Quilt Block Classics - Log Cabin Block and Tutorial

Hello, and welcome to the Log Cabin Quilt Block Classics tutorial.   We'll be exploring the classic log cabin quilt block, learning a little about it's history, and sewing a 12" sample block.

Log Cabin Quilt Block

If you've been quilting for any time at all, you've probably seen or sewn a Log Cabin block.  There are many, many versions of this block.  Some are skinny, some are wonky, some are modern, but all originate from the classic Log Cabin block.  The Log Cabin block starts with a center square and builds out and around from the center with "logs" of fabric.  The center square is traditionally red, to represent the hearth of the cabin.  The block is normally constructed with one half of the fabrics in a dark value and the other half of the fabric in a light value, split diagonally, across the block.  This allows the quilter to create a large variety of quilt patterns, all using the same, basic block.  

I'm not sure how "printable" this image is here, from the blog, but this is a Log Cabin coloring page using the same block layout we're sewing today.  For more free and downloadable quilt coloring pages, sign up for my newsletter.  There is a sign up form on the right hand side of my blog and also at the bottom of this post. 

Now, let's sew the Log Cabin block!

I went to my stash for the fabrics used in my block.  Log Cabin is an excellent stash busting scrap quilt block.  You will need a red or pink fabric for the center square, six light value fabrics, and six dark value fabrics.  

Cutting Info:
Red/Pink:
Cut 1 ea. 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" square A

Light Value Fabrics:  

      Cut 1 ea.  2" x 3-1/2" strip B

Cut 1 ea.  2" x 5" strip C

      Cut 1 ea.  2" x 6-1/2" strip D

Cut 1 ea.  2" x 8" strip E

     Cut 1 ea.  2" x 9-1/2" strip F

 Cut 1 ea.  2" x 11" strip G

Dark Value Fabrics:
 Cut 1 ea.  2" x 5" strip C
       Cut 1 ea.  2" x 6-1/2" strip D
Cut 1 ea.  2" x 8" strip E
      Cut 1 ea.  2" x 9-1/2" strip F
 Cut 1 ea.  2" x 11" strip G
       Cut 1 ea.  2" x 12-1/2" strip H

Here we sew!

Sew one Light 2" x 3-1/2" strip B to the Red/Pink 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" square A.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Light 2" x 5" strip C to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Dark 2" x 5" strip C to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Dark 2" x 6-1/2" strip D to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Light 2" x 6-1/2" strip D to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Light 2" x 8" strip E to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Dark 2" x 8" strip E to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Dark 2" x 9-1/2" strip F to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Light 2" x 9-1/2" strip F to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Light 2" x 11" strip G to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Dark 2" x 11" strip G to this side of the block.

Turn the block a quarter turn, clockwise.  Sew one Dark 2" x 12-1/2" strip H to this side of the block.

Your Log Cabin block is complete!  Sew a few and play with them.  Turn the blocks in different directions and see the beautiful results you can create with a few simple blocks.

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today!

Jennifer Thomas

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Supernova Quilt ~ Block Three and Beyond

 This is Block Three for the Supernova quilt.  I love it!  The drama of the bright batiks mixed with the black really packs a punch.

 I sewed four Block Three's for the Supernova quilt.

Here are all of the blocks sewn together.  Just lovely.  See how the light eminates from the center of the quilt?  It really draws the eye, and even though this quilt is a riot of bright colors, when I meditate on it, I get a calm, peaceful, happy feeling.  Do you feel it?

I'm currently working on the borders, and the quilting shall begin next!

Stay tuned for more updates.

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today!

Jennifer Thomas

Click here to visit the Curlicue Creations Shop.

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Quiltiles Product Review

Over the last week or two, my family has been playing with a new product from Kits by Carla.  It's called Quiltiles.  It's both magnetic, and easily portable, so we took it along for our end of the Summer beach trip.

 Quiltiles is a magnetic quilt block design tool.  As the front of the box states, "It's a tool...It's a game...It's art!"

 The first thing you see when you open the box is this colorful instruction sheet.  It includes a basic overview of the product, suggestions for two quilty games you can play using Quiltiles, and some info about their growing online community.  You can visit and join their Facebook group here: Quiltiles Community.

