Would the Log Cabin quilt be a quilt for a beginner? I've never quilted but they look so pretty. And when someone says they hand quilted does that mean they didn't use a sewing machine at all?

Any of the log cabin patterns would be suitable for a beginner and why I haven't made one yet is baffling me. Hand quilting usually refers to the actual quilting of the quilt (done by hand with needle/thread). You can either use a sewing machine to sew all the pieces together or hand sew them (if you have tons of time). Hope I have this right as there are so many variables in this wonderful hobby of ours!

i would consider a traditional log cabin block a beginner block.

typically when some one says i hand quilted - they mean the quilting stitches that hold the 3 layers together (top, batting, back) but they might have done the piecing of the top with the sewing machine.

No - hand quilting means that after your top is compleated, that you take the top, the batting (filling) and the backing and sandwich it together. It can be hand quilted or it can be machine quilted. Hand pieced is when you hand sew all of the pieces for the top together by hand. Very time consuming - I imagine.

This was the first quilt I made. Hand-piecing refers to sew the blocks by hand.

My first quilt was a log cabin quilt...I thought it was a good pattern to start with.

My second quilt was a log cabin. I found out that I was better off to finish one block at a time rather than strip piece each side. The quilt turned out fine and my sister still uses it.

All of my sewing and quilting is done by machine or I would never finish anything.

check out all the pictures under log cabin in the gallery
http://www.quiltingboard.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=2181

One of the first classes I took at my LQS was Intro to Piecing I and we made a rail fence and a Log Cabin. We machine pieced everything but I hand quilted the Log Cabin which is the picture in my Avatar.

The are so easy to make and the go together very quickly. Eleanor Burns has a great book with Log Cabin quilts and there are so many designs that you can make just depending on how many blocks you make to get the different sizes

Eleanor Burns has a great "Quilt in a Day" book on Log Cabins.
I'd definitely recommend it for anyone!

Eleanor Burns' book Log Cabin in a Day is a must! Blocks use 2.5" strips, and make up 14" (finished) blocks. Highly recommended! :)

My first quilt was a log cabin quilt, it was so much fun, I remember being so proud of it when I finished and couldn't wait to begin another one. I think its a great first quilt pattern to do. Happy Quilting

Log cabin will teach you all the basics you need to get a good start.

1/4" seams, rotary cutting,, fabric placement,, & staying organized are all important in this block.

Give it a try,, it' s a fun block to piece, & play with block placement after you finish piecing. You will be amazed at the combinations 1 block can create.

I am a handquilter too, most of the time, and to me that means, no machine touches a quilt from start to finish. I think the hours I put into a quilt are special and to gift one of them even more so. But machien quilting is great too. I can make more quilt tops for my charities. Hope you continue to share your progress with us.

A log cabin is often used as a beginner project. Even though I have been quilting for .... 40 years I still like to make them. The basic block has so many options for final design it is a popular quilt for beginners and experienced quilters.
A few pointers to make your first a success. Do starch the fabric. I can not stress this enough. Since it is a block that continues to build , accuracy is important as the block continues to get bigger as you add pieces. A 1/4 inch foot is one of the most valuable tools you can have for this block. Some log cabins work with strips as small as one inch. For your first , I think you would get bored with such small strips. Work with a larger strip.
Keep your blocks organized so when you pick up one its always orientated the same way as it goes through the machine.
I prefer the press each seam after completing a new strip set. It helps keep the project flat as you are working on it, plus its just fun to iron and admire the way the block is starting to look.
If you want the project to go quickly , make the center square ( the only real square in the whole project ) bigger! use a 3 inch or even 3 1/2 inch center.
Start with scraps, log cabin really lends itself to using alot of scraps. You also won;t feel so bad if you decide to move onto something else while working on it.

My first quilt was a logcabin ,quilt in a day by elanor burns strip method. very easy and I made a king size in a weekend.

There is such a variation you can make with log cabin blocks, no two are alike. It would be a good first project.

Yes, just be sure to keep everything square as you add your logs, or your finished blocks won't be square.
Four patch and nine patch blocks are also good beginner blocks,
probably more so than the log cabin.

This way my first class I took. It was abt.25 yrs ago. I didn't bind it, but brought the back to the front. It's on my bed to this day. It started me on the road to many more projects.

Log cabin was my first quilt. I think there are easier ones to do as a beginner, but they aren't as pretty when you are done.

Her books are great for beginners

I think the log cabin would be a great first quilt. I would encourage you to use larger logs though. Making one with small logs may discourage a first time quilter. Have fun with it. I'd also recommend taking pictures as ya go to record your first quilt. Keep us posted......
Mikki

I also made a log cabin quilt for my first one. I used Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day. My plan is to make lots more log cabins.

