? About Log Cabin Blocks and Fabric Placement, Do You Use Same Fabric for Same Log?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The California Hills
Posts: 626

I am planning my first log cabin quilt. I have a collection of cream print fabrics, green fabrics and pink fabrics. These are all from the Maywood Wild Rose line and most have a little of the other colors as well. I was going to do some blocks half cream and half green, some half cream and half pink and then some half green and half pink and lay them out with the colors flowing diagonally downward.
I was wondering if it looks better to use the same fabric for the same log in each similar block?
Does it look better to have your darker color (or busiest print) on the outside largest log?
I only have enough prints to do a 13 log block (will cut the fabric 1.5 inches) --would finish at 7 inches. I would like to do the next size up (so 17 logs for a finished 9 inch size) and was wondering if it would hurt the look to use the same fabric for a few of the logs -as long as they aren't side-by-side? Maybe if I did this, I could use the same fabric for the inside smallest log and the outside largest log??
Thanks.
I was wondering if it looks better to use the same fabric for the same log in each similar block?
Does it look better to have your darker color (or busiest print) on the outside largest log?
I only have enough prints to do a 13 log block (will cut the fabric 1.5 inches) --would finish at 7 inches. I would like to do the next size up (so 17 logs for a finished 9 inch size) and was wondering if it would hurt the look to use the same fabric for a few of the logs -as long as they aren't side-by-side? Maybe if I did this, I could use the same fabric for the inside smallest log and the outside largest log??
Thanks.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861

before sewing them together- when you have your strips cut---lay a few out with different (combinations) and see what you like...some people make their log-cabin's totally scrappy-with every fabric different- some like things a bit more (controlled) and match their logs...as long as you have light on two sides & (darker) on the other two sides it will work --- i've seen great log-cabin's with all darks...& with all lights too....just (play around) with your strips a bit---when you have a block you like- stitch it together.

#5

All my log cabin quilts have been totally scrappy, but controlled scrappy is great as well. I would mix them up as far as placement goes, but it's your quilt, so do whatever makes you happiest. It will be lovely either way.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562

You might want to look thru the photos here and see how colors play in lots of LC quilts before making your own.
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...mg.fNr9arRGJRc
Also, use graph paper and colored pencils to draw out your quilt using the color placement you want and see how you like the way it looks. Or if you have a friend with EQ(Electric Quilt design program) perhaps they can help you draw it there and change up the colors as you wish til you find just the right one for you.
Jan in VA
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...mg.fNr9arRGJRc
Also, use graph paper and colored pencils to draw out your quilt using the color placement you want and see how you like the way it looks. Or if you have a friend with EQ(Electric Quilt design program) perhaps they can help you draw it there and change up the colors as you wish til you find just the right one for you.
Jan in VA
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Northern California, Sonoma Co.
Posts: 2,814

The first log cabin I did I wanted every fabric different, and it added a ton of stress and work to the project (I cut out each log in each fabric in each size so I'd have plenty to choose from). The next time, I winged it and it was much easier. In fact I strip pieced it – I added each block to a strip of one fabric and then trimmed up, so yes, it was the same fabric for each log in each block. It wasn't to control the scrappiness, it was to control the chaos, lol.
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AngelinaMaria
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10-31-2011 06:42 AM