Our Rapid Fire® and Star tools make complex projects easier with Deb’s signature method of oversizing whenever possible and trimming each block to perfection. Did you know that all of these tools come with free patterns? They are a great way to practice your new found skills!
The Wedge Star® and the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star® tools both make 45° star blocks. They look similar but there are some differences. In the Wedge Star® introduction video Deb walks us through the fine points of these blocks. As Deb says, “The Wedge Star block may look familiar, but Wedge Star and Lemoyne Star are very different animals!”
If you look at a basic Lemoyne Star block the points don’t run true north, south, east, and west. The points are tilted. Even if you set the block on point, the points are still tilted at 22½°.
Because Deb's method assembles this block as a "Four Patch" you can easily combine parts of these stars with other types of units, and even make Lemoyne Star blocks that look as if they are expanding.
The Wedge Star® block has the diamond/star points running true north, south, east, and west. You start by making an octagon and turn the block into a square using corner triangles. This orientation opens up a whole world of possibilities, including kaleidoscope blocks.
Did you know these blocks have been made by quilters for decades? In Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns, we see that the Lemoyne Star was first published in November of 1894 as Star in Ohio Farmer. The Wedge Star® dates back to 1934 as Star Flower and Jinny herself has made many variations including her Star Bright block in 1980.
Let’s dive into those free patterns that come with the tools. The Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star® pattern is called Constellation. It’s designed to use every size block that the tool can make. With ten different block sizes from 3” to 12”, you’ll be an expert at Lemoynes when you finish your quilt!
And of course, we can’t forget about the seven technique sheets that allow you to expand the use of your tool. Constellation looks beautiful when done in all of the different techniques available.
The Wedge Star® pattern is called Freelancer. It contains the three types of blocks you can make with the tool; the "Wedge Star® block" that has just diamond wedges, the "Wedge block" that has large wedges, and the "Mixed Wedge" block that is a combination of the two.
This tool makes twenty-two different sized blocks, from 3” finished to 24” finished! You can make Freelancer as a mini that will finish at 9” all the way up to a 72” square quilt. Both of those sizes are before you add borders. You can audition your color choices using the free coloring page for the quilt. There are four technique sheets available for Wedge Star® allowing you to explore even more design possibilities.
The next time you break out your tools, try playing with the Constellation and Freelancer projects. We would love to see your Wedge Star® and Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star® quilts! Share them on social media using the hashtags #lemoynestars180 #wedgestars180 and #studio180design
