Best Way to Make Log Cabin
#62
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 135
For me, the strip piecing method of Eleanor Burns works best. I tried the Judy Martin way and found pre-cutting all those strips was way too boring for me. Also would not paper-piece this pattern because it adds so much work to the process.
I have not had any difficulty at all getting accurate blocks with the strip method, so it's hard for me to understand what is going wrong for others. I do not prewash fabric (but do test for colorfastness), so the strips I use still have the manufacturer's sizing. These yield more accurate results than prewashed fabric that is not starched before cutting. (I have wondered if this is part of the problem for others.) I also use moleskin to create a physical guide for my seam allowances. This means I can sew fast and still maintain accurate seam allowances. (Just using my eyes and a visual mark does not work nearly as well for me in terms of accuracy, not to mention speed.) Maybe this is the reason my blocks always come out fine?
Also, log cabin blocks are not that fussy in terms of accuracy. There are no points being cut off, for example. If a block of mine were to come out too wonky, I would just use spray starch to "block" it into submission (a la the Sharon Schamber way on Youtube). However, I can say that I have never had to actually do this, and all of my log cabin quilts turned out fine.
I have not had any difficulty at all getting accurate blocks with the strip method, so it's hard for me to understand what is going wrong for others. I do not prewash fabric (but do test for colorfastness), so the strips I use still have the manufacturer's sizing. These yield more accurate results than prewashed fabric that is not starched before cutting. (I have wondered if this is part of the problem for others.) I also use moleskin to create a physical guide for my seam allowances. This means I can sew fast and still maintain accurate seam allowances. (Just using my eyes and a visual mark does not work nearly as well for me in terms of accuracy, not to mention speed.) Maybe this is the reason my blocks always come out fine?
Also, log cabin blocks are not that fussy in terms of accuracy. There are no points being cut off, for example. If a block of mine were to come out too wonky, I would just use spray starch to "block" it into submission (a la the Sharon Schamber way on Youtube). However, I can say that I have never had to actually do this, and all of my log cabin quilts turned out fine.
trick to any log cabin is being very sure the strips are cut the right size.
Peg
#63
I take a long strip width of fabric, cut the correct width, and sew all the middle squares onto the strip leaving a 1/4" space between squares, until all of the middle squares are sewn on the strips. Then I press toward the strip or outside the block and trim. Then I repeat this process until all of the blocks are done. The quarter inch space allows for trimming.
#67
I love E. Burns methods for big strips. I've made a ton of tops using it it...in fact, I'm about to replace the first big quilt I did for us about 15 yrs ago, it's starting to wear out and rather then try to fix it I'm just going to replace it, I think.
#68
I used this Youtube video and my Accuquilt cutter and I liked it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjdVEEw8BWU But I'm new at this as really appreciate all the info here. I'm going to try the E. Burns method with my strip die. Looks like it will be fast and easy. Thanks!
#69
I would think that paper piecing wouldn't take any more time than squaring up after every strip. I prefer PP. It also allows me to add different colors through the middle of the block, especially if the center of the block is curved. Just my two cents.
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