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 want to try one also, so will be watching to see what our experts say !

Have you seen Jenny Beyer's Log Cabin pattern in McCall's magazine this month? It's amazing. http://www.mccallsquilting.com/articles/Kinabalu

The size log strips in it are 1 1/8" wide up to 1 3/4" wide.

I would say it depends on the size of your blocks... are you making a miniature quilt or a bed-size quilt? If the blocks are very small, you might want to consider paper-piecing...

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

depends on the size block and which size would give a good balance and how much work you want to do. wider strips, shorter time, narrower strips, more time.

I've made a couple of log cabins; my first used 2 1/2" strips. This was way too wide although I loved the quilt - it was one of my first in the mid 70s and I didn't know much.
2" would be the widest I'd go. Courthouse might look okay with wider strips.
It's been on my mind to do a scrap one with a much larger center square and 1+1/2" strips.

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

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

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

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

Your work is beautiful

Ditto!! :thumbup:

Ditto!! :thumbup:

Love that look!

wow, thanks for sharing the photos and will follow this thread

I hadn't thought of doing a log cabin with different widths. That quilt is spectacular, Bitty!

Does anyone know where I could find a pattern for this quilt? Even basic dimensions would help -- block size, center square size, strip widths.

It looks like an artist drew it with a brush on canvas. It is excellent. A true work of art. Very pretty.

This is a great thread. I use 2" strips.

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 !

ouch ! I do know my grammar---I don't think I have ever SEEN an ugly log cabin !

you were probably thinking "I ever saw" and forgot that you'd written a "have."

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>)

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!

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

That is beautiful!!

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".

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.

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!

Get the book Traditions with a Twist. It is all strip piecing and patterns.I have made several of the quilts in it,and am going to make them all.

rail fence, 9 patch, first come to mind

[quote=omak]
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.

Ditto

Most times I'll use 1.5 in.if it's for a an adult size, and 1.25 for a child size quilt. I've used a 2.0 inch strip, not my favorite, it looks too big for me....

Peggy, maybe a triple irish chain is in your future.... :)

Great link! I like 2" strips or 1 1/2" strips.

How about the rail fence? I think those look really nice!

Others are posting now where they just sew the strips together and make a long strip . then start cutting that down into sections and so forth ... I know I haven't explained it very well but they look neat and go together quickly :thumbup:

As long as your strips measure 1600" in total length when all sewed together, you will stitch them end to end, fold in half ... oh, heck! <g> I'll just go find the link for you! <wave>

Thanks Omak :thumbup: