Category Archives: Lemoyne Star

Blast From The Past

The fabrics featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik.

The Island Batik Ambassador’s challenge for June is “Modern Batik”. Lord have mercy! I had no idea what to do. I love all types of quilts. For some reason I wondered……what colors were popular in 1953? A search on Pinterest revealed an O’Brien Paints Color Card from 1953! It must be a sign!

I racked my brain. I had these really cool precut rolls of 5″ WOF strips I’d received in my box “O” fabric from Island Batik.

Last year I was constantly looking for quilt blocks containing Shaded Four Patch units. This year it seems to be Split Rects units that have my mind whirling.

The above photo’s are my teaching step outs that explain the process of making Spilt Rects Units in case you weren’t sure what I was talking about.

I chose 8 – 5″ WOF strips of color & cut 8 – 5″ strips of neutral. Each strip yielded 12 pair mirror image elongated triangles for a total of 192 – 2″ x 4″ finished Split Rects Units that I will put together to make a multi-faceted Diamond unit.

I Combined the Split Rects units to make multifaceted diamonds.

I was very closely supervised during this part.

I had an idea of what I wanted, but wasn’t sure how to get there. I had 48 diamond units but needed to add something more. I decided on Rapid Fire Lemoyne Stars.

I went to Island Batik stash and used 2 1/2″ strips from Spoolin’ Around. These beautiful pieces of batik have been hand dyed by skilled fabric artists in the garden village of Sanur, Bali.

This is what I came up with. Is it modern? The challenge description was “must incorporate ONE of the characteristics of modern quilts as defined by the Modern Quilt Guild: the use of bold colors & prints, high contrast & graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, alternate grid work”.

I may have hit one or two points! But if you look to the past for inspiration what can you expect! “Blast From The Past” measures 42′ x 62″.

As always, my quilts are lovingly pieced with Aurifil thread!

#islandbatik #debtucker #studio180design #aurifilthread

29 Lemoyne Stars

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My sister fell in love with a fabric line by Moda called The Potting Shed by Holly Taylor. So I designed a quilt using Deb Tucker’s Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star tool that makes it so easy to construct perfect Lemoyne stars with NO “Y” seams!

Of course Tucker had to oversee the quilting process, after all she is the Quality Control Officer of Tuckerville.

I just finished sewing on the binding in time for her birthday tomorrow, phew!

We just put it on her bed and it looks great. 29 twelve inch lemoyne stars and one panel.

Mary loved the panel of the potting shed so I was sure to place it so it would be in the middle of the bed.

My sister is a collector of vintage dolls. She has a beautiful bedroom that displays only part of her collection.

Happy Birthday Mary, your quilt was made with love!

Lucky Lemoynes

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I love Lemoyne stars, especially when there are no “Y” seams! I have wanted to make this pattern “Lucky Lemoynes” by Deb Tucker since it was released. When you learn Deb Tucker’s process using the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Tool you will be able to make a Lemoyne star in 10 sizes from 3″ to 12″ blocks all by strip piecing and NO “Y” seams!

I bought the fabric for it from Delve MIY (Make It Yourself) last August at the AQS show in Syracuse. The fabric is gorgeous. I chose their Plaster of Paris, Zuzu’s Petals & Daydreams IV – Love Blossoms lines.

Fabric by Frond Design Studios

Lucky lemoynes is made with 7″ lemoyne star blocks and Shaded Four Patch units.

Can you identify how the block is put together? Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star and Tucker Trimmer III tools are required fort this project.

Lucky Lemoynes measures 56″ x 70″

I wish I could get outside and get a better picture but the weather is not cooperating today. Carry on and quilt something!

Someone Dropped a House On My Sister

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The tune “Back in the Saddle Again” is playing in my head as I stare into the Shultz & Dooley mirror hanging over my sewing machine.

I’m getting ready to work on the Wicked Witch Panel below. I’m a Wizard of Oz fan! This is my first project in the new house. The panel measures 34″x42″. I decided to add Lemoyne Star cornerstones and stripped borders. I pulled the colors from the panel, Kona Black, Midnight Blue and Grass green to match the Witch’s Skin.

I know I have blogged about the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler before but thought I would reiterate some tips.

Below I have cut 2 background strips and two star strips. I know these are dark colors but I like the way they work with the panel. I have marked my background strips A and B and 2 additional marks down from the top of the strips on the adjacent, inside edges the same distance as the strip is wide. What that means is; I chose to make an 8″ finished Lemoyne star so I cut my background strip 3 3/4″ wide by width of fabric (WOF). So I marked the inside edges down 3 3/4″. With right sides together I place the star strips on the marks as shown.

Stitch the strips as shown.

Quilting is a Pressing Matter!!! What I love about Studio 180 Design Tools is the care Deb Tucker takes in telling you how to press your seams. I did not know this until I was Studio 180 Design Teacher Certification Training, “Whatever You Are Pressing Toward – Goes On Top”! Genius!

When pressing strip A, the seam gets pressed toward the background strip. I then place the strip on the ironing board with background side on top and press. Strip B seam is pressed toward the star strip, so then the I place the strip with star strip on top. We now have mirror images.

