Friday, July 5, 2013

Step Back in Time

Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt

It has been quite some time since I last featured a quilt from my "early days", before blogging.  This Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt was made in 2007 and it is my first log cabin quilt.


I have many fond memories of making this quilt and looking at it takes me back to a time and a place.  With this quilt also came the realization that I love small patchwork piecing, the repetitive kind.  Cut, stitch, press, trim ... again and again.


It is obvious (to me) that my fabric stash has evolved since then.  This quilt is heavy on Kaffe Fassett fabrics, which I don't often reach for today and many of these fabrics have since been passed on to quilters in my community. I note also that there is not a single text fabric used in this quilt!


Sometimes I catch a passing glimpse of this quilt and all I can see is the color purple, a color which I now struggle to use.  This quilt is however a catalog of my fabric stash circa 2007. I am very fond of the Katie Jump Rope as well as (original!) Flea Market Fancy fabrics used, and I like the use of the light (low volume) fabrics for contrast.  The quilt was quilted by professional long arm quilter (and my sister), Karen from Quilts on Bastings.


This quilt is made from just one block, a very traditional Log Cabin Block. Nothing new here, but I thought I would share with you the size and construction details of each block.
Cutting Instructions:

A - Center Square 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches
B - 1 inch x 1.5 inches
C - 1 inch x 2 inches 
D - 1 inch x 2 inches
E - 1 inch x 2.5 inches
F - 1 inch x 2.5 inches
G - 1 inch x 3 inches
H - 1 inch x 3 inches
I - 1 inch x 3.5 inches
J - 1 inch x 3.5 inches
K - 1 inch x 4 inches
L - 1 inch x 4 inches
M - 1 inch x 4.5 inches

Points to note:
  • Half of the log cabin block is made using light fabric (C, B, F, G, J, K) and the remainder of the block is made using dark fabric.  
  • All measurements include a scant 1/4 inch seam allowances.
  • Each finished Log Cabin Block measures 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches including seam allowances.
  • I have made 144 log cabin blocks.  The finished quilt measures 48.5 inches x 48.5 inches.
  • It is a good idea to make a test block prior to cutting all of your fabrics for your project.
  • There are many different layouts for this light/dark log cabin block.  I have used a traditional layout called Barn Raising.  Once you have finished making all your log cabin blocks lay out all blocks in whatever design you prefer and sew together in rows.
Having said all that, and having given you all of the exact cutting instructions I prefer to cut logs longer and wider, trimming back after each piece has been added.  It is time consuming but ensures accuracy.  I prefer to sew way - there is no right or wrong way.


I have been cutting 1.5 inch strips for some time just in case I decide to make another scrappy log cabin quilt, or even a string quilt.  Perhaps it is time to use them.


Happy Stitching,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Follow this blog with Bloglovin'
Follow on Bloglovin
Pin It!

56 comments:

  1. Lovely quilt - those are small blocks! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh how I love traditional log cabin quilts. So much visual impact. This is so different from your current quilts in terms of fabric choices, and it's nice seeing a bit of the evolution.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the red dot center, a Rita twist for the traditional red!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is absolutely stunning and has such fun colors in it. Makes me want to cut up my bights. And I wish they would remake Flea Market Fancy - the original. It was just awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  5. this is just stunning!! thankyou for featuring it on your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love how the light fabric seems to hover over the darker squares below. There are so many illusions in art, especially in quilting art. It seems rather profound to me that this illusion, of looking back, back, back to the colored base of the quilt mirrors the sensation you yourself have of looking back at yourself as a quilter in an earlier time of your life. So much color and beauty was already evident but you hadn't found your voice(text)just yet.
    Thanks so much for sharing the picture and story; As always, so much food for thought and inspiration in your work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had to go back and find the red dot center after I read it in the comments. I never get tired of the log cabin block. Your quilt is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the way fabrics stop time. They reveal our tastes just like an old photograph does. Lovely work, Rita!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I enjoy taking a look back with you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous quilt! Thanks for sharing this, as well as the instructions!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is just awesome and makes me smile:) It is a very happy quilt! Thanks for sharing the details-maybe there is a log cabin in my future.?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Heavy on the kaffe gives such a contracts between the lights and darks. It looks amazing. I'm not much of a Kaffe fan, but this makes me see his fabrics in a different way, love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely quilt - I always like Kaffe fabrics - I think the pops of colour do something special to quilts.


    Thank you also for your Kaleidoscope template - I made my first ever paper pieced item from it.

    http://justjulielou.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/weekending.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. MY SECOND THOUGHT WAS SHE USED PURPLE! FIRST THOUGHT HOW NICE! THIRD THOUGHT. ......CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT EVER YOU DO WITH
    THOSE 1.5" STRINGS!

