Quiltmaker#193• QuiltingDaily.com 87
LeMoyneStarblocksandquiltshavebeena quilter’sfavoriteformorethan 200
years. And it is easy to see why. In the centuries past, this quilt block was known
as “Star of LeMoyne” or “Lemon Star.” The most popular name of this block is
“LeMoyne Star,” (notice the capital “M”) though it may also be found using a
lowercase “m,” as in “Lemoyne Star.”
The LeMoyne Star quilt block is named after brothers Jean Baptiste and Pierre
LeMoyne, who founded the city of New Orleans in 1718. French speaking quil-
ters named and referred to the popular 8-pointed patchwork star as LeMoyne. It
appears that in the North, the non-French-speaking quilters renamed it LEMON
STAR, shortening the original French name for this beautiful block.
I have taken liberty to draft the block a bit differently, eliminating the need for
set-in Y seams, and building the block in easy block quarters. It’s these changes
that make this block NEARLY LeMoyne, but much easier!
All of the pieces for my blocks came from my 2½" strip stash as part of my own
Scrap User’s System. I used a stitch-and-fl ip technique for the corners on dia-
mond/parallelogram units and cut the 4 half-square triangles units using my
Essential Triangle Tool. The key for success with this block is to choose 2 fabrics
that play well together, but have some contrast. I chose strong tonal fabrics for
the diamond/parallelogram units, and a complimentary print to play the role of
stitch-and-fl ip corners and half-square triangles. I used one background fabric
for each block, but these could be scrappy as well.
I love the look of these blocks set side by side with no sashing needed between
them. They are also beautiful on point!
cutting
Finished Block: 8"
For one block, cut the following:
Green Print
2 squares 2⅞” (A)
8 squares 2½” (C)
Orange Print
4 rectangles 2½” x 4½” (B)
White Print
2 squares 2⅞” (A)
4 squares 2½” (C)
To make Nearly LeMoyne, refer
to “Triangle-Squares” in Basic
Lessons. Pair 2 green A’s and 2
white A’s to make 4 unit 1’s total.
Refer to “Stitch-and-Flip” in
Basic Lessons. Use green C’s and
orange B’s to make 4 unit 2’s as
shown.
Join 4 white C’s , 4 unit 1’s, and
4 unit 2’s together as shown to
make a block.
To learn more about Bonnie and see past
blocks, visit QuiltingDaily.com/addicted-
to-scraps-quiltmaker.
Post pictures of your projects
made with Bonnie’s blocks using
#AddictedToScraps.Addicted to Scraps
by Bonnie Hunter
What do you do with all the scraps you save? “Use them!” declares Bonnie.
Nearly LeMoyne
Unit 2
Stitch & Flip
Make 4BC
CBlock AssemblyC Unit
1Unit^2Unit 1
Make 4