My cousin likes to say, “Abe Lincoln and I were both born in a log cabin!” Eighty nine years ago she was born in a rustic log cabin in southwest Missouri. She was the first child of a very young couple starting out in the middle of the Great Depression. I would have been fascinated by it, but it was gone by my teen years.
I did see the replica of Abe Lincoln’s at the approximate location of his birth site. Log cabins represent something very “American” and in some form will always be present.
My favorite quilt block is “log cabin”. I suspect the pattern was the result of quilters using fabric scraps that were very narrow and short. This pattern utilized every bit of their precious fabric.
This is the basic pattern. Any different sizes of strips may be used as long as they follow the formula. The center block (red) is a square–the size will determine the width of the remaining pieces. Another square of the same size is sewn to it. The next piece is the same width as the original square but the length of the two squares sewn together. Continuing in a circular pattern (left to right), the next piece is the length of the center square with the addition of the first rectangle. This pattern continues until a quilt block of a preferred size is completed.
Some log cabins are “paper pieced”, especially when using very small strips of fabric. (Paper piecing is a topic for another blog post!). I paper pieced this table runner. It is14″ x 26″ and $30.
Most log cabin quilts use color to emphasize the design. In the example above, dark colors were used on the right, light colors on the left. But traditionally, the center block is always red to symbolize the hearth of a home.
The simple, basic log cabin block can be layout in many patterns–it is fun to play with the blocks, but I often agonize over the “best” design for my blocks.
Log cabin is a very traditional block, but modern quilters have adapted it to suit their vibe.
Traditional blocks made the original way is my favorite. Log Cabin blocks can be very soothing to make. A good afternoon is sewing together strips of fabric while listening to an audio book!
Sandy Klop, a big name in quilting world, designs a line of fabric called American Jane. To quote the website it is “an upbeat, happy look rich in primary colors”. American Jane fabrics suggests the vintage fabrics of the 30’s and 40’s, but has more intense colors versus the pastels of that period. I chose two jelly rolls of “Hop, Skip and Jump” plus some coordinating solids and low volume prints to make this log cabin quilt.
The quilt measures 60″ x 80″ fitting a twin bed or full size well and serving as a topper on a queen size bed.
It looks great on this queen size bed ( with the iron head board) and wrinkly embroidered pillowcases).
Bound in a solid red to match the center of each block, the quilt is backed in a tiny floral geometric. The quilting pattern is “Baptist Fan”, a long-arm side to side design, copying an old-fashion hand quilted design.
This quilt just makes me happy! It is for sale by Quilters at First for $300. Leave a comment please, if you are interested.
Quilts, Etc. 