I learned to make log cabin blocks from Judy Martin's book -
http://judymartin.com/products.cfm?a...rod=37&CatID=1
I was a pretty new quilter at the time, so I took the time to actually read and follow her directions, and they worked like a charm. I even followed her organization tips. I cut all the strips to length, and starch when possible (not always as easy when you're using smaller scraps).