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I want to try one of those. It's so pretty.

The smallest strips I have ever cut were one inch ... it was a tutorial (mystery quilt) done by Cute Buns ... and, you are correct! It took some time, but man is it IMPRESSIVE!

I have been working on a quilt that is 1.5" on the dark parts and 1" on the lights.
As far as bulk in the seams for quilting - - don't know about hand quilting, but I can tell you that if you IRON the seams, you will have no problem with seam allowances while machine quilting.
On the smaller pieces, and most quilts, you can press the seams open to relieve the bulk ... and for intricate piecing with lots of seams crossing, pressing your seams open will reduce the usual bulk ...
And! As far as "weight" from the extra seam allowances ... it isn't even an issue!
Consider this! When I first started making quilts, I bought a book from kaye woods for beginners .... seam allowance? 1/2" :shock:
I followed the directions, I have never forgiven her for it - - not because the quilt was heavy, it wasn't an issue - - it was the WASTE of fabric!
I am not an anarchist, encouraging people to break the "rules" - - but! there comes a point where the "rule" doesn't make good, common, practical sense, and at that time, one MUST do what is appropriate, no matter how "authority" the instructor claims to be. <wave> (even me <g>)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty

I have always used 1 1/2" strips because it gives more movement to your quilt. but I have never tried different sizes in the same block---are the darks cut 1 2/2" and the
lights cut 2" ? that quilt sings ! and it is singing my song ! you always get the neatest,most precise log cabin blocks by cutting each log to size---but that is a horrible job when you start cutting boxes of strips you have carefully stacked through the years. I quickly decided to do the strip method and just be really careful with the sewing. I don't think I have ever saw an ugly log cabin !

I looked carefully at bitty's quilt. Half the blocks have the darks narrow and half the blocks have the lights narrow.

Agree with you 100% on the strip piecing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitty39

If you use two different widths you can makea curved kinda affect....as per below.

From memory they were 1" and 1 1/2"!

So............were the lights 1 1/2 and the darks 1, or do I have it backwards, I LOVE that one!!! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitty39

If you use two different widths you can makea curved kinda affect....as per below.

From memory they were 1" and 1 1/2"!

That is beautiful!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by StitchinJoy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prism99

I've made log cabin blocks with wider widths, but not the 1.5 inch cut width.

Any advice?

I like small strips because the give a lot of movement to the finished piece. But I most often use 2" strips because I am usually making quilts for Project Linus, and they need a lot of quilts-- fast!

Here's a link to a great article from the Quilt Study Center on Log Cabin quilts, showing different settings and explaining a lot of why they do what they do.
http://www.quiltstudy.org/includes/d...lleryguide.pdf

I have a picture from my National Geographic magazine of a mummified alligator wrapped in the log cabin pattern and dating back over 3000 years. My Mom always said, 'Wait long enuf and what was old will be new again."

I always use 1 1/2 strips for the logs as that is what I collect and have bunches of.
I have however played around with the center block, (chimney) and have used 1 1/2, or 2".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prism99

I want to start cutting strips for scrappy log cabin quilts, but am hesitating over the width. With lots of fabrics, I can go as narrow or as wide as I want. I realize that 1.5 inch strips give the most design possibilities, but am a little hesitant over the additional sewing time and extra weight in the quilt (from the seam allowances), and maybe a little more difficulty machine quilting over all those seam allowances. I've made log cabin blocks with wider widths, but not the 1.5 inch cut width.

Any advice?

I have a queen size on my bed with an all over pantograph pattern, and 1 1/2 wide strips. Use it is heavy but not any heavier than another queen I have made with larger blocks. I had no trouble quilting over all the seams.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitty39

If you use two different widths you can makea curved kinda affect....as per below.

From memory they were 1" and 1 1/2"!

bitty, that is one awesome quilt! I have been itiching to do another one, this may be it. I really like the way you continued the blocks into the border.
I now need to cut and collect 1" strips.

I always cut my excess fabric into 2" strips for future quilt projects. Have made several log cabin quilts out of this size strips. Really like the look I get with this width.

However, I still have hundreds - HUNDREDS - of scrap strips in this width and need another pattern(s) as I am tired of log cabins (at the moment). Anyone have any idea(s) about how I can use these 2" wide strips? I prefer easy patterns!