Traditional pattern, early 1800s, public domain
An elegant eight-pointed star formed from eight identical 45-degree diamonds, named after Pierre and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, founders of New Orleans. This pattern requires mastery of set-in (Y-seam) construction and precise bias-edge handling.
The LeMoyne Star is named after Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, the French-Canadian brothers who founded the city of New Orleans in 1718. The pattern was widely established by the early 1800s and is one of the foundational eight-pointed star designs in quilting.
This block is considered the mother pattern of many eight-pointed star variations, including the Lone Star, Blazing Star, and Carpenter's Wheel. Its simplicity of form belies its construction difficulty — the set-in seams and bias edges make it a true test of quilting skill.
Also known as: Lemon Star, LeMoine Star, Eight-Pointed Star, Star of LeMoyne
finished Block Size
12 inches
seam Allowance
1/4 inch
grid Basis
8 identical 45-degree diamonds with 4 corner squares and 4 setting triangles
units Required
8 diamonds, 4 corner squares, 4 side setting triangles
All measurements include 1/4" seam allowance unless noted.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut Size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | Blue | 3.5" diamond (45°) | 4 | Cut using 45-degree diamond ruler; all edges are bias |
| Diamond | Red | 3.5" diamond (45°) | 4 | Cut using 45-degree diamond ruler; all edges are bias |
| Corner square | Yellow | 3.5" x 3.5" | 4 | Set into the 90° angles between star points |
| Side setting triangle | Yellow | 5" x 5" | 2 | Cut each square diagonally once to yield 4 triangles; set into 45° angles |
Cut 4 blue and 4 red diamonds using a 45-degree ruler. Heavily starch the fabric before cutting to stabilize the bias edges. Mark the 1/4-inch seam allowance at every corner point on the wrong side of each diamond.
Tip: Cut with the longest dimension along the straight grain when possible to reduce stretch.
Sew one blue diamond to one red diamond along their long edges, starting and stopping exactly 1/4 inch from each end. Backstitch at the start and stop points. Press the seam open. Repeat to make 4 pairs.
Tip: Offset the diamond edges by 1/4 inch at the start so the sewn seam line aligns perfectly at the point.
Sew two diamond pairs together to form one half of the star (4 diamonds). Match the center seam intersection precisely. Start and stop 1/4 inch from each end. Press center seam open. Repeat for the second half.
Tip: Pin through the exact center seam intersection from both sides before sewing.
Sew the two star halves together, matching all 8 seams at the center point. Press the center seam open and the completed star from the front. The 8 points should radiate evenly.
Tip: If the center won't lie flat, try removing 1-2 stitches at the very center and re-pressing.
Using Y-seam construction, set in the 4 corner squares and 4 side triangles. For each: pin at the inner corner, sew one side from the inner angle outward, pivot the piece, then sew the second side outward. Press seams toward the background pieces.
Tip: Always sew from the inner angle outward — never stitch across the pivot point.
Press the entire block from the front. Square to 12.5" x 12.5" including seam allowances. Verify all 8 star points are sharp and the star is centered within the block.
See how this traditional pattern looks in different color combinations.
Straight set with sashing and cornerstones
On-point setting with alternate plain blocks
Single block pillow with echo quilting