Log Cabin quilt ~ questions
 

Okay I am going to make my (picky) DD a Log Cabin quilt, in beige/browns (bland, not my favorite color range). It will be a over-sized king (pillow topped). It will be her first quilt from me and I have been quilting for almost 10 years. I think with her being picky is why I have been hesitant with making her one.

I have Marti Michell's log Cabin rulers.

My questions ~
1) what size should I cut the strips? 1.5, 2.5, 3.5?
2) how many rounds should I do? 3, or 4 or more, dark/light?
3) with it so large should I incorporate boarders?

I know it all comes down to 'quilters choice', but I am stumped. I keep looking on line and in my LC books. I think I have studied this for so long that I have confused myself.

Maybe if you could share some of your wisdom it will help my muddled mind.

Thank you

I like 2 inch strips with enough rounds to make the block around 12 inches. Keep in mind, the narrower the strips the more fabric it will take and the heavier it will make the quilt, plus the smaller the blocks the more of them you'll have to make.

I always make log cabins in 1" finished strips, but most of mine are scrappy and scrappy quilts look good with smaller strips. If you are using coordinating fabrics and want to let the design of the fabrics shine through, then wider logs would be in order. I also find that I can make more designs by placement of logs if I have more blocks, and thinner strips means more blocks. I usually make 9" blocks. Sometimes I specifically add a border, and sometimes the design doesn't need one. So... not much help, huh. There's a gallery of log cabin quilts on this forum that might help. Also Judy Martin's log cabin book is wonderful. I use her methods (not EB's).

I like 2 1/2" strips. The number of rounds would depend on the number of fabrics I have purchased and the planned arrangement of the blocks . I would definitely put borders on a King sized log cabin. I would also search for photos of log cabin quilts, as well as the gallery here for inspiration. Good luck on your quilt.

I like 2 1/2 " strips, sewed ala Eleanor Burns. I use 3 rounds after sewing the red centers and then a light patch 2 1/2", then lay the sewed patches down on the right side of the fabric and strip piece. I've made a ton of quilts that way and I love it. In act, the first one I made for us a big king is starting to wear and rather then try to patch it, I've decided to just make a new one. I used scraps for all my quilts and they all came out looking good, but I usually had big amounts of fabric so there was a fair amount of togetherness:).

I like to use 2 inch strips so the finished size is 1 1/2. I use the EB method.

EXACTLY what I would do also !!!

Count me in on the Eleanor Burns method. It is so easy and makes a beautiful quilt. I like 2.5 strips myself so it isn't so heavy especially in king size. It will go together faster than you think and definitely a border or two.

Here's a link to the one I would make:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...ns-t46004.html

I'd plot out the size first before determining strip size. If it doesn't come out exactly the right size for a king, then I'd add borders to make it the right size. I think this would look stunning in darker browns and lighter beiges.

Another possibility is this pattern from dunster:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/items-s...s-t170529.html

We've only made one LC and we used the EB method. 2.5" strips, 3 rounds, 14" finished block. My thread is here:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...n-t179856.html

The 6 X 6 layout gives you several possiblities as far as the arrangement of blocks. I found the book at a used bookstore for about $7.00.

Darren

I still also use the Eleanor Burns method with 2 and 2/1 inch strips.

I guess I never stopped to ponder how wide the strips.

I decide the number of blocks I want to have then choose what size block I want.

I cut the strip widths whatever I choose. I keep consistent with my strips but the hearth may be one size and the next round anotherand so forth. Even a diagonal or lopsided log cabin can be attractive.


ali

Once I have that then it all about what pleases me ... or your case your DD.

Thank you for your advise.

Now I need to measure DD bed to make sure what size (beside HUGE) her pillow top king bed is. Then work on from there.

Somebody on this board (Barnbum maybe??) has posted the most beautiful pictures of floral log cabin blocks. Her blocks have different widths on one side of the block than on the other, and they are just gorgeous. I can't (actually haven't sat down and tried to) figure out how she does it, but I'd sure like to. Again, they are just beautiful!!

loved Darren's blue and yellow LC quilt

I've done several using Eleanor Burns' book. It's available at most libraries. Seems like those are 2.5" strips. Straightforward directions and several layout variations are in the book.

I like 'four log' blocks with a center square twice the width of the logs, so I decide on my finished block size and divide that by 10 to get the finished log size. For a 10" block, that means 1" logs (cut 1½") and a 2" (cut 2½") center. Never used anyone's pattern or 'method' other than my own. :o

How does the Judy Martin method differ from Eleanor Burns method? Does it make a more precise square?

Brown and beige would make a beautiful log cabin. If for myself I would prefer to have a tiny floral with it.

grammyDwynn, if you have Marti's rulers, don't they come with the strip width in order to accommodate the A-B-C markings? Coincidentally, I just watched her instructional video on her rulers. http://www.frommarti.com/vid_cut_strips_1.shtml

I just made my first Log Cabin quilt using Eleanor Burns method and I love it. It is so simple and for me to say that is must be simple.

This lady makes fabulous log cabin quilts - I have seen them in peron, so take her advice!! Personally, I don't care for the 2 1/2" wide cut strips in a log cabin, but just my preference. I always use 1 1/2" or 2" cut strips, and think 12" blocks with several different fabrics gives a lot of interest to the finished block. If you are using just two fabrics (a light and dark), I think a smaller sized block looks better.

I don't know about using her ruler, but I follow the same procedure to make my blocks that she shows.