The spectacular Lone Star block has long been a favourite with quilters and here we show how it can be made with strip piecing.
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What is a Lone Star block?
The Lone Star block is an eight-point star design. It is perennially popular and has many names, as you might expect for a design that is an old but beloved favourite − Star of Hope, Stars Upon Stars, Harvest Sun, Virginia Star, Sunburst Star − the list goes on.
The block makes a wonderful centrepiece for a quilt, especially a medallion quilt. It’s also a good block for practising various patchwork skills, both basic and more adventurous.
What's in this guide? Jump to:
- Lone Star layout
- Lone Star Construction
- Fabric choices for the Lone Star block
- How to sew individual diamonds
- Pressing the Lone Star block
- Strip-piecing diamonds guide
- Calculating Sizes of Background Squares and Triangles
- Sewing together with Y-seams
Lone Star layout
The block is normally made up of eight diamond-shaped segments, which are themselves made up of 45-degree diamonds.
The design is a versatile one, with the potential to produce a very complex pattern depending on how many diamonds there are in a segment.
Fig 1A shows the simplest eight-point star with just one diamond per segment. This arrangement is often called Le Moyne Star or Diamond Star. If you start adding more diamonds as in Fig 1B and Fig 1C, then you begin to see the potential of the block.
What size block should the Lone Star be?
The overall size of the finished block depends on the size of the individual diamonds and the number of diamonds in the layout. The choices of arrangement of the fabrics/colours in the star are many and varied.
One of the most popular is that shown in Fig 2A, where the colours are arranged in concentric “rings”. You could also choose to arrange the colours so they radiate outwards in lines (Fig 2B). The background of the block is normally composed of squares and triangles. These can be a single fabric or can be pieced in different ways. They could also be fussy cut to feature a motif.
Lone Star construction
Traditionally, a Lone Star block was made with individual 45-degree diamonds, joined in rows to create larger diamond segments.
Eight of these were joined together with background squares and triangles. Y-seams were used in the construction, or the star was hand-applied to a background.
The individual diamonds method has some advantages if you wish to piece the individual diamonds before sewing them together, want a random scrappy look or want to hand sew them. The method can be quite time-consuming. It is, however, useful to be familiar with the technique, so we will look at this briefly.
Today, Lone Star is often made with strip piecing. This method is not only quicker but more accurate. It also uses Y-seams. There are other methods of construction, but in this article, we will focus on the standard approach.
Size Does Matter for Lone Star blocks
Remember, the size of the individual diamonds and the number of diamonds in each row will determine the final size of the block.
It can be difficult to be accurate with blocks that have a lot of angled seams, so calculations must be roughly worked out and then rounded up.
The bigger the diamond and the more you have in a row, the bigger the block will be. You can make some general predictions of the size of a block if you know the finished size of a single diamond.
In the example shown in Fig 3A, let’s say an individual finished diamond (outlined in red) is 1in x 11/2in. Knowing this we can roughly calculate what a quarter of the block will be (outlined in green), which is approximately 71/2in square − see Fig 3B. Multiply this by two and you have an approximate size of 15in square for the finished block.
Fabric choices for the Lone Star block
Much of the effect of a Lone Star block is achieved by contrast (see Fig 4). This might be in terms of colour, or light/dark value or fabric pattern size. You might want a star to radiate outwards in graded colours or have concentric circles of colours that work well together, but also contrast.
If using a small diamond size, it’s best to avoid fabrics with very large prints, or which have areas with very different colours as these effects will be lost.
Fabric ideas for the Lone Star block
Remember: An unexpected fabric is perfect to accentuate the star pattern!
- Use a complementary colour, such as a bright orange against dull purple.
- Use contrasting fabrics, such as shiny silk against matt cotton.
- Try using solids too, as they can provide contrast and tie a group of fabrics together.
- Stripes, if used carefully and directionally, can create interesting effects.
- You can also create “lacy” effects, where the diamond boundaries are blurred, by using the same background fabric for some areas of the diamond segments.
Top tips for beginners making the Lone Star:
- Start with fabrics that don’t fray too easily.
- Use spray starch before cutting.
- Getting seams to match up nicely in the centre of the block can be tricky, so using a darkish or busy print there will help disguise errors.
How to sew individual diamonds
We will look briefly at sewing individual diamonds together as there are some techniques useful for strip-pieced diamonds too. You will need a template for the 45-degree diamond. If the template doesn’t include a 1/4in seam allowance you will need to add one.
Step 1
Use the template to cut shapes from fabric strips. The height of the strips needs to be the same as the height of the template (including seam allowances), as shown in Fig 5A. Mark the template along the fabric and then cut out the shapes with a rotary cutter and ruler.
Step 2
Pin two diamonds right sides together and with the points offset by 1/4in at each end (Fig 5B). Sew the seam and press open, making sure the edges are nicely aligned, with no steps (Fig 5C).
Step 3
Add the next diamond in the same way (Fig 5D), and so on, changing to a different fabric when necessary (Fig 5E). When a row is sewn, trim off excess little triangles.
Step 4
When the rows for the large diamond segment are all sewn, sew them together, again offsetting the rows by 1/4in at each end (Fig 5F). Take care to align the seams neatly and press carefully to retain the diamond shape (see 'Pressing Work' below). Repeat to make eight units in total (Fig 5G).
