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Approximate size: 60"X71"
Ohio Stars have been a favorite of quilters for generations!
I recieved these 12" Ohio Star blocks when I moved here to South Carolina from an online email list that I am on. I had toyed with the idea of making 6" blocks to go in with the 12" blocks and started making them, but to make it bed sized I was going to have to make a bunch more 12" blocks, and oodles of 6" blocks.....I got started, but it of course got way-laid as I got interested in things that were more interesting.. :c)
One morning I pulled these out...this is how many 12" Ohio stars were already done, and I also had a stack of the 6" ohio stars, and even the shirting alternate plain blocks were cut. I just started laying them out on the floor. I thought that if I added borders I could quilt this simply, with some all over design and it would be perfect for a graduation quilt for one of my classmates!
This lap sized quilt measures approximately 60" X 71". It has 12 12" Ohio Star blocks, and 16 6" ohio star blocks. There are also 16 6" plain shirting blocks used as alternate squares. You can make the quilt bigger or smaller as you desire, just lay out blocks as you to go make it the size you want.
***Formula Hint*** Lots of blocks use quarter-square triangles because we need the straight of the grain on the LONG edge of the triangle. Half-square triangles have the bias edge on the long side, but these are a bit different. What is the formula to keep in mind for when you need to figure out what size of squares to cut with an X to get the 4 quarter square triangles? Take your finished size of the unit. In this case the finished size is 4". Add 1 1/4" to that measurement. In this case that size is 5 1/4"!! We will be cutting 5 1/4" squares with an X to get our quarter square triangles. In the future, just remember that you add the 1 1/4" to the FINISHED SIZE of the unit!
Light: (2) 5 1/4" squares cut diagonally from corner to corner twice with an X
Dark: (2) 5 1/4" squares cut diagonally from corner to corner twice with an X
Center: (1) 4 1/2" square
Here is another option for you. Along with the method where you cut the squares with an X to get the star triangles, did you know you can use a 'companion angle' ruler and cut the same shape from 2.5" strips? That is what I did to get these alternate triangles!
Here is our finished block! Continue making blocks in the 12 inch size until you have 12 of them.
Now for the 6" blocks!
For each star cut:
Light: (star points)
(2) 3 1/4" squares. Cut these squares diagonally twice
with an X to give you 8 star points.
(1) 2 1/2" square for the star center.
Dark: (background)
(2) 3 1/4" squares. Cut these squares diagonally twice
with an X to give you 8 star background triangles.
(4) 2 1/2" squares for block corners.
Plain alternate squares:
(16) 6.5" squares cut from shirtings or other light prints.
Piecing Small Ohio Star Blocks:
Make four hour-glass units:
Make 16 6" Ohio Star blocks!
Some places you will want to have two small stars next to each other making a star 'four patch'.
Playing with colors for borders was fun too. Green was too overpowering, red still made it look like a Christmas quilt, so I went with 2" cut strips of medium blue for the inner border, and 5" cut strips of indigo for the outer border. Blue always seems to tie things all together for me.
Close up of quilting:
I am also in a hurry to get it bound! :c)
I love the "non traditional" setting of this quilt! I saw this quilt and thought it was so great that I just had to make one of my own. Did I mention that the Ohio Star is my favorite quilt block? I decided I didn't want to make all Ohio stars, so I just made all star blocks(yes I did include a few Ohio stars.) I used my favorite color, purple, to tie everything together. I added a little blue and pink(for variety and excitement!) It turned out beautiful! I get compliments on it all the time, as I am sure you do on this quilt. It was such a fun quilt. Thank you so much for the creative inspiration!
ReplyDeleteKathy Iwig