Eleanor Burns "Quilt in a Day" log cabin was my first quilt also. I should have known I was in trouble when I kept changing my mind about what fabrics to put next to each other, kept buying new fabric, and probably had enough fabric to make 3 quilts by the time I started. Unknowingly I had started my stash. You should see it now!

Yes, that was my second quilt, very easy to make and chain piece. Hand quilted could mean that they pieced it by machine and quilted the layers by hand. They could have always pieced it by hand as well. It is a personal preference, if you don't want to do it by hand you do not have to. You can FMQ it or do SITD by machine after it is pieced

The log cabin pattern was the first quilt I learned and still like it. It is easy and each one can be so different. Quilt top in a day. and that is true. Made the top in a day at my first class.

I think it depends on the width of the logs in the log cabin. I use 1/2 inch to 1 inch logs (finished), and I don't think that's the best quilt to start on, because there are lots of patches in each block, and the 1/4 inch seam is very important. I would recommend a quilt with simpler blocks for a beginner - something like D9P, rail fence, YBR, warm wishes. Or - make one of the simpler log cabins, with wider logs and fewer pieces in each block.

My first quilt was a nine patch. I did it all by hand from start to end, mostly because I didn't have a machine and could not wait to start. It IS time consuming, but now that I have a machine it seems to be just a bit less satisfying for me to use it, Does that make any sense at all?? LOL
David

I would suggest that you start with a log cabin pillow or table runner -- maybe 4 or nine patches. See how you like the process, and have something you can finish up relatively quickly. Then, if you love it, you are well equipped to go on to making the full quilt.

Log cabins are one of my favorites, and one of the few patterns I've made repeatedly, because they offer so much creative possibility. But they can be frustrating to make, specially for a beginner working on your own.

RST

ABSOLUTELY ENJOY THE PROCESS.

Log Cabin was my first pattern to use. They are very simple to make, just keep your 1/4" seam accurate and you'll have some beautiful blocks. Very versatile, good luck!

My first quilting class was for a log cabin quilt and learned the "old fashioned" method of cutting piles and piles of different length strips to sew together.

Then I bought Eleanor Burns' book on Log Cabins, and her method accomplished the same (better!) results with a lot less cutting and stacking heartburn. I strongly recommend buying one of her log cabin quilt books because you not only learn the simpler method, BUT Eleanor generously shows different layouts for different sized log cabin quilts just to show you how versatile this easy block is and how to achieve different looks just from layout choice alone. As far as quilting books go - and face it, they're expensive! starting out - you get a tremendous bang for your buck with this book.

I'd also a very vocal advocate for beginner's to check out book on Amazon.com and THEN - before ordering anything - go to their local library and request those books through interlibrary loan. It costs nothing, you can really examine and test the book BEFORE laying out any purchase money.

Lots of good advice here already. I also like Marti Mitchell's book "Log Cabin ABC's"

I am a beginner and for my first quilt where I actually cut and piece I am doing a beginners rail fence. It only has three different fabrics and is done in strips. Got the strips cut and am not putting them together. wish me luck. smile

I mean I am now putting them together. smile senior moment there....

I hand quilt and everything is hand done, my choice. My first quilt was a log cabin simple and beautiful. I will be doing more because I love the way they go together.
Mia

I would recommend it also. I have the book and love it. There are so many variables of the log cabin in her book. I have made several log cabins using her book and love doing them. She makes them so easy. Hobby Lobby usually carries this book.

I've made 3 log cabins back to back, they get better each time, I square up every time around, and make sure you get a 1/4 inch foot it really helps. I couoldn't wrap my mind around the light and dark when I did my 1st one, but I did all of mine scrappy. Huge difference when not repeating colors.

My first quilt was a log cabin quilt with a flannel backing. I have it on my chair and love to snuggle in it when it is cold.

It was my very first one I made. I had to tie it though.

Dear Karate lady, is this a beggining quilt?

I love rail fences!
Here is a hint - get a picture of one to use as a guide.
To keep the rows from going wonky - or getting mixed up
try this:
Strip sew the fabric and cut it into the blocks.
Try to plan the top to have an even number of blocks across and down.
Square them all with a square ruler cutting only slivers off.
Put four blocks together in a square using the picture as a guide.
Put all the rest of the blocks together in squares of fours and put them in a stack. All the SAME way!
For uneven numbers of rows across or down, make stacks of fours until you have about two thirds done, and add the rest onto the sewn center.
For even numbers of rows sew them ALL into fours, and stack them all.
Now sew the blocks of fours into bigger blocks of fours,
and those into the quilt top.
This method of keeping the orientation of the blocks, saves your head from going wierd trying to make the zig-zag come out right!
Of course by using the picture as a guide you can sew rows too...but it is harder to get perfect corners.