Log Cabin Quilt
Kate T.
I want to make a queen log cabin and don't know what size block to
make. I got a fella in mind that just built a log cabin and want to
give it to him.
any suggestions on block size and colors.
Any of you gentlemen quilters have any suggestions for me.
Kate T. South Mississippi
Louise in Iowa
finished block. As for colors, if I asked DH, he'd probably say blues or
blues and browns. I'm picturing fall colors, though - maybe a brick or
burnt orange color for the center square with off-white and gold-yellows
on the light side and dark green and browns and reds on the dark side.
--
Louise in Iowa
nieland1390@mchsi dot com
http://community.webshots.com/user/louiseiniowa
Polly Esther
Meanwhile back to the log cabin. Just standard autumn colors is always
good for log cabins, and red + green is quite dazzling and not girly. A
little different would be marine blue, beige and ivory.
You'll want to think about technical stuff such as mattress drop and
will it be used 'just for display' or actually need to be wide/long enough
to be a comfortable quilt.
Consider carefully what you see him wear; that should give you some
clues about his preferences. (Mr. Esther *hates* brown and if you made him
a quilt with brown in it, I'm certain it would be neatly folded and put in
the top shelf of his closet.)
When you're putting your logs together, be sure to put thread on your
bobbin. Ask Leslie. Polly
"Kate T." <> I've never made this quilt and need some help.
Mary in Rock Island IL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/illini81/sets/72157602179862275/
IIRC, the blocks are 10 inches. That was a good size, big enough that
I did not need to make a million blocks but small enough that there
was some "play" in making a design.
OK, I just looked at the pattern
http://quilterscache.com/L/LogCabinBlock.html
and found that the blocks are 12 inches.
When I look at log cabin blocks, it seems that some are
disporoportionate--logs being too thick for the size of the block. It
is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. Probably also depends on
what kind of design you anticipate creating with those logs.
Have fun!
Mary
Kate in MI
of ways to lay out the blocks for a wide variety of patterns. You can see
the one I did in my webshots albums -- Kathy's Quilts (see link below).
If you do a Google Images search (or search webshots or any other album
website) for log-cabin-quilt ... you'll get lots and lots of pictures to
give you some ideas!
Just be prepared for lots of cutting and lots of sewing. One reminder --
always be sure to square up your blocks before putting them together. With
all those seams -- actually finishing with an actual 12 1/2 inch unfinished
block that is square was rare -- at least in my experience!
--
Kate in MI
http://community.webshots.com/user/K_Groves
"Kate T." <kngh...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:278bad5f-0127-4e19...@a21g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.
want to do a quickie top.
I use a 12 in. finished block with logs that finish at either 1 in. or 1.25
in. wide. I actually prefer the looks of a 1.25 in. finished log. I draw
out the block, figure the dimensions of each log and make a test block to
prove my measurements. Then I cut all the logs at once- cutting 8-12
thickness of fabric at a time... using a brand new rotary blade in my 45 mm
cutter, of course! First cut the strips then cut the lengths to size.
Cutting that many layers at once is not for the faint of heart and requires
concentration and lots of muscle- you do NOT want to make a mistake in
measurements nor let your rotary cutter run amok!
Some folks sew each round of the blocks to a long strip of fabric and then
cut the blocks off the strip- rather than cutting the strip of fabric into
sections for each round of logs. I don't like that long strip method
because if you get off size on something then you don't know until all the
blocks are done and they are all over the place in size. If you pre-cut the
logs and they don't fit together correctly you know some thing is wrong and
you can fix it before the error starts multiplying itself. Also, after the
first few rounds of adding logs to the block, you always add the next log on
the side where you stitch across two seams. Only ONE side of the block will
have two seams, so you cannot get confused on where to add the next log if
you keep that in mind.
I had making log cabin tops down to a science- years ago I could start with
pulling fabrics from my stash, cut, sew and assemble the queen sized top in
fourteen hours working straight thru! Polly refers to the time I was sewing
the last round of logs on 120 log cabin blocks. I finished the last log on
the last block at 4 a.m.- after working on them all day and night. I went
to fish the chained blocks out from behind the sewing machine and found out
I'd run out of bobbin thread on the second block and had 118 logs sewn to
the blocks with no bobbin thread.
I cried.....
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
"Mary in Rock Island IL" <Illi...@SPAMmchsi.com> wrote in message
news:kue2k5t8rqdbqqji7...@4ax.com...
