When i quilted my (first) log cabin ,I used stitch in a ditch. Awsome job . Wish mine looked so good...

I am curious .. Did you have this pattern in mind when you made the blocks? Or if not, how long did you fuss with it until you came to this setting?

It is a beautiful quilt and deserves some nice quilting. I would be tempted to find a nice templet and do an overall pattern on it. Like maybe an orange peel pattern that creates a secondary pattern.
I have seen a daisy or a feather quilted into the light sections with a varigated thread and a stitch in the ditch done on the colored sections. That was very pretty.

To answer questions -- no -- I went into it without a plan. I just wanted to use up an unloved charm pack and honeybun, and figured that log cabin was a quick and mindless way to go.

I did give myself a few rules -- I tried not to duplicate the color of the center block in any of the logs, the darker fabric logs in each layer were usually the same color, but not the same fabric, and I tried not to duplicate fabric color in the logs, making each block very scrappy.

I had the blocks in process on my design wall for several weeks, but didn't really work on them much in that time. I decided that one of the problems with the blocks in process was that the yellows stood out a lot, and were going to need to be treated carefully. The reds also draw the eye, so I decided to add a higher percentage of red and yellow to the final layer of logs in order to balanced it all out better. These additional strips were not all 1.5 inches -- I just used what I had in my scrap boxes, and some were 1.25 inches, and some were as wide as 2. I trimmed the final blocks to a uniform size, but each block has significant variation in the log widths within, which I think adds to that optical illusion effect going on.

Taking a digital photo of the design wall also helped to get a sense of the values without being distracted by particular color or fabric patterns.

Once I had the 3 layer-log blocks made, I noticed that most fell into a predominately red or predominately yellow category, and I started putting them up on the design wall in various combinations. My self imposed rules were to only use the blocks I had made; to not stress over placement; to avoid having the same fabric from one block run into another.

To me, this is a very scrappy, functional, un-fancy quilt, so I'm going to back it with some flannel I have on hand, use some spare strips for a scrappy binding, and free motion it on my own machine.

Thanks for the photos of log cabin quilting -- love what you've done. My current thought is that I will use an offwhite thread on the light portions, and a medium grey on the colors. I see some star patterns in the design, so I'm going to try to highlight those, possibly with portions of "organic straight lines", though linear quilting is a lot harder on a piece of this size. The majority I will try to do a curvy meandering.

I'm planning to get this one done before Nov. -- birthday gift for my mom. But if I don't get it done until late Nov. is can be an anniversary gift for my folks.

RST

Wow What a great scrappy quilt! Love your use of the yellows! I think a random swirly/curvy design would be fun. Just whatever strikes your fancy at the moment! Stippling, feathers, flowers, circles, etc. Enjoy yourself!! Would love to see it when it is finished! Thanks for sharing!

Really pretty!

Beautiful loc cabin.

Hi, I am just starting a king size log cabin which features tons of batiks, but keeps to three types of blocks. one is all darks, one is all lights and one is half dark's & half lights. The blocks will be 11in. and the suggestion for quilting it is a feather stitch on the light sections and stitch in the ditch on the dark sections. It looks very pretty

Great! I love log cabin quilts.

Great Job.

Beautiful job.

Excellent. Love the colors. Love the design.

Gorgeous quilt!! I recently had a log-cabin quilted. I used an all-over edge-to-edge large pattern. In other words, the stitching lines weren't too close to each other. Here is the link to my quilt. I hope you can see the pattern clearly.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-61375-1.htm

I want one! I started one a while back and it was one of the hard ones. I just can't seem to get it together. I know it will be pretty but it is a royal pain. Next time I'll be using the easier pattern and brighter pieces. You did a great job.

Love the final arrangement!

beautiful quilt!! I so love log cabin quilts, my all time fav!

I don't have an answer to your question, but wanted to comment on the beauty of your quilt.

WOW!!!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!! GREAT JOB.... :) Love the Log Cabin!!!!

Oh my gosh! It's gorgeous! How big is it? It looks huge. 8-)

I'm using log cabins as a setting kit for a 12 month BOM (queen size) with a barn raising set and thought I'd use oak leaves. Looking at four blocks, by placing one leaf on each block and then turning the stems so that they meet where the 4 blocks meet will be a neat effect.

Beautiful work, I love the second one!

Very nice. I love log cabins also. :-D

that sounds beautiful.... when you make it, please share... :)

WOW!!! That is a stunning layout/quilt :D:D:D

fantastic. I want to do a log cabin someday. i just love yours.

Wow that is really nice.

Beautiful!! Thanks for showing.

Wow! Just stunning, I love Log Cabin quilts, and yours is wonderful- pat yourself on the back as you did a fabulous job!
Blessings,
MaryAnna

The colors and job are beautiful.

I am new to quilting and when I saw the first picture, I thought to myself, I really should try doing a quilt with log cabin squares soon. THEN, I saw the second picture...that bumped it up to a must...it is amazing on how turning basic squares gives it a whole new life =D

Great job!! I'm working on an uneven log cabin right now....well, not literally, it's in my pile of WIPs. Hubby keeps asking if I'll have it done for our bed for winter. That's a good question, honey!! :-) Depends on what else comes up. :roll: :thumbup:

I'm a hand quilter, and would just stitch in the ditch. I'm sorry I can't help you with the design, but your quilt is so lovely! I may have to do a scrap log cabin now!

I made a log cabin quilt for my grandson. He was 15 when I made it, so I wanted a more adult masculine quilt for him. Sorry, I don't have a picture, but it's mostly dark and medium blues, browns, creams, and beiges, with touches of maroon. I quilted it in an all-over oak leaf design that I found in one of Mary Covey's books.

That is beautiful, I can't wait to see it done. God bless.

The second arrangement is great! It makes me want to make another log cabin quilt (I've only made one).

Here is a picture of how I quilted it. There is some stitch in the ditch quilting that doesn't show.

I like how you laid your blocks out and the finished top is wonderful.
I have made lots of log cabin quilts, mostly crib to twin size all scraps, even the binding is scrappy.
I suggest a quilting pattern that is curvy, it softens the straight lines of the log cabin.
If you click on this photo to make it larger, you'll see the large meander I did to quilt it.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...45965719chaqYB

Sharon W.

What a neat idea. Love your quilt and your idea. Thanks for sharing!
marla

Awesome!

[quote=RST]I started with some Moda charm squares from the Recess line and the Happy Camper line, plus a Happy Camper Honey bun. Then I started adding in a wide array of strips from my stash. The first photo is the blocks with just 2 "logs" -- it felt sparse to me, so I added another round.

Second photo is the queen sized pieced top, ready to be quilted. The arrangement is one that I've seen called crosses and losses, with the predominately red blocks forming crosses, and the yellow blocks creating a box. None of that was planned particularly -- I just played around with the blocks on my design wall until they seemed pretty balanced.

Now to figure out how to quilt it. I'll probably do a loose stipple, but I often get bored with that, and burst into random feathers and flowery things, which I'm not sure will be the best on this quilt. I don't like doing straight line quilting on such a big quilt. Quandary . . .

Do you have a favorite quilting treatment for log cabin blocks? Care to share?
Why don't you do a bit of both. Decide where you want to put the flowers etc and them stipple the rest.

when u sew a log cabin square does all the strips have to be the same size when u cut them and sew them together

Both are gorgeous!