Place Strip B right up on the table, then place strip A on top, right sides together. I start by just matching up the edges. Then using my fingers feel along the seams to determine if the seams are nesting properly. I always gently peel back each end to see if the seams are nesting. If we pressed the seams correctly it will nest nicely.

Now we are going to establish a 45 degree angle by placing the edge of the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star ruler on the stitched seam line and then bump up another cutting ruler against the angled edge.

Make the first cut.

Place the cutting ruler on that beautiful 45 degree angle and cut strips the width of your star strip. For an 8″ Lemoyne Star I cut 2 1/5″ strips. So I make a 2 1/2″ cut.

You can go ahead and make all your 2 1/2″ cuts, but I prefer to make the first cut and then make the second cut by going vertically south to north and position the ruler edge at the tip of the star point and trim straight up.

These triangles will be the side pieces for your unit.

Once all your units are cut, open your units with A on the right and B on the left as shown below.

This is a great tip from fellow teacher Jane Godshall: Take two paper plates, label one A and one B. Open your units as shown above place all the A units on one plate and B units on the other. This will save you from confusing them.

Take plate “A” to the sewing machine, center and stitch one side triangle to each unit.

Chain stitch all the “A” Units.

Take the chain to the ironing board. “A” pieces will be pressed toward the star point fabric so lay the chain with the star point fabric on top.

By chain stitching the “A” units together and pressing, it keeps your brains from falling out trying to keep straight what unit you are working on.

Now chain stitch the side triangles to the “B” units with the side triangles on top.

Press.

Our “A” and “B” units are ready to trim.

Sorry for the glare, I’m having lighting issues. I don’t care for most ruler gripping products but I love InvisiGrip. This product helps keep your ruler from sliding with bunching up your fabric when you are positioning the ruler. You will definitely want to use some on your Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler. As you put pressure on the ruler toward the point it will keep it from moving.

Sorry my fabric is so dark. Place your unit with the star point facing towards 2 o’clock, this helps with trimming both sides without repositioning the unit. I am making 8″ Lemoyne stars so I align the desired block size lines with the sewn seam lines. You really want a sharp blade in your rotary cutter for this trim!

Trim all your units before sewing the “A” and “B” together.

Once the “A” and “B” units are sewn together, trim the dog ears from the star points. Sew 4 units to make a block.

Square up using your Tucker Trimmer 3.

I think it came out pretty good. it measures 52″x60″.

Quilting is a Pressing Matter

Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star – Quick & Dirty

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I am a self-proclaimed Deb Tucker Groupie! I love the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler – NO “Y” SEAMS. This post is not meant to replace Deb Tuckers instructions. It is meant to encourage you try her ruler. The instructions that come with the ruler are very detailed and easy to follow, and also include instructions for Left handed people. You can purchase Deb Tucker products from their web page at
http://www.studio180design.net

Each block requires two background strips and two star point strips. I cut two background strips the width of fabric and mark one “A” and One “B” at the top.

Cut two star point strips. Place a star strip on Strip “A” right sides together down the same distance as the background strip is wide. Do the same with Strip “B” as shown below. Sew both with 1/4″ seam allowance. Notice you are sewing strip “A” on the right side and strip “B” on the left side of the strip.

Press star strip “A” toward the background strip. Press star strip “B” toward the star strip.

Place strip “A” & “B” right sides together with strip “B” on the bottom, nesting the long seams.

Line the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler edge along the stitching line and bumping another ruler against the angled edge. This will give you your 45 degree angle. Cut off the staggered end and discard.

Continue making cuts the same width as your Star Point Strips. In this picture my star point strips are 3 1/4″ wide, so I continue to cut 3 1/4″ wide units.

Continue to cut your units.

Second cuts. Position the ruler edge at the tip of the star strip and trim straight up.

This shows the parts placement to 1/4 quarter of your block. With right side together center the triangle you just cut off on the side of the unit and sew together.

Place the two units in front of you with the star points facing toward you. “A” is on the right and “B” is on the left. Press “A” toward the star point and press “B” toward the background.

Place the unit right side up pointing the diamond toward 2:00 (for ease in cutting both directions). As you can see in this picture I did not position it correctly. Align the desired block size lines with the sewn seam lines. Trim along both sides of the ruler.

Place two units together nesting the seam and starting at the star point and sew together.

Press seam open.

Join the quarters together and sew, then sew the halfs together. Press seams open.

Square up using the Tucker Trimmer III

Lemoyne Star Class at TQG Spring Fling

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I just got home from teaching a Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star class at my local quilt guild; the Tidewater Quilters Guild in Virginia. Every year we host a Spring Fling by the guild members for the guild members. It is an all day celebration of classes, food and prizes. We had a blast. I taught the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star to 17 lovely ladies and 1 brave gentleman. I wore a shirt I made incorporating strips that would be used to make a Lemoyne Star on the front and embroidered directions above each strip: “Strip A, press toward the background, Strip B, press toward the star point. I had a finished lemoyne star on the back. It was a really fun day, with great students who learned a new technique.