If you want a really simple way of making the Lone Star quilt, you might want to try using Quiltsmart interfacing.
No bias, no diamonds, no blocking.
It goes together very easily.
Only con is that you're limited to the sizes offered, and the additional cost.
Watch the video to see how easy it is. You can have all the large diamonds pieced in a day, and then spend time on a really interesting setting.
Here's the 58"
http://www.quiltsmart.com/khxc/index...58inchlonestar
the 38"
http://www.quiltsmart.com/khxc/index...38inchlonestar
And there's a miniature LS as well.
If you want to do it the traditional pieced way, the best book out there is by Jan Krentz, Lone Star and Beyond.
http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Quilts-Be...9613027&sr=8-1
And there's a trick to avoid the volcano.
When sewing the 2 large diamonds together (to make 1/4 of the LS), I mark a 1/4 from the edge that will go in the center, and I don't sew past that mark (similar to a Y seam). That avoids ALL the seams and thread in the center, and it doesn't feel like you've got a steel slab stashed in there.
Not to mention that your fabric should be starched to oblivion before cutting to avoid any unnecessary stretching.
Here's another similar method, but the end result is the same.
http://michiganloonyloomer.blogspot....ether-and.html