Pressing the Lone Star block
Care with pressing is needed at all stages of making a Lone Star block. Some of the edges will be on the straight grain but others will be bias, so it is very easy to stretch or distort the units. This is particularly so when sewing individual diamonds together.
When a pieced diamond section is sewn together, place it on your cutting mat to check that it is forming a true diamond, positioning the 45-degree edge of the unit against the 45-degree line on the ruler (see Fig 6). This will show roughly any problem areas and where you need to press to coax the shape back. If the distortion is more acute then you may need to “block” the shape.
Strip-piecing diamonds guide
Step 1
First, identify what a diamond segment needs to look like, specifically what layout and colours/fabrics you are going to use. You might want to copy a block or design one of your own.
An example is shown in Fig 7A of a 3 x 3 layout with three fabrics in a concentric arrangement. Fig 7B shows a single pieced diamond segment and from this, we can work out what each strip set will look like, and thus what fabric strips need to be cut.
It is useful to remember that each small diamond in a segment represents one strip of fabric.
Step 2
Now decide on the size of the diamonds. Remember, the bigger the diamond and the more in a row, the bigger the block will be. Fig 8 gives measurements you could use. Cut the strips as shown and sew them together into three units. Stagger strips to save fabric.
Step 3
Use the 45-degree line on your quilting ruler to cut eight 45-degree segments from each strip-pieced unit, cutting each one 11/4in wide (the same width as the cut strips).
Step 4
Take one segment from each strip-pieced unit and sew them together into a larger diamond. Offset the rows by 1/4in at each end, as in Fig 9, taking care to match up seams accurately.
Press the seam open. Repeat to make eight large diamond segments in total (Fig 10).
Step 5
To finish the block, follow the instructions below for 'Calculating Sizes of Squares and Triangles', and then the instructions for 'Sewing Together Using Y-seams'.
Calculating Sizes of Background Squares and Triangles
When piecing a Lone Star using Y-seams, you need to calculate the size of the squares and triangles that need to be set in.
The sizes will vary, depending on the size of the single diamond you have used and the number of diamonds in a diamond segment.
The calculation process is the same for any Lone Star, so follow these steps.
Step 1
Press the pieced diamond segment and on the wrong side mark the 1/4in seam allowances along the sides, as in Fig 11A. In reality, you could just mark dots at each corner, where the seam lines meet (shown in red on the diagrams).
Along one side measure the distance of one finished seam. Note this measurement and call it X. (All four sides will be the same.)
Step 2
To create the square shape for the block, draw a square the same size as X and then add a 1/4in seam allowance all round (Fig 11B). This is the size your cut fabric square needs to be and you will need four of these.
If the X measurement is an awkward one with a tiny fraction then round up to the nearest 1/8in.
Step 3
To create the triangle shape for the block, on a piece of paper draw a horizontal line the same length as X.
Draw a vertical line the same length as X, and one at right angles. Draw a diagonal line to join the two straight lines.
Now add a 1/4in seam allowance all round (Fig 11C). This is the size your fabric triangle needs to be and you will need four of these.
If you prefer to have the long diagonal edge cut on the straight grain (which will make the block more stable on its outside edges), measure the full length of the long diagonal line on your paper pattern (that is, line Y plus seam allowances) and cut a square of fabric to this measurement.
Now cut the square into four triangles, as in Fig 12. Fig 13 shows the positions of the squares and triangles in the block.
Sewing together with Y-seams
When piecing a Lone Star using Y-seams, you need to calculate the size of the squares and triangles that need to be set in.
The sizes will vary, depending on the size of the single diamond you have used and the number of diamonds in a diamond segment. The calculation process is the same for any Lone Star, so follow these steps.
Step 1
Start by cutting the squares and triangles for the large diamond segments. If you are using the measurements given in Strip Piecing Diamonds, then the squares, including seam allowances, will be 37/8in square. You could cut the four triangles from a single 6in square, cutting the square into four triangles.
Mark the 1/4in seam allowances on all the units (Fig 14A).
Step 2
Pin two diamond segments right sides together, matching edges and marked points as in Fig 14B. Make sure the individual diamond seams are matched too.
Now sew only from dot to dot. Backstitch a little at the start and finish of the seam to secure.
Press the seam to one side.
Step 3
Pin a triangle right sides together with the paired diamonds and sew from dot to dot (Fig 14C).
Take the work off the machine and swivel the triangle, matching its other short edge with the diamond. Sew from dot to dot.
Press seams away from the diamond. Press the “Y” area well to ensure it is flat.
Step 4
Add a square to this unit as in Fig 14D, sew the seam from dot to dot. Press away from the diamond. Repeat this whole process to create four units (Fig 14E).
Step 5
Sew the units together in pairs, sewing the two seams shown by the red lines in Fig 14F. It is easier to start from the centre, matching up seams carefully.
Repeat with the other pair.
Now sew the pairs together in the same way to complete the block (Fig 14G). Sewing the centre diagonal seam (1) first makes it easier to match up the diamond seams.
Finish by sewing seams 2 and 3.
Press the block and check it’s square.
Shine bright with Lone Stars
Although Lone Star blocks can be a lot of work, modern techniques and a little practise make things much easier... and the results are definitely worth your time and effort. You'll end up with a quilt that you can certainly be proud of!
Try another star block
Loved Lone Stars and want to see what other star blocks are out there. Why not start with this contemporary patchwork quilt pattern using the traditional Morning Star quilt block.
