Block of the Whenever #5
This block is called a LeMoyne Star. Well, sort of. A proper LeMoyne Star uses a horribly complicated sounding technique called Y-seams, which I might try mastering one day, but not today. So this is a cheat’s version, that (apart from the seams running through the diamonds) ends up looking exactly the same as a proper LeMoyne Star, but uses half-square triangles instead of scary Y-seams.
I used the same four-at-a-time method for making half-square triangles that I did for the Dutch Pinwheel. And just as for that block, all those bias edges made life a bit difficult, so I probably should have chosen a different method, but seeing as I needed four half-square triangles in each colour combination, it was the most convenient way of doing them.
What you need:
Print: two 4 1/2 inch squares
Solid: two 4 1/2 inch squares
Background: two 4 1/2 inch squares, and four 2 3/4 inch squares
Match one print square to a solid square, the other print square to a large background square, and the other solid square and large background square to each other. Stitch each pair right sides together with a quarter inch seam around the edges.
Cut along the diagonals.
And press open.
Cut off the dog ears, and trim to 2 3/4 inches square.
Lay out the block, and sew together as a sixteen patch, in the same way as the Dutch Pinwheel.
The final result gives a reasonably convincing illusion (as long as you don’t look too closely) of the block having been constructed with diamonds rather than half-square triangles.
I’m not 100% happy with my block – I didn’t think carefully enough about how the seams would lie, so a couple of the points ended up a bit bulky on the back, which could be annoying when I come to quilt it. But I really like the overall effect of the block (and maybe one day I’ll get brave enough to experiment with Y-seams so I can sew one properly…)
I seriously love the geometry of this!!!