Cutting strips straight, I block after each step keeps it straight so you aren't trying to block a whole quilt

I made enough blocks for two full size log cabins at once. You couldn't sew a straight quarter inch seam on that machine to save your life. I didn't precut the strips and used a sort of chain method. They came out on the crooked side so I slapped that big ol' 12 1/2 inch ruler and trimmed them all up nice and square. Unless I point it out to you, you can't tell the blocks were crooked at all.

I use the Elenor Burns, Quilt in a day, book. This is a strip method and works great. I always pre wash and starch before cutting. I can't make a top in a day, but I can get a queen top done in 3 days using this method. Best part?
she gives you the yardage amount for each size and all the borders if you want.

thought of something!

be gentle with your pressing. if your seam is straight, finger press + dry iron on medium should be plenty. steam and movement could really mess you up.

i think i need to make another one. we should race ;)

aileen

I think the key (if you don't want to purchase anything extra like the book or ruler, etc.) is to just insure your 1/4" seam is accurate. I do all of my cutting in advance, because I usually do scrappy. If Judy Martin's book is intimidating, try Eleanor Burns' book.

I treated myself to this ruler and Love, Love, Love it!! It's so simple to use and my latest log cabin was something to be proud of. I think I paid about $15 for it (incl. shipping). So worth it.

In my opinion, the best way to make a Log Cabin it to paper piece it. I have done them several ways but the best was PP. Might take a little longer but well worth it.

I also have strip pieced many log cabin quilts and found accurate cutting and piecing quarter inch seams really help but the biggest of all is the pressing be very careful and lightly press don't iron or they will get out of shape

When I first started quilting many years ago, one of my first quilts was a Log Cabin. Actually I got carried away cutting the strips and had way more than necessary to make one, but it is probably a good thing. That was during the days before roller cutters and hard plastic rulers. I used a wooden yardstick, a pencil and a pair of scissors to make my strips. You probably could finish telling the story from here, but my pencil became dull over the course of a few cuttings and then the pencil lines I used to cut my strips grew wider and my strips grew more and more uneven and... I eventually got enough good, standard sized blocks to make a queen sized quilt, but I had to cull out so many other strips because they were of ever growing widhts. Cutting on a pencil line is not an exact science anyway and a pencil line that grew wider as the pencil become duller was a nightmare! As most of you know, yardsticks can warp and become curved too. I had gone to a lot of trouble to find a good straight one, but my kids probably played with it and so it was useless too.

I say all that to say that one finished block has to be the same size as every other finished block for a Log Cabin to look nice. I finally made mine match all the seams and finished it and even hand quilted it, but it was a nightmare to make all the corrections.

Thank you susansomethings for asking that question. I've wanted to try a log pattern but have also heard it is so difficult to keep it straight. The suggestions from all have been very helpful. I like helpful tools and the ruler looks intriguing but also confusing...is it difficult/confusing to use?