Polly Esther
easier. She's so right about: cut your strips to exact lengths so you'll
know every time that your logs are staying true and even. If you place a
strip and it's not crossing TWO seams, you're in the wrong place. Thread on
the bobbin is not optional.
Mary's log cabin tells you that you do NOT have to be limited to solids.
Prints, patterns, plaids (if you dare) are so much more interesting.
Polly
"Leslie& The Furbabies in MO." <...
Sherry
I'm certainly not the expert, I've made one log cabin. But it was
really fun,
and I thought it turned out well for a guy quilt. The blocks were
either 8 or
8.5 IIRC. I just went through and chose all the darker shades I
thought I
could get away with. They were 1.5 inch strips.
But not solids, there was prints, florals, plaids, too.
It was very scrappy. I have a pic "in progress" but don't have one of
the
finished quilt. Here's the link
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2505312090101618540DzOwJf
My aunt has made several ofEleanor Burns' pattern, with 2.5 inch
strips. Six different
fabrics, all coordinated. They are lovely and very quick to finish.
Each one looks
different because she put the blocks together in a different way. They
are 12 inch
blocks (I think).
I am ready to do another one too. Can't decide on the fabric either!
PS, and OT: Kate, were you the one who was asking about the Seamline
marker?
Did you ever get one?
Sherry
Sherry
Forgot to say this: I mentioned I was ready to do another log cabin
and hadn't
picked out the fabric yet. I was actually thinking about getting kind
of wild
and crazy and using batiks. Wouldn't that be pretty?
Sherry
Kate T.
thank you all for jumping in with answers to my questions.
As fer bein' my feller, I kinda adopted him.
I was thinking of doing the 42 inch strips but Leslie I want to thank
you for saying to cut the logs to the length called for in the
pattern. Instead of fussing with the long strips I can cut one strip
the for the desired length then cut individual longs the width I
need. That way I can concentrate more on keeping the scant quarter
inch seam than fighting with several blocks sewn wrong at once.
I've been drawn to the barn raising layout since he is building a log
cabin and I could name it "cabin raising, a new beginning". And now
to the colors, Well Hum-m-m-m.
I do have some orange for the center block. Its not the zinger bright
orange nor is it burnt orange. It is from some ombre fabric I picked
up a year ago. The ombre goes from very pale orange to dark orange.
Got to go look at the patterns to see which block pattern I like.
Another question, should I press the seams open or not. Decisions,
Decisions, Decisions.
Kate T. South Mississippi where it is 29 degrees and getting COLDER.
John
I have happily done a couple of log cabin quilts and all three of them
came out with finished squares of 12'' and lots of 1" or 1-1/2"
strips. That gives you the look of lots of logs in the block whereas
if you use 2" finished strips you get fewer logs in the 12" block and
it tends to be a bit clunkier in appearance, at least to me. Not that
that is a bad thing, if that is what you are trying to do, though. The
quilt I am now almost finished with, is the log fence pattern, from
the Barbara Brackman Civil War quilts album, which I used larger
strips that are laid in strips and alternated at 90 degrees. The nice
thing about log cabin is that there are so many variations in the
layout that you could probably spend a lifetime doing them all. Color
choices, I think, will depend on the intended layout as to which will
want to be featured; color or pattern of placement. Isn't it always
so, in most quilting that comes out looking good? I agree with the
Autumn colors mentioned above, with beige's and creams and off whites
for the lighter colors. Yum, Yum!
John
Polly Esther
blocks you'll need. It is big fun to play with the blocks and arrange them
until you decide which is the most wonderful - but it would be So annoying
to need just one more block or one more row. Polly
"John" <ljtay...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message
news:472b96c5-257f-4dd1...@d7g2000vbs.googlegroups.com...
Roberta
same dimensions as the width of the logs, you don't have to. Make the
centers bigger if you want. Fussy cut moose heads for the centers if
you want. Or you could use HST squares, which would "sink" the centers
into the overall light-dark division. (Red squares will appear to
float in the middle of each block.)
Roberta in D
Julia in MN
<snipped>
> Another question, should I press the seams open or not. Decisions,
> Decisions, Decisions.
Julia in MN
--
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Sandy E
http://www.vcq.org/specialty%20lessons.htm/log_cabin.htm
R/S
On 1/3/10 7:52 PM, in article hhrhkm$iql$1...@news.albasani.net, "Kate in MI"
Sandy E
Indeed, Sherry.
The striking contrast in your LC is gorgeous.
