Log Cabin Family of Blocks: Part 1

Last week in classes I taught a short lesson on the Log Cabin Family of blocks!

I’m going to take you through the 3 main categories in a series of posts, with a mystery post to finish the series!

Part 1: Log Cabin

Part 2: Courthouse Steps

Part 3: Pineapple

Part 4: Watch this space!

I demonstrated a few variations within each category, but there are many more than what I can show you here (follow the Pinterest links for lots more inspiration!).

(All the sample blocks have been made using Handmade by Makower)

Part 1: Log Cabin

1 Traditional:

The standard log cabin block starts with a square centre (traditionally this would have been red) adding ‘logs’ around the centre square (either clockwise or anti-clockwise) in rounds.  All the logs are the same width.

The traditional log cabin block was the first block I learned, and made a little quilt for my young daughter using chopped up clothes and linens!

You can find a tutorial on how to make a 12″ traditional block here.

2 Colour Rounds:

This variation of Log Cabin follows exactly the same construction as the traditional version, but keeping the fabric choice of each round the same.

Just a change of fabric placement dramatically changes the look of this block.  Here’s another similar example, the back of quilt I made several years ago.

3 Wonky:

If you enjoy a little ‘improv’ piecing then how about a Wonky Log Cabin!

Again the logs are added in rounds, but this time, the sides are sliced at irregular angles before adding the next log.

While strips are useful to start with here, the width of the finished logs will be varied.  No two blocks will be the same!

This can be a really fun block to make if you like a little more ‘freedom’ in your piecing.  Just keep adding rounds until your block is a little bigger than you need, then square it off to the required size.

Here’s an example of a Wonky Log Cabin Quilt I made for Quilt Now Magazine several years ago.

4 Curved:

To achieve a curved effect in a Log Cabin block, the background logs must be thinner than the coloured logs.

The curved effect becomes more obvious when you put 4 blocks together to create a ‘circle’:

The bigger the difference between the widths of the background and coloured logs, the greater the curve!

There are lots more variations of Log Cabin, like the Quarter Log Cabin (adding logs to the same two adjacent sides each round, rather than to all four sides) ….

(Quarter Log Cabin Cushion tutorial available here.)

….. or how about starting your Log Cabin block with a different shape!!

These are definitely on my Quilts Bucket List!

And as if that’s not enough, check out my Log Cabin Pinterest board for lots more inspiration from around the Quilty Web!

Come back soon for part 2 of The Log Cabin Family of Blocks!