ILoveToQuilt

Since I have many PhD's (Projects Half Done) and rarely, if ever, finish my tops, I am stumped as to a quilt pattern to use on a miniature log cabin. (Logs are 1/4" each, with inner 1/2" border, then 2" outer border). Colors are gold (tan), dark green and dark red. I have a Superior Threads varigated thread in these colors to use. I don't want to post a photo here as it is a surprise gift and I don't know if the recipient is a QB member. (Don't want to spoil the surprise).

Pattern designer suggested a "circular" or "wave" pattern for movement.

I need suggestions, please. I am a long time "piecer" but truly an extreme beginner quilter, so I need simple. I will be quilting on a Baby Lock Jazz.

Other related questions: what foot to use? Feed dogs up or down?

TIA. I appreciate any and all suggestions.

Tartan

With logs that small, I think I would do some stitch in the ditch on the sides without seam allowances.

nativetexan

wow, those are small. cute I bet though. maybe look at some photos of small log cabins online to see quilting designs done on them. that might help you decide. regular stitching, feed dogs up (engaged) always. doing free motion usually they are down. although i took a free motion class and the instructor had us leave them up. worked fine.
try drawing your log cabins on paper and then a design and see how it looks to you. good luck.

zozee

What size are the finished blocks?

QuiltE

or photocopy the mini ........ or if too big, take a photo and print, then doodle to come up with your design.

Feed dogs will be down if you are free motion quilting it.
If not, and are stitching as per you would when piecing, then leave them up.

Not knowing how large/small this really is, it's hard to know what to suggest.
As Zozee asked, what size are the finished blocks .... and the overall quilt.
Going with that ... a photo could help us all a lot, to come up with quilting suggestions.

feline fanatic

Because you are a beginner quilter and this is a gift so you want it to be extra nice I recommend doing walking foot quilting with your DSM. Without knowing the block size or the finished quilt size or even which setting you used for your LC blocks (there are many, barn raising, straight furrows, streak of lightening, pinwheel, just to name a few), I am assuming it is a mini piece based on your description. Even if it is a larger size like a throw or wall hanging, I feel one can never go wrong with the Baptist fan design. The Baptist Fan can be done with a walking foot or FMQ but as a beginner I would strongly recommend using the feed dogs and the walking foot. You will be much happier with the end result.

However, based on your thread description (A superior product in variegated colors) I am thinking you have King Tut which is a fairly heavy cotton thread. In my experience, variegated threads, especially heavier ones like King Tut don't look very nice when you have to backtrack or travel over already quilted lines. The build up shows a lot and the variegated colors can get muddy looking. There are ways to do a baptist fan without traveling (here is a link to a panto to give you an idea of how to do it: https://www.quiltingstencils.com/Con...-5_p_1956.html ). You would need to mark so you probably want to make a template to mark it or find a stencil. Or you can pick a different thread, something not variegated and quilt the baptist fan with traveling.

SusieQOH

Anita, we're in the same boat. I have a Log Cabin wallhanging size and am a beginner at FMQ as well. It's still sitting there looking at me waiting to be quilted. My blocks are about 6 inches. I don't want to ruin it.
Thanks for starting this thread.

Feline- thanks for your suggestions.

I just thought of something. I have a stencil template of Baptist fan. Maybe I'll use one of those Pounce Pads and do it that way. I think it would work for me.

toverly

With my mini log cabins, I just played with them until I found a pattern I liked. To quilt, I just went between the blocks in stitch in the ditch in a clear thread. At that size, I found quilting patterns distracted from the little logs.