Sawtooth Star vs. Ohio Star?

What's the difference between these two? Is the SS a 16-patch (4 across) and
the Ohio a 9-p (3 across)? Or are they the same?

I've made some star blocks--I thought Ohio--and wanted to add alternating
blocks of Irish chain or double 9-p, so the stars would in effect be framed
by small squares. Could NOT figure out how to do it and finally decided that
the Irish chain or 9p was based on a 9-patch grid and since my star was a 16
patch, I was SOL. Considered doing a Seminole border to use as sashing but
that suggested all kinds of other problems. It all made my head hurt after a
while so now it's a UFO--but I'd rather finish it, if I can just figure out
how!

Enlightenment, advice as always much appreciated.

Dogmom

You got it right. As far as I know, the traditional Ohio Star is a 9
patch and the Sawtooth Star (sometimes called Variable star and a number
of other names) is a 16 patch. Of course there are also sources that
call one of the SS variations an Ohio, and more ..................
Not sure how you want "the starts ... in effect framed by small
squares". But how about sashing with checkerboard panels.........
essentially 3 or 4 by 4 or 8, depending on the effect you want. If you
want to alternate blocks, try just a 16 patch or something like a
triple 4 patch.

got a picture of what you are going for???

Pati, in Phx

dogmom wrote:

What's the difference between these two? Is the SS a 16-patch (4 across) and
the Ohio a 9-p (3 across)? Or are they the same?

I've made some star blocks--I thought Ohio--and wanted to add alternating
blocks of Irish chain or double 9-p, so the stars would in effect be framed
by small squares. Could NOT figure out how to do it and finally decided that
the Irish chain or 9p was based on a 9-patch grid and since my star was a 16
patch, I was SOL. Considered doing a Seminole border to use as sashing but
that suggested all kinds of other problems. It all made my head hurt after a
while so now it's a UFO--but I'd rather finish it, if I can just figure out
how!

Enlightenment, advice as always much appreciated.

Dogmom

They can look the same at first glance, but they're different.


Ohio Star is a 9-patch. The pieces that form an X (corners and center)
are squares. The remaining 4 units are quarter square triangles. When
I was a beginning quilter, that was harder than the Sawtooth Star.


Sawtooth Star is a 16-patch. The corners are squares. The center is a
bigger square. The 4 remaining units are flying geese units, or they
could be 2 half square triangles put together. I found those easier to
piece than quarter square triangles. (Now that I have more experience,
I still prefer flying geese and half square triangles to quarter square
triangles. They're easier to get accurate.)


Enlightening advice #1. It is easy to combine 9 patches with 16 patches
if your block is 12" to start with. For the 16-patch, your finished
squares are 3". For the 9-patch, the finished squares are 4".


Enlightening advice #2. Get some quarter rule graph paper, and draw the
blocks on it. You'll see what I mean.


Tell me the finished size of those 16-patches, and I'll figure out the
alternate block that will give you the framing squares you want.


--Lia


dogmom wrote:
What's the difference between these two? Is the SS a 16-patch (4 across) and
the Ohio a 9-p (3 across)? Or are they the same?

I've made some star blocks--I thought Ohio--and wanted to add alternating
blocks of Irish chain or double 9-p, so the stars would in effect be framed
by small squares. Could NOT figure out how to do it and finally decided that
the Irish chain or 9p was based on a 9-patch grid and since my star was a 16
patch, I was SOL. Considered doing a Seminole border to use as sashing but
that suggested all kinds of other problems. It all made my head hurt after a
while so now it's a UFO--but I'd rather finish it, if I can just figure out
how!

Enlightenment, advice as always much appreciated.

Dogmom