If you have been following Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design’s Facebook page then you know that Deb premiered their BlockBuster program series last January, which means they have a full year of exciting blocks to add to your quilting repertoire.

The Ohio Star is one of the most classic quilting blocks, and one that can be easily transformed by playing with the four cornerstone units.  Instead of the traditionally seen solid squares for the corners, they pieced two half square triangle units with two squares to make a more interesting variation.  Click here 01 Ohio Star Variation for the Supply list.  I all have the supply sheets for the BlockBusters on my page or you can go to Studio 180 Design

The supply sheet has a Cutting Chart giving you the option of making 6″, 12″ or 15″ finished blocks, and shows 3 different color ways.  I decided to make 12″ finished blocks.  I chose 4 colors for my block.  Color 1 is a light background.  Color 2 is my dark fabric for my star points.  Color 3 is my gold fabric and Color 4 is my red fabric.  it really helps to assign numbers to your fabric choices.

We will make four 3 color quarter square triangles using the instructions from your Tucker Trimmer I.  You will need 4 – 4.5″ unfinished quarter Square triangles for your block.  Check your Tucker Trimmer instructions, there is a chart that based on your finished or unfinished size unit tells you what size your starter squares should be.  You will need 1 – 5.5″ (color 1) background square,  2 – 5.5″ (Color 2) black squares & 1 – 5.5″ (color 3) Gold square .

We  start by making half square triangles.  Position: I placed my background square and my gold square on my 2 dark squares.  Placing my “Magic Wand” diagonally on the squares I drew a line on both sides of the wand.  I sewed on the lines and then cut them apart as shown below.

I then pressed them towards the dark triangle.  When ever you are pressing, remember “whatever you are pressing toward, goes on top”!

Using your Magic Wand, draw diagonal lines on the back of 2 half square triangles.

Position your half square triangles right sides together making sure the dark triangles are opposite each other and that the seams are nicely nested.

Sew on the drawn lines and cut apart.

Swirl the centers and press making sure all the seams completely open.

Trim using your Tucker Trimmer. The cut size of the unit is 4.5″, find the half circle on you Tucker Trimmer and the diagonal 4.5″ line. Using the 4.5″ line and the common diagonal line center it on your unit and trim 2 sides.  Then rotate your unit centering as before but also using the 2 trimmed sides and trim again.  You now have 4 – 3 color quarter square triangles that will be the star points for your Ohio Star.

Make the corner units that are made up of 8 – 2.5″ unfinished half square triangles and 8 – 2.5″ squares (4 from our background fabric and 4 from your color 4 fabric).  We start by checking our chart to find for 2.5″ unfinished half square triangles we cut 4 – 3″ starter squares of both our dark and background fabric. Again using our Magic Wand draw diagonal lines on the back of the background fabric, position and sew on the lines.

Cut apart and press toward the dark triangles. As before trim to 2.5″ using your Tucker Trimmer.

Layout 2 half square triangles, 1 – 2.5″ background square and 1 – 2.5″ square from Color 4 as shown below.  Sew 1 half square triangle to a background square and 1 half square triangle to a color 4 square.  Press toward the square fabric. Place right sides together and nesting the seams and sew together.  You can press the seam to one side or, I chose to press it open to lessen bulk.

Cut 1 – 4.5″ center square  and lay out your block units as shown below:

Sew units together in 3 sections.  Press the side sections toward the corner units and the center section toward the center square so the seams nest nicely.

Join the 3 sections to make your Ohio Star Variation.