What is your log cabin method preference?
 

Hi everyone! What is your log cabin method preference? Specialty Rulers? Creative Grids Log Cabin Ruler? Judy Martin? Marti Michell? Eleanor Burns? Other? I want to make a king size half-log cabin. There is so much information online but it is hard to cull the best advice and tips. I will need to learn how to figure out how much fabric per color I need. And so much more!! Are there any excellent tutorials or books and/or blogs you can lead me to? Thank you so much. This is a great group!
Mary Ann

I don't know about the half log cabin, but I love Eleanor Burns. She is a great teacher.

I like Eleanor Burns method. She makes the last strips a little wider than all the rest so you can easily square up all the blocks to the same size. I don't know how to figure out the fabrics. If you have EQ software you could use that.
Otherwise it depends on the width and length of the strips and how many blocks you are making.

Will all blocks be exactly the same fabrics in every block or just the same colors? Controlled scrappy might be an easier option - using several fabrics in each color.

I much prefer Eleanor Burns' method. Some people don't seem able to get good blocks with this method, but I have never had a problem and it is much faster for me. I started one quilt with Judy Martin's method of cutting each block to size and gave up; I really hated the cutting that much.

For half-log cabin blocks, I think Sharyn Craig's little booklet is very good:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Half-...dp/1885588402/

Edit: Oops! I think this is the one of hers I actually have:
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Challen...dp/1885588208/

I made the Eleanor Burns version. She made it so easy to learn and fun to make the quilt. Oh and it was so fast.

Have you looked at Judy Martin's Log Cabin Books? There are so many different ways to set your blocks together. How wide are your stripes going to be? I prefer the narrower stripes. Log Cabin is one of my favorite Blocks. Thimbleberries Books have some great Log Cabin Quilts in them too, and her directions are so easy a child could follow them. Have fun whatever you do!!

i'm with the eleanor burns camp

I like Eleanor Burns method as well.

Don't know what method this is, but I try and cut the strips length of fabric rather than selvedge to selvedge to minimize stretching. I also cut the logs to length first, rather than sew then cut off excess. I get a more consistent result and to me it's worth the extra effort.
I like the tip mentioned above where the last logs are a bit wider to allow squaring up.

EB makes the log cabin simple and easy. My first quilt I did for my very fist commissioned quilt was a Judy Martin log cabin with the star points in the corner of each bock. They can be a little complicated at first.

The Eleanor Burns method speeds up the process making a half log cabin queen size in under a day. Thanks EB

After reading all the replies to such a great question I am ready to try the Eleanor Burns method. Where can I get the information on her method? Thanks.

If you are looking for yardage required, check out, Eleanor Burns, Quilt in Day books. She gives yardage require for different sizes. I have used her methods many times and have had no problems.

quiltinaday has some Youtube videos that show the method. Here's a link to one of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQsSwzncdeU

I always make the original old fashioned log cabin with 20 strips of fabric - light on the upper right - dark on the lower left and the deep red for the fire in the fireplace. I always put one in my quilt. Especially the samplers. Always in the center of the quilt. I have been doing the same pattern for years and every one is different, color wise, but always in order. I just personally think it is the richest looking one I have ever seen. It can be hard, sometimes it is easy, but I still love that one the best. Mine is from www.quilt.com/Blocks/LogCabin/LogCabin.html. It makes a 12" block. The pattern is quite easy and fun to follow. I check off each progression on the quilt (with a pencil - so I can erase for the next block) and it is so neat to check off the last one and see a beautiful block done. Edie

I've made at least 8 log cabin quilts using Eleanor Burns' ​method. No specialty rulers. Every single one turned out well and there were different layouts pictured. Not sure why you want to do a half log cabin, but check out Eleanor's book at a quilt shop or your library. Maybe one of the layouts would provide the same effect you're looking for in the half log cabin. Just sayin'! :thumbup:

Paper piecing

www.quilt.com/Blocks/LogCabin/LogCabin.html.

This is a good way to make a log cabin if all your blocks will be the same fabric. But the center "hearth" and the first log can be sewn together when they are both still strips. Then cut them the width you want for the center. The first log will be already attached. A very fast way to begin.

If the hearth will be a 2 1/2 inch square and the logs 1 1/2 inch. Cut the 2 1/2 in. WOF strip from hearth fabric. Then cut a strip for the first log 1 1/2 inch WOF. Sew these two strips together and press. Then cross cut at 2 1/2 inches. Now your hearth is square and it has the first log already attached.

I have this book by Marci Baker: http://quiltwithmarcibaker.com/proje...ers-log-cabin/ and I really like the diversity of patterns that she offers. I don't know about a half log cabin, please explain.

Eleanor Burns!!!! I have made several and they all turned out great.

The last two log cabins quilts I have made, and have one kitted up for a retreat, I used the log cabin die for my Go. The strips are 1 1/2" wide each cut to the exact size to make a 12" finished square. Every strip fits perfectly to the next.

Anita Grossman Solomon has a great log cabin pattern. It's easy to make.

http://makeitsimpler.blogspot.com/20...uary-2010.html

My sister used Eleanor burns method for making her first quilt. It was a queen for her bed. She took off on her own and needed very little guidance outside of the book and cutting help I gave her. Very easy to do!

I have made one log cabin years ago on my serger. It was Eleanor Burns method and I used her Quilt in a Day pattern book as a guide. My sewing machine was in the shop FOR-E-VER and I had the quilting itch BAD. It turned out great. Perfectly aligned and easy to put together. I can't vouch for any other LC quilt patterns but EB would be my go-to when I decide to do another - on my sewing machine this time!

Eleanor Burns with a variation of width of the strip. Today I looked at my first one made Jan 1979. The strips were "torn" 2 1/2" wide. I've used many different widths but never that wide again.

I made one log cabin using Eleanor Burns method and it came out great. And was easy. I tend to resist patterns but this didn't feel constricting. Hard to explain.

I have made a couple with Eleanor Burns method and they were great. I currently am using the Creative Grids Log Cabin ruler and it is super fast, exact and a LOT of fun!

I make my strips a bit wider too, built in fudge factor. I cut my strips 1 3/4" wide and trim to size after each strip is added.

That's what I do, too. I believe some call it the 'Judy Martin method', though it's the way I learned log cabins long before Judy Martin hit the scene as a log cabin guru.

I recently did a wall quilt with ½" finished logs, some of which were pieced in two colors to make a flower and leaf pattern when the blocks were combined. Cutting on the lengthwise grain for strips that narrow made a huge difference. Everything went together flawlessly first time...flat, square and easy.