Easy Quilt Blocks: Log Cabin
One of America's best-loved quilt blocks is also simple to sew
Fabric-strip logs arranged around a central "hearth" say warmth and home. Log Cabin's simple sewing technique makes it perfect for beginning quilters.
If you want to make a quilt that conveys the timeless comforts of hearth and home, there’s no better choice than a Log Cabin quilt.
History of the Log Cabin Block
Look at a Log Cabin block and you’ll see how it got its name: each block is a square of fabric-strip “logs,” arranged around a central square that represents the hearth fire, and is traditionally made of red cloth. One half of the “logs” in each block are made of dark fabrics, and the other half are light fabrics.
The Log Cabin style of stacked strips dates back thousands of years to ancient Egyptian tombs, where mummies have been found wrapped in burial cloths with a recognizable Log Cabin motif. The block became popular in the United States during the Civil War, when Log Cabin quilts were raffled to raise money for the Union Army.
Settlers took the Log Cabin block west with them in their Conestoga wagons. In those days, the “logs” were strips torn from whatever fabric was available, often worn-out clothing and blankets. The logs were pieced by hand onto a backing cloth called a foundation. The foundation cloth stabilized the quilt and made it easier to work with thin and sometimes irregular strips. Foundation piecing is still the best way to make a miniature log cabin block, although nowadays the blocks are pieced more often by machine than by hand.
How to Sew a Log Cabin Block
To assemble a Log Cabin block, you simply sew strips one by one around the sides of the central “hearth” square, using two light strips to make one corner of the cabin and two dark strips to make the other corner. Keep adding strips around the outer edge of your block until the block reaches your desired size. You can adapt the block to any size, from miniscule to huge, by varying the width of the fabric strips you use, or by using a larger or smaller number of strips. You can use strips of many different dark and light fabrics to create a scrappy, vintage look, or choose coordinated fabrics to create a more uniform color scheme. Variations on the basic log cabin block are created by arranging the strips in different configurations.
Traditional and Unusual Log Cabin Settings
The light/dark contrast built into Log Cabin blocks means that you can arrange your blocks into an endless variety of interesting geometric patterns known as Log Cabin settings. If you’re making your first Log Cabin quilt, you may want to try one of the traditional favorites, like Barn Raising, Courthouse Steps, Sunshine and Shadow, or Furrows. You can also use Log Cabin blocks to create quilt settings with holiday motifs – angels and evergreen trees for Christmas, hearts for Valentine’s Day, or houses.
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