square triangles and squares. This classic block is popular in both traditional and modern quilts. The traditional Ohio Star Quilt block uses two fabrics.

The Ohio Star has been a very popular quilt block in history, with a lot of variations. Switching the quarter square triangles and corner blocks make another eight point design, also referred to as the Lone Star, Texas Star, Tippecanoe and Tyler Too, Texas, Eastern Star and Shoofly.

With a four color layout, this block becomes the Variable Star, Star Spangled, Western Star, Star of the West, Henry of the West or Star of Hope.

Here are some design layouts, using the same basic Ohio Star quilt block pattern; different color layouts make the variations. This is a great quilt block for beginner quilters.

The two-color Ohio Star is the traditional quilt block. To make a successful quilt block, make sure to use strong value differentiation in your fabrics. Here we’ve used a light value yellow and a dark value navy blue. Using a darker fabric and a lighter fabric helps make the block design shine in your finished quilt.

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The fun part is picking out your fabrics. This versatile block can be made with prints or solids. For a scrappy look, use a variety of fabrics.

This variation of the Ohio Star has the center square matching the star points of the quarter square triangles. Various names for this version are Eight Point Star, Tippencanoe and Tyler Too, Texas Star, Lone Star – even though this is not what we think about when we think about those quilt designs.

Two color Ohio star variation referred to as Lone Star

Here is a variation of the Ohio Star with three (3) colors.

And, another variation using four fabrics, commonly referred as the Variable Star quilt block:

Ohio Star Quilt Block Calculator

Here is a fabric calculator for the basic two-color Ohio Star Quilt Block that uses squares and quarter-square-triangle blocks (also referred to as QST blocks) for different sizes of finished quilt blocks. See detailed information about the layout and cutting for the Variable Star quilt block.

Here is our Ohio Star quilt block tutorial:

One (1) Quilt Block

How to Make the Ohio Star Quilt Block

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

The Ohio Star quilt block is classic quilt block and a variation of the nine patch quilt block, used in both traditional and modern quilts. This quilt block uses quarter square triangle blocks combined with solid color units to form this two-color block.

The Ohio Star quilt block has been seen in quilts dating back to the early 1800s, and saw it's popularity rise in the 1930s and again recently with the modern quilt movement.

Here are our easy instructions for the Ohio Star block pattern:

Materials

1/4 yard each of two (2) colors of fabric, or two fat quarters
Thread

Tools

Sewing machine
Iron
Ironing board
Rotary cutter
Quilter's ruler, optional: Square ruler
Rotary cutting mat
Marking tool such as Frixion pens or chalk

Instructions

For a 9" finished quilt block, cut one (1) piece of fabric 3-1/2" for the center of the unit, four (4) 3-1/2" squares for the corners and two (2) pieces of each color at 4-1/4" for the side units. See above for measurements for other finished block sizes.
Let's make the side units first. These are quarter square triangles. See our tutorial on how to make quarter square triangles. Mark a diagonal line across the wrong side of the lighter color squares that are cut to 4-1/2". This marked line will be our stitching guide.
Layer the lighter color over the darker color right sides together and sew 1/4" along both sides of the marked line. Each stitched pair of squares makes two half square triangles. I like to chain stitch my piecing to make it a bit quicker.
Sew along the other side of the drawn line.
Cut along the marked line.
Press the seam and block. Now mark a diagonal line the other direction on two (2) of the half square triangles on the wrong side.
Layer two (2) of the half square triangle units that are marked on top of the unmarked half square triangles, matching the diagonal seam line, layering opposite colors with right sides together.
Sew 1/4" along both sides of the marked line, then cut on the marked line between the rows of stitching. Press blocks.
Now you have four (4) side units that are quarter square triangles. Lay the solid corner squares, center block and quarter square units out in this nine patch format.
Sew the units together with a 1/4" seam allowance to form rows.
To finish, sew the rows together. Press. Now you have a finished Ohio Star quilt block!

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Here is the layout variation of the Ohio Star quilt pattern, still using two fabrics, squares and quarter square triangles. The quarter square triangles are flipped the other direction with this variation that is sometimes referred to as Tippecanoe and Tyler Too, Eastern Star and, after Texas joined the Confederacy it was referred to as the Lone Star and Texas Star (even though we now use those quilt block terms for very different designs of quilt blocks)

Start by cutting out your fabrics, just as we did for the other layout design:

With the larger squares, we will be making quarter square triangles. We start by marking a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter fabric. This will be our stitching guide line and our cutting line. I used a Frixion pen to mark the line, it comes out with heat when pressing. ALWAYS check on a scrap of fabric first.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too marking the stitch guide line for the half square triangles

Stitch 1/4″ on either side of the marked line. I like to use my 1/4″ foot for my machine. For a Bernina it is foot #37 and #57.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too sewing the first seam for the half square triangles

Turn and sew 1/4″ on the other side of the marked line. I like to chain stitch the units to save a little bit of time.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too sewing the second seam for the half square triangles

Using your rotary cutter, cut along the marked line forming two half square triangles.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too cutting half square triangles

Press the seam to your preference. Check out our article on pressing seams for quilting. Mark a diagonal line perpendicular to your previous seam on the wrong side of two of the half square triangles.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too marking the stitch guide line for the quarter square triangles

Layer two half square triangles right sides together with the opposite colors on top of each other. This is what will make it a quarter square triangle.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too lining the two half square triangles to make the quarter square triangles

Sew 1/4″ along both sides of the marked line, just like before. Here is the first seam.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too sewing the first seam for the quarter square triangles

And, sewing the second seam.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too sewing the second seam for the quarter square triangles

Cut apart on the marked line using your rotary cutter. Press seams to your preference.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too cutting quarter square triangles

Now it is time to lay out your blocks. Note that the quarter square triangles are shifted 90 degrees with this variation.

Sew the units into rows. Press seams to your preference.

Tippencanoe and Tyler Too rows sewn together

Sew the rows into the finished block. Give it a good press and your Ohio Star variation, sometimes referred to as Tippecanoe and Tyler Too quilt block, is finished!