    ReplyDelete
  15. MY SECOND THOUGHT WAS SHE USED PURPLE! FIRST THOUGHT HOW NICE! THIRD THOUGHT. ......CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT EVER YOU DO WITH
    THOSE 1.5" STRINGS!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Looking back at old quilts is a great fabric history ride and seeing how your tastes change....love it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Fantastic to see history, how tastes and fashions change. You could make this a series! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  18. Even though this was one of your first quilts, I can still see your "voice" coming through.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing Rita. You always continue to inspire. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gorgeous!!!!! Thank you so much for the tut too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful and vibrant. I love this quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Absolutely stunning. Love the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I saw this on IG and I was amazed by it... to see it as a whole made it even better. Thank you for the tutorial, hopefully I will have collected enough stripes to make one some day. Your quilts are great inspirations to me! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is what I love about quilting. It's one simple block - but it's oh so dynamic and versatile. Thank for sharing this quilt Rita, it's made my day :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's amazing. Very different from the colours and fabrics that you are using now, but beautifully pieced, as always.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, what a quilt ...... and it was your first log cabin!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Stunning, but I don't think I'd have the patience!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I've always wanted to make a log cabin quilt. Now I'm sure of it but maybe it will be my first modern quilt too! Beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful quilt! I always oversize my HSTs and then trim for accuracy. I hadn't thought of doing that with log cabin "logs." I've been meaning to make a log cabin doll quilt using 3" squares. I had thought of paper piecing, but I find that tedious, so I might try your oversize and trim method.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow, you trim after adding every log! That is an amazing commitment to accuracy. You've definitely found your sweet spot.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Rita, I was amazed (but shouldn't be surprised since I have followed your blog for years) to read that this is your FIRST log cabin. It is just gorgeous and so accurately pieced. In addition to your skill with choosing fabrics, I admire the accuracy of your piecing in all the quilts you make. I know from what you have written that you trim blocks, do a lot of pressing and nest your seams as ways of increasing your accuracy. I also recently learned at my local quilting shop that some sewing machines have upper feed dogs, which help a lot with accuracy too. Without diminishing your talent, I'm curious to know if you have a machine with upper feed dogs. I would like to have better matching points/corners and wonder how much the upper feed dogs help.
    Thank you always for all the beauty you create and share.

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is gorgeous. What a lot of work. Have you entered it into any competitions?

    ReplyDelete
  33. I just ohhed and ahhed when I saw this quilt! Wonderful colors. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  34. This one is your best ever masterpiece. You should consider looking at old quilt blocks like this one and giving them a new life.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love it! And I have a lot of Kaffe in my stash. Might have to make one soon. :-))

    ReplyDelete
  36. This quilt is stunning, Rita. I'm not much into Kaffe, but this all goes together in such beautiful Rita-like fashion. I, too, wish they would bring back the original FMF and KJR, as I was on an extended holiday from quilting at the time and missed out on it all. I love your lights and your red-dot centers, too--all together to make a masterpiece :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Love the scrappy bright colors, great quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have yet to make a log cabin quilt. Your fabric selection is phenomenal. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  39. OMG - this is absolutely beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Yes, I can see how your colors have changed, but the array of fabrics now is amazing! So many choices. I have the two bundles you spoke of, Katie Jump Rope, and Flea Market Fancy, plus many original Amy Butler prints. I love your quilts then and now. You have helped quilters all over the world with colors and your simple designs yet amazing results. Its nice to see you can quilt and make a profit doing what you love. Thank you Rita

    ReplyDelete
  41. Absolutely stunning! When you posted the photos on IG I instantly started salivating and decided to start working on my own version from my scrap basket, as leaders/enders when I'm piecing. Thanks, as always, for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Also, I have to mention that I am insanely jealous of your family. Your sister is a long arm quilter, you are a quilting master, and your MIL--I fall to sleep dreaming of the pictures you've shared of her quilts. So cool!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Your quilt is amazing. Perfect seams as always. I smiled when you said "all you could see was purple". I couldn't see purple at all on the whole quilt photo, only when I looked at the close-ups! Perhaps that's because I like the colour purple.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I've been quilting for about 30 years and have yet to make a full sized log cabin quilt. Your post has inspired me to start one. Your color are perfect; I also love the color purple!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Well, I bet a text print was next to impossible to find back then!

    ReplyDelete
  46. the log cabin is one of my favorite blocks, and that is one beautiful quilt.
    thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  47. That is a gorgeous quilt. I especially love scrappy quilt! This one is so vibrant. I'm not sure I could work with such tiny pieces!!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. You know I've never been a huge fan of a log cabin quilt but I love what you did with yours, using the brights contrasted with lights. Might even inspire me to try this in another effort to use up my string scraps! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Your quilt is stunning and I love all The fabrics you used. It is just awesome. Never tried such a small block before. Thank you for sharing your tutorial. Happy quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thanks for sharing these instructions. It is just what. Need for the mini I am working on!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I absolutely love this. I need to make one of these.. what a lovely way to use up scraps!

    ReplyDelete
  52. LOVE your quilts - the fabric choices just pop - beautifully.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! I really appreciate it.

Comments are published after review.

Feel free to ask questions and I will answer either here or by email, as is appropriate.