Squaring Up Log Cabin Block
 

I am making a log cabin quilt and am being meticulously careful (honest) and yet they are coming out a bit more here and a bit more there. I was wondering, can I square them up once the block is finished or will it mess up the whole quilt. I've got 6 rows on each one so far.

Thanks!

Having just recently completed sewing the top (and now working on the quilting) for a LC - I squared up as I went. Tedious and time consuming as it was I will say the top went together without a hitch. The constant squaring up is one reason why I don't think I'll ever do another LC again!

You can square up blocks (and probably even rows, if you have gotten that far) using Sharon Schamber's method of spray starch and ironing. She has some video demo's on Youtube about this. Here is a link to one of them, although she has several others there too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-3RIWhBvcA

I PP log cabins, saves having to square up each block when done.

While it is a bit tedious to square up the blocks, it makes the final step of putting together the rows so much easier. I would recommend that you square the blocks evenly so you shave off a (relatively) even amount from all sides. Nobody will know that some of the strips will be slightly thinner than the others.

i ALWAYS square up my blocks as i construct them- makes putting the quilt together later much easier if you have squared up blocks- and saves time having to do them all when you are trying to put them together.

Accuracy at every step of the way ... or should I say, with every strip added?
That means cutting accurately. Sewing accurately. And checking accurately!
And sometimes reverse sewing!!!

If you wait til the end ... chances are you will be very disappointed.
If you do it as you go ... you'll be thrilled!

though it is better to square after each step, there is another way to correct the out of square/size problem even at the end of the block. Mark on a piece of freezer paper the correct size and shape of the block. place that on the ironing board. lay your block on top of this and carefully pin the block with straight pins matching the correct size lines on the paper. use plenty of pins. When pinned down, Spritz it with water. this will relax the fiber and either stretch or shrink it a little to fit the pinned size. if it needs to shrink a little more hold a hot iron above it to heat the fabric. Leave the block pinned in place until completely dry.

They will go together fine without squareing up each block. Cotton has give and that is one reason it's used for quilting.