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Thursday, August 07, 2014

Easy Log Cabin Tutorial

Today I will show you the EASIEST possible way to make a LOG CABIN block.
WITHOUT measuring any strip length!



Log Cabin block
Finished block

The finished block measures 7 1/4" x 7 1/4"

Fabric selection
Selected fabrics
My fabric selection : a red center, three dark pink and three light beige. 
You can use any colors, but always a dark side and a light side.

Center square
Center
For the central square, cut 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Strips
Strips ready
Cut your strips from the Cross Grain (from selvage to selvage), width 1 1/2".

Two squares
Two squares
The first piece to add to the red center is a square, same dimensions as the center.

Two squares sewn
Two squares pieced
 Piece those two squares right side against right side. Open and press. Turn once CLOCKWISE.

Strip sewn
Add the strip of the same fabric, sew right side against right side.

Cut strip
Cut the remaining length of the strip.

First row
First row
Open and press. Turn once CLOCKWISE

Strip
Add the light color strip for the second row.

Cutting strip
Cut the remain. 
Go on the same way all the time for the other rows, always turning ONCE CLOCKWISE
 and ALTERNATING two dark strips and two light strips.

Second row
Second row

Third row
Third row

Fourth row
Fourth row

Fifth row
Fifth row

Sixth row
Sixth row
Press hot without moving your iron.
Your block is now finished, you may just need to trim the sides to get an accurate square of 7 1/2".

Enjoy your Log Cabin!
Christine

38 comments:

  1. I did mine this way also. I didn't know anything about anything for my first quilt and cut my strips 3" wide. My Mother appreciated my creation, but I wish I had made the strips much much narrower. I love the look of yours. Thanks for your sharing and caring spirit.

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  2. Thank you so much for this simple explanation. I have wanted to learn to make log cabin blocks, but I thought I'd have trouble getting the measurements right. Now I am going to try your method.

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    1. You are welcome Deborah! Pleased to be of help!

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  3. Thank you Christine for this tutorial on making a Log Cabin block! Just think of the cutting time saved by doing it this way! Do your remember the name of the fabric line the last round of logs is from? I have been looking for fabric like that for my daughter' s quilt.

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  4. My comment got lost - so here's my second try. Thank you for the great instructions Christine! I foundation pieced a log cabin quilt once, but would like to try it without. I will have to remember that about not moving the iron. Reds and creams are my favorite and I can't wait to see your finished beauty!

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  5. awesome tutorial, that is how I learned to do log cabin blocks and I love it.

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  6. Those are some thin strips! I'm planning to make a log cabin soon and, when planning it out, was startled at how fast thicker strips add up to make a ginormous block. Nice tutorial.

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  7. Great color combo! Log cabin squares remind me of my mother. That was her favorite style of quilt to make. I have yet to attempt on but I may have to soon!

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  8. I'm self taught and this is how I did log cabin blocks. My sewing is not accurate enough to cut the length before beginning.

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  9. I learned how to make a log cabin in a workshop. You do it simpler for sure.
    We were taught to square up after each 2 strips put on.

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  10. Thanks for sharing this tutorial, Christine! I have not ever made a log cabin block before. But this is, for sure, the easiest way I can imagine to make it! I seen Paula from The Sassy Quilter is thinking of doing a Modern Log Cabin quilt along. You girls are tempting me to follow suit!

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  11. Thank you for the tutorial Christine. My first quilt was a log cabin 33 years ago. I have never done another one...because it was my first quilt and you know how it must have looked. I think I'll try another. I bet it would look better now.

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  12. Beautiful block! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  13. I love this, I am making a quilt as you go with very similar fabrics. I wanted to switch up the blocks somehow and wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. This will work fantastic. Thanks for the post!

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  14. WONDERFUL!! PERFECT!! EASY PEASY TOOT! May I share your tutorial on my business web page? I have an Etsy shop and I sell fabrics/notions/patterns/supplies as well as my own handmade creations and am always looking for ways to engage my customers. This is such a wonderfully easy "toot" and I would love to offer it to customers who are new to the quilting world, that includes myself :-). I would simply link your tutorial to my Facebook page, any fabric "bundles" I feel would work nicely in my Etsy Shop, as well as any blocks I myself create for personal use. Thank you for our kind consideration!! Regards, Andrea from Embellish by Andrea :-)

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  15. That is exactly how I make my log cabins ... my favorite quilt pattern (which would explain why I make so many of them - ha!). This is much simpler and less tedious than cutting all those varying lengths.

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  16. I LOVE IT! The fabrics are gorgeous! I love the easy cut and sewing instructions. I think I can do it! Thank You!

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    1. You are welcome! Thank you for your kind comment!

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  17. May I ask what group the final fabric is from? love the choices you made! Agree that this is the best way to work a log cabin.

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  18. Would you be able to make this block with 4 colors for a king size bed? I would like it to end up being 100x100

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  19. je viens de découvrir votre blog et j'aime beaucoup je voudrais essayer de me lancer dans le patch et là ce modèle me parais parfait pour que j'essaye merci bonne journée

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    1. Merci Sandrine pour votre visite sur mon blog! Je vous souhaite de réussir votre Log Cabin. Bonne journée a vous.

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  20. Hi Christine, Not sure this is timed appropriately, lol. If the strips are cut 1.5" wide and there are 7 strips across, shouldn't the squared up size be 7.5" rather than 7.25"??? Just wondering why the block is squared smaller... am I missing something?

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    1. Hi Ginger, Thank you for your comment, you are right, it should be 7.5". I am going to correct this mistake. Thanks a lot!!!

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  21. I made a reverse barn raising using this and i loved it, keep up the good work

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  22. I completely understand the instructions but I need to know how much of each of the fabrics I need to purchase in order to make a twin size quilt. Is there a magic formula or do I just guess?

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    1. I am afraid I cannot be of any help to you on this matter. You may need a mathematician...

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    2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeXuOPDRgPI

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  23. Would be able able to tell us how long each strip is so that we can precut?

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  24. I think I'm in love. I'm now making an "easy" 9-patch. My second quilt ("throw size"). Just finished an easy baby quilt. I have fabric for my next project, but I'm going to use it for the log cabin design. The dark colors are very similar. I just need to get the lighter prints. I'm so excited!!! Bless you for sharing this free pattern. Will let you know later this year how I'm doing.

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  25. Hi Terri! Tanks for your visit and kind comment! I wish you good luck for your next project and I am eager to have news from you. Have a great Sunday!

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  26. Thank you for the tutorial, Beautiful choice of colors!

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    1. You are welcome Barbara, thanks for your visit and nice comment!

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  27. Do you have a video of this? I find it easier to watch things like this being done

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