Today on the blog I’ll share the steps to make a basic log cabin block. The log cabin quilt block is, in my opinion, the most recognized and well-known traditional quilt block around. It’s super versatile too. Myriad setting options let you create so many different stunning quilts.

Why I’m qualified

Hi, I’m Mary Beth Krapil, Handi Quilter National Educator. I’ve been making quilts for more than 40 years! My very first quilt was crafted from log cabin blocks. I didn’t start simple, I jumped right in with a king-size bed quilt!  Sadly that quilt was lost in a move but I do have one of my other very early quilts, also a log cabin.

I did not use a pattern for this much-used and well-loved little throw quilt. I drew my block out on graph paper and figured out the pieces I would need to cut (more on that later).Can you spot my mistake? Let me know in the comments. 🙂

You all might know by now that I love the quilting as the best part of the quilt-making process. This quilt was one of the ones that lead up to my decision to buy a longarm machine.

I quilted it on my embroidery machine. First, I did some straight line quilting through the log cabin blocks and stitch in the ditch around the blocks.  Then I stitched those fancy circular designs in the yellow and blue strips I added to make the quilt longer. That was a LOT of hoopings and it took forever! Now, I could have so much fun with designs in those strips of open space for quilting using my HQ Infinity! And finish that quilt in a jiffy.

General Instructions

The log cabin block is easy enough for anyone who can stitch an accurate straight line. This much-loved block is made from a series of strips, or “logs”, sewn around a center shape. We will use a square for the center. Other shapes that have been used for log cabin blocks include triangles,  rectangles, diamonds, even curved shapes. The resulting blocks can be very interesting!

This block is sewn with 1/4 inch seam allowances. Since there are so many seams in a log cabin block, it is super important to sew with an accurate and consistent 1/4 inch seam. It is best to start by testing your 1/4 inch seam. Here’s how:  Accurately cut 2 pieces of scrap fabric one and a half inches wide by a couple of inches long.

Sew these two pieces together using your accurate 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press and measure the resulting piece. It should measure 2 and 1/2 inches wide.

If it does measure up, you are good to go!  If not, make adjustments either to your needle position or the position of your fabric pieces until you achieve the accurate 1/4 inch.

What you will need

Here are the things you will need to make this block:

Tools:

Sewing machine (I chose to use my HQ Stitch 710 sewing machine)

rotary cutter

rotary cutting ruler

cutting mat

iron

Materials:

Fabrics (I used scraps leftover from previous projects)

Thread (I recommend a neutral, light gray is my go-to, 50 weight cotton thread. My favorite is Superior’s PIMA.)

How to Make a Log Cabin Block

Step 1: Plan your design

When I plan, I start with my colors. The logs on one side of the center should contrast with the other side creating a diagonal division in the finished block. maybe you want one side dark and one side light. Or one side warm colors and one side cool colors. Whatever will create a contrast will work.

Next, I plan the layout of my block. I like to use graph paper to draw it out. It gives me a road map on the cutting of my logs and the sewing steps. I draw the center and start surrounding it with logs. Starting with the desired size of my block, I decide how many rounds I want and then make my logs the appropriate size.

I am making a small pillow so I chose 1 inch finished logs to make a 7 inch finished block. Once I have the drawing, I can make a list of the size pieces I need to cut. Coloring one side of the block helps to keep track of the lights and darks.

Notice I also indicated light and dark on the chart by coloring the dark log sizes and writing a cursive l or d next to the logs. I try to use anything I can to help me keep everything straight!

Step 2: Gather fabrics

Choose the fabrics you want to work with. Remember you want contrast between the halves of the block. You can use as few or as many fabrics as you like. Are you a scrappy quilter? Let us know in the comments! I’ve seen log cabin blocks with all white logs on the light side of the block. This is one place where you can make the blocks your own.

I had a small piece of fall leaves fabric. So I decided to make a pillow with a couple of log cabin blocks on the front.

I dug through my scrap bins and pulled out orange/golds, browns, and cream/pale gold scraps. My block will be very scrappy.

Step 3: Cut fabrics

This is the first step where you’ll want to be as accurate as possible, so cut carefully.

I like to lay the pieces around the center just to get an idea of how the fabrics play together. That way, I can make changes, if I think I need to, before I sew.

Step 4: Stack fabrics

Once I have all the logs cut I divide them into light and dark and stack them by size with the longest log on the bottom.  This combined with your graph paper roadmap and chart makes it easy to choose the next piece to sew.

Step 5: Stitch

Here is the next step where you want to be as accurate as possible. Make sure you have tested your 1/4 inch seam (described above in the General Instructions). I like to use a seam guide to help me keep the start and end of each seam from veering from 1/4 inch. It can be as simple as a small piece of foam stuck to your machine bed with double sided tape. The pieces will butt up against this guide and I’ll get the perfect 1/4 inch seam.

Because seams in a log cabin block do not have to nest together, I press the seams open.

The block will lie flatter with seams pressed open. You may prefer to press your seams to the side. If you do, press all the seam allowances toward to outside of the block.

Keep stitching the logs around the center following your chart.

Step 6: Measure and trim

Once I have the entire block sewn, I give it a good press and then measure. My blocks should measure 7 and 1/2 inches square. If needed trim your block. I did a pretty good job!

Step 7: Make more blocks

Now that you have the basics down, make some more blocks so you can put them together for a project.   Placemat? Pillow? Wall hanging? Quilt? Border for a quilt? Log cabin blocks work for so many applications!

I made one more block for my Fall pillow.

Here is the finished pillow top.

Hope to get it done by Thanksgiving.  I’ll post the finished pillow in the comments.   Now on to step 8…

Step 8: Quilt it!!

Once you arrange and sew your blocks together you can get to the best part, the quilting. The sky’s the limit here. For my pillow, I’ll keep the quilting simple. I have so many fabrics and colors, the quilting will not show up much on these blocks.

Stay tuned to the blog and I’ll do a post on different ways to quilt some traditional blocks like the log cabin.

Next steps

Get creative. Think about ways to change the basic log cabin block to make it unique. You can vary the size of the logs. change the shape of the center. Or try lots of different layouts for the traditional block. Google “layouts for log cabin blocks” and browse for tons of ideas!

A modified log cabin

I made this quilt to participate in my Florida guild’s 25th anniversary challenge. The Cabin Fever Quilt Guild in Orlando, FL had been in existence for 25 years. Participants were given a piece of silver fabric that had to be used prominently in the quilt. Here’s what I made:

To go along with the Silver Anniversary theme, I incorporated 25 log cabin blocks (Cabin Fever Guild), using 25 different fabrics. I modified the shape of the log cabins in the center to form the flower. See how versatile the block can be?

Because we were in Florida, I used a fussy cut flower for the center of each log cabin block and incorporated citrus colors (citrus is a major industry in Florida). I added the iconic scissors to represent sewing and quilting.

At that time, I owned a HQ16 machine without stitch regulation. This was the first machine Handi Quilter ever made. Pro-Stitcher had not been invented yet! I quilted using all free motion and ruler-work using Glitter thread by Superior Threads.

I’m proud to say I won first place in the guild challenge. And this quilt went on to win Best of Show in the On-Line Quilt Contest of the American Quilter’s Society and hung at the AQS show in Paducah.

Hope this inspires you to play with log cabin blocks and see what you can create!

Til next time, remember to Quilt Every Day!

by Mary Beth Krapil