Quilt block · Stars · Advanced
Le Moyne Star quilt block
Eight 45° diamonds meet in the middle. A square sits in each corner and a triangle in each side, set in between the points. Also called Lemon Star, Lemoyne Star and Star of Le Moyne.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
4 corners and 4 triangles
- B4 corner squares then cut with template B
- C4 side triangles then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 star points
- A4 diamonds then cut with template A
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 star points
- A4 diamonds then cut with template A
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Le Moyne Star’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
4 corners and 4 triangles
- B4 corner squares then cut with template B
- C4 side triangles then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 star points
- A4 diamonds then cut with template A
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 star points
- A4 diamonds then cut with template A
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Le Moyne Star’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
4 corners and 4 triangles
- B4 corner squares then cut with template B
- C4 side triangles then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 star points
- A4 diamonds then cut with template A
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 star points
- A4 diamonds then cut with template A
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Le Moyne Star’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Mark the dots
Push a pin through each dot on the templates and mark it on the wrong side of every piece: ¼″ in from each corner.
- Sew the diamonds in pairs, then the pairs in halves, then the halves into the star
Sew dot to dot, backstitching at each dot. Never sew into the seam allowance: it has to swing free.
- Set in a corner square (1)
Pin one side to a diamond, dots matched. Sew from the outer edge to the dot and stop, needle down. Swing the next side to the next diamond and sew from the dot out.
- Set in the side triangles (2), the same way
Press the seams round the center in one direction, so they spin and lie flat.
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Mark the dots
Push a pin through each dot on the templates and mark it on the wrong side of every piece: ¼″ in from each corner.
- Sew the diamonds in pairs, then the pairs in halves, then the halves into the star
Sew dot to dot, backstitching at each dot. Never sew into the seam allowance: it has to swing free.
- Set in a corner square (1)
Pin one side to a diamond, dots matched. Sew from the outer edge to the dot and stop, needle down. Swing the next side to the next diamond and sew from the dot out.
- Set in the side triangles (2), the same way
Press the seams round the center in one direction, so they spin and lie flat.
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Mark the dots
Push a pin through each dot on the templates and mark it on the wrong side of every piece: ¼″ in from each corner.
- Sew the diamonds in pairs, then the pairs in halves, then the halves into the star
Sew dot to dot, backstitching at each dot. Never sew into the seam allowance: it has to swing free.
- Set in a corner square (1)
Pin one side to a diamond, dots matched. Sew from the outer edge to the dot and stop, needle down. Swing the next side to the next diamond and sew from the dot out.
- Set in the side triangles (2), the same way
Press the seams round the center in one direction, so they spin and lie flat.
Blocks like it
More like this: Star quilt blocks · Eight-point quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is Le Moyne Star the same block as Lemon Star?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Lemon Star, Lemoyne Star and Star of Le Moyne as other names for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
What size should I make it?
No size puts all its pieces on the ⅛″ marks: its 45° diamonds and the pieces set in between them can’t all be whole eighths at once, so they’re cut from templates. Make it whatever size your quilt needs.
Can I paper piece it?
Not on a foundation: it has set-in (Y) seams, where three seams meet and none runs straight through, and foundation piecing sews only straight seams in order.
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an advanced block: 16 pieces in 3 different shapes, set-in (Y) seams and 9 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.