R/S
On 1/3/10 11:02 PM, in article
367e8883-6c50-4383...@l30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, "Sherry"
Allison
raising' layout you need an EVEN number of blocks across and down to
keep the pattern centered. On the other hand you can have a lot of fun
using ODD numbers of blocks to make an asymmetric layout. I did one
like that a number of years ago - I was inspired by an article in QNM.
As for sewing it together - if you are doing a scrappy quilt it's just
as easy to cut a bunch of strips the correct width from the different
fabrics, sew them on, and then trim them off, one side at a time. Just
stop when the block is the size you like. Final size adjustments are
tweaked using the border width.
Log cabins are one of my favorite designs!
Allison
Patti
come out the wrong size; and not cutting the strips to the right length
just contributes to the ease with which it can be done! In fact, though
I wouldn't suggest it to most people, I make all my log cabin blocks
using paper foundation! It is all too easy to spot a 'trimmed to size'
block, because there are hundreds of strips all the same width.
I love the idea of an asymmetrical design - must think about that!
.
In message <4b435658$0$2997$9a6e...@news.newshosting.com>, Allison
<all...@nospam.com> writes
>The final design is important as well - if you want to do a 'barn
>raising' layout you need an EVEN number of blocks across and down to
>keep the pattern centered. On the other hand you can have a lot of fun
>using ODD numbers of blocks to make an asymmetric layout. I did one
>like that a number of years ago - I was inspired by an article in QNM.
>
>As for sewing it together - if you are doing a scrappy quilt it's just
>as easy to cut a bunch of strips the correct width from the different
>fabrics, sew them on, and then trim them off, one side at a time. Just
>stop when the block is the size you like. Final size adjustments are
>tweaked using the border width.
>
>Log cabins are one of my favorite designs!
>
>Allison
--
Best Regards
pat on the hill
Sandy E
Me, too, Allison: LC is one of my favorites.
I like to cut strips from a few dozen fabrics, lay them all in baskets
(lights here, darks there), sew & trim, as long as the strip lasts, trimming
again after each round (simple-simple). For scrappy I stick strips in a
bag so I don't know what I'll put out next; lighter here, darker there,
just enough contrast to matter to me. LC=EZ
http://www.vcq.org/specialty%20lessons.htm/log_cabin.htm
I rearranged the corners on the Star so they were all the same; it hangs
in the dining room.
R/Sandy
On 1/5/10 9:10 AM, in article 4b435658$0$2997$9a6e...@news.newshosting.com,
Sandy E
Using the 12.5" ruler, I square-up the block throughout the process,
to make sure it doesn't get off track. By cutting long strips at the
beginning, I have less to cut during the piecing.
You have much more patience and skill than I to use the foundation
piecing method. I've seen your work in Paducah, Pat: excellent! ;-)
Happy New Year!
R/Sandy - my process produces more scraps.. and that's good! <g>
On 1/5/10 9:25 AM, in article BrRgotHx...@quik.clara.co.uk, "Patti"
Patti
I really *do* love FPP!
In fact, I find the square ruler awkward (though I most use the 6.5" and
4.5"!). It got a lot easier when I got the turntable cutting board.
I do nevertheless get plenty of strip scraps! (that's quite difficult
to say out loud >g<)
.
In message <C769024C.3EB8F%el...@tx.rr.com>, Sandy E <el...@tx.rr.com>
writes
>Howdy!
>
>Using the 12.5" ruler, I square-up the block throughout the process,
>to make sure it doesn't get off track. By cutting long strips at the
>beginning, I have less to cut during the piecing.
> You have much more patience and skill than I to use the foundation
>piecing method. I've seen your work in Paducah, Pat: excellent! ;-)
>
>Happy New Year!
>
>R/Sandy - my process produces more scraps.. and that's good! <g>
--
amy in CNY
blocks and they're always so beautiful.
i'll have to put this on my list for this year! thanks for the idea.
can't wait to see how you progress! keep us informed!
amy inCNY
Pat in Virginia
I really like the off kilter LC Blocks. Cut the dark strips about 1.5" and
cut the light strips wider ... maybe 2.25". Center square should be about 2"
or so. They would finish to 1", 1.75, and 1.5"; set together, the narrow
strips form an illusion of a curve. This is very cool. To determine the
proportions YOU prefer, play with this on paper.
Scrappy LC are lovely, though I do prefer continuity of the center square.
HTH.
PAT in VA/USA
"Kate T." <kngh...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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