I know many of you make log cabin quilts, as I've seen many posted here. How do you do your log cabin quilts? I am incooperating log cabins in a quilt I'm working on. I did a test block by cutting logs from a long strip after sewing. My instructor says all should be precut or will curl. My test did not curl. How do you do them and why?

If you precut all of your pieces, theoretically they will all go together into a perfectly square, correct sized block.

However, I am not one to always "go by the book" and I tend to piece the way you are.
I would take the time to measure and square up as you go, and you should be fine.

You mean we are supposed to follow directions? Ut oh, I guess I'm in trouble because I don't cut all my pieces first.

i cut strips as i do each block. learned the hard way when precut and 1/2 of them were cut too short and well you know...

I ese Eleanor Burns' method for piecing log cabin blocks....she does not precut, and neither do I. I have never had a block curl.........but I have, before I began using HER method, had logs precut and they were too short....ugh....her method is great, as you true up as you piece, so you wind up with perfect blocks........

I have Marti Michelles Log Cabin ruler... haven't made one yet, but it gives you lines for how wide to cut the fabric and then the lengths to cut the strips so they all go together correctly... I'm going to have to dig that out and try one one of these days. I have her kaleidoscope rulers also, and need to use them as well... I love gadgets... just don't have the time to use them all.

Don't forget to toss the scraps over your shoulder!

I, too, cut as I go. I shudder to think of too-short precut logs. It is MUCH easier to trim from a strip, and I've never had curly cabins. :D

I agree, I cut as I go.

Your Instructor probably told you that because some people stretch the logs and then they will curl. I cut as I go also, just be sure not to stretch your fabric.

Just so all you "cut as I go" people, the QUILT POLICE are at your door. ha ha. I think what ever works.

Sometimes I pre-cut, sometimes I dont, just depends on my mood for that day. Do what ever you are comfy with! And I have never had any of mine curl if I didnt pre-cut. Just have fun!

I hear 'em knockin, but they cant come in! LOL :-D

Hi Mailmanldy, from another Colorado quilter...
They always say " The one that dies with the most wins". I can't tell you all the gadgets that I have purchased and never used.

LOL Beth.. that is so true. I see something demonstrated, and say to myself, that would make "it" so much easier.. I just have to have that. Even though I have NEVER made that "type" of quilt, and don't plan on ever doing it. BUT IF I have that gadget, I will be more apt to make that type, because I have a tool that will make it so easy to do. LOL

My mother and sister live in Westminster. I'm down in Colorado Springs.

Well next time you come down here email me and we can meet!!!

If you cut logs on the straight grain, wouldn't there be less tendency for stretching?

I finished a large log cabin quilt early this year. I do NOT pre-cut my strips, as I allow for the fact that my 1/4" is not always perfect, and I have given myself permission to not always be perfect. That gives me room to work stress-free. Furthermore, I cut my last strip a full 1/2" wider than the other rounds, so when it's time to square up my blocks, no worries! And the finished quilt looks great IMHO. Pics are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

very, very good idea!! Thank You!!

Thank you all for your input. In precutting strips I was going crazy getting right colors in the right sizes. Now I can breeze thru this rather then being frustrated. I can work in my cutting mistakes on the shorter logs, plus the time to sort & stack every log. I like to do a project the fastes way possible with the best results.

Great helpers on this board. Many opinions & experiences make my decision easy.

I hardly ever follow the rules. Just go with what I want. If your using good quality materials all should come out just right.

Never be afraid to break "the rules." Some of the best quilters in the world never bothered to learn "the rules" before they began to quilt.

I frustrated the tar~babies out of myself trying to "do it right". When I quit worrying about being perfect it freed me up to be creative. Ask yourself how many of your quilts are going to judged? Or just loved?

I think what she meant is cut to size not just laid on whack off the end.

Love your idea of the block. I will try this method next time.

I figure my log sizes first and cut them all. I only do this because it allows me to assembly line piece.

I always do assembly line piecing, but it is not necessary to pre-cut all the pieces in order to do so. I cut the center squares, then add them all to a strip for log #1. Then I cut those off, and add them all to #2, and so on. Works for me!

I didn't precut mine, and I didn't have any problems. :oops: The quilt turned out great, and my sweetie absolutely loves it! :wink:

I took a class using the Marti Michell log cabin ruler. It was great and my blocks came out sguare without squaring them up. Seemed easy to follow. And I loved the end result.

Next onto a bigger log cabin project...

OH SURE! wherer were you today, when i needed the "I cut my last strip a full 1/2", so it squares up right" talk!

i just finished a block, as a charity block for someone here on the board..and i am going to have to re-do the last lap! lol

:lol: You sound like me! My grandmother had templates for each strip, but after so much use, none of the edges were straight any longer (my sister now has them just for sentiment). Whwn I get at making my LC, I probably won't cut all my pieces at once, either! :mrgreen:

Judy Martin's newer books suggest strongly that you cut lenghwise with the grain and pre-cut lengths. I use this method on square log cabin blocks, because you get immediate feedback if your blocks are not coming out to the expected size. However, this is not the only way to make log cabin blocks, and if another method works for you, then there's nothing wrong with using that method. The quilt in my avatar is a log cabin, but the strips can't be pre-cut to length because the block is diamond-shaped. I had to come up with other ways of making this block keep its size and shape when I was writing the pattern.

That is one gorgeous quilt!

I'm also the one that said it's okay to not be perfect!

I use Eleanor Burns' method, and it works great! Never had any problems! :)

Eleanor Burns and Billie Lauder are two of my favorites! They will always show you an easy method.

Pre cutting is neat, BUT--if your seam is off at all, the pieces won't fit properly. I use the full strip and cut off at the ends. Has worked for well over a dozen log cabin quilts.

I don't cut my pieces first. For one reason, I generally make up the order of the 'logs' as I go along, and if I would have precut them, it would not be as easy to change their order. I have found that sewing and THEN cutting is much more accurate, too, because if your 1/4" seam is even a hair off, it will magnify as you add the blocks and will pull the seams toward the end. Also, if you are so inclined, paper piecing a log cabin block is extremely accurate!

I too have the rulers but have never tried them. Log cabin is my favorite pattern and I have yet to make one except a 3 1/2" block border that was paper pieced for a small lap quilt. Some day......
Whatever method you are comfortable with is the way to go. Cross cut strips may stretch more than length-wise strips.

What strip width do you normally use for your blocks?

the one i made today, has 3.5 inch center, and 2" cut strips.

here is the pattern i used:
http://delawarequilts.com/BOMs/LogCabin/index.html