 Under the instruction sheet, you can see the four sheets of magnetic shapes and the design board.

 The magnetic shape sheets come in four colors, red, yellow, green, and blue.

 The design board has a nice 6 x 6 grid and two diagonal corner to corner guidelines.  Of course, you are not limited to the design board either.  Because all the pieces are magnetic, you can play with them on refrigerator or other magnetic surface.  

 Each of the four magnetic shape sheets break up into these pieces.  In total, you have 144 pieces to play with!  That is a lot of combinations!

 Before I had a chance to try it, my 6 year old took over.  He loves it.  

He used every possible space to create this design.  He says it's a block warehouse building.

He made a few other designs, too.

 Here are a few of the designs I came up with.

 The first design evolved into this one.  

 Then this...

 And finally this!  It was fun to play with the shapes, plus it got my creative juices flowing again.  Playing with Quiltiles had me thinking in a fresh, new way.

 I came up with this modern looking yellow and green arrow design.

 I made a little row of cottages by putting the rectangular magnets on top of the square magnets.

 Here's a fun, traditional Pinwheel Star block.

 The Pinwheel Star block evolved into this Hourglass Star block.

 That became this block with the triangular edges.  The only thing I didn't like about Quiltiles is the number of small, quarter square triangles.  It would have been handy to have a few more of those in each colorway.

 I decided to make this fun, half-square triangle design into a real quilt block.

 Here's what I ended up with.  I changed it from a five color design into a three color design, and sewed half-square triangles from big 5" squares of fabric.  The resulting quilt block is 24".  I'm not sure if I'm going to sew a few more of these for a quilt top, or just finish it as a small wall hanging.  Please leave a comment below with your vote or suggestion.

I used this Moda Bella Solids charm pack for the white squares, and a couple of blues from my stash to sew this.  It was so easy with the precuts!

Quiltiles is a terrific way to jump start your creativity!  To get yours, visit Kits by Carla here:  Quiltiles

Have a super day!

Jennifer S. Thomas

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Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13 Blog Tour

Hello quilters!  Welcome to my little segment of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13 Blog Tour.  I can't believe we're up to 13 issues of 100 Blocks already!  Here's my block for this issue, Evening Bloom.  It's in the applique section, on page 14.  If you love applique as much as I do, this block will be fun to sew!  I believe there are 67 pieces?  Count them if you want to.

I made my block with these gorgeous fabrics - Wool Needle Flannels III by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics.  So delicious!

I used a green tone on tone plaid for the bias stems.  To make the stems, cut the fabric 1-1/4" wide on the bias, fold in half, and sew a tiny seam along the length of the strip.  Press the seam under and voila! - you are ready to applique.

To help with stem placement, I drew a four by four grid with chalk onto my background piece.  I did not have to remove the markings later, they were gone by the time I was finished sewing the stems down.

Next, I used tiny applique pins to secure the stem in place, and stitched it to the background fabric.

I applied the flowers, leaves, and berries using the fusible applique method - always fun!

To keep my pieces separated while I work, I put them into little zipper sandwich bags as soon as I cut them out.

Here you can see the stems sewn in place and the flowers, berries, and a few of the small leaves after fusing.  I prefer to fuse a few at a time, rather than trying to lay out all the pieces at once.  I just give them a quick tap with the iron at this stage, so if I need to move anything I still can.  I give everything a final fuse when all the pieces are in place.

Here is a close up pic of the berries and leaves.

After all the pieces are fused in place, I like to go around each patch with matching thread and a zigzag stitch.  You can just barely see the stitching here, on the bud and leaves.

Here is the completed block, once again, Evening Bloom.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my creative process and maybe learned a tip or two for sewing my block.

  

And now for the giveaway!  If you would like your very own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 13, please leave a comment below, and let's make it interesting.  Please comment about who taught you to quilt.  I'll choose a random winner at the end of the blog tour.  Please be sure I have a way to contact you, should you be the lucky one.

To return to the blog tour, and more quilty inspiration, click here:  Quilty Pleasures.

Have a lovely day,

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

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