What is your favorite strip width for scrappy log cabins?
05-16-2010, 05:34 PM
#22
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Central Washington State
Posts: 5,997
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 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>)
05-16-2010, 07:11 PM
#23
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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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 !
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 !
Agree with you 100% on the strip piecing!
05-17-2010, 03:09 AM
#24
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Timberlea, Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 1,262
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"!
From memory they were 1" and 1 1/2"!
05-17-2010, 04:17 AM
#26
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Winter PArk, Florida
Posts: 1,145
Originally Posted by StitchinJoy
Originally Posted by Prism99
I've made log cabin blocks with wider widths, but not the 1.5 inch cut width.
Any advice?
Any advice?
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
05-17-2010, 04:42 AM
#28
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 3,524
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?
Any advice?
05-17-2010, 04:51 AM
#29
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 3,524
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"!
From memory they were 1" and 1 1/2"!
I now need to cut and collect 1" strips.
05-17-2010, 04:59 AM
#30
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Daphne, AL
Posts: 124
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!
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!
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