How to Make A Super Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt Block
It’s All About Fabric Choices…and a bit more!
With simple piecing and a little bit of creativity, this tutorial will show you how to make a beautiful scrappy log cabin quilt to enjoy! You’ll learn how to make a spectacular scrappy log cabin quilt using the quarter log cabin quilt block. See how to make this fun quilt using lots and lots of fabrics! This quilt block is super easy to sew, and you’ll love your new scrappy log cabin quilt.
Be sure to watch the
Stunning Log Cabin Block Transformation into a Scrappy Fat Quarter Quilt
video to see how the blocks are assembled!
Want to make a scrappy log cabin block but don’t have the required fabric? You’ll be able to create a block in no time at all! Use your stash to make an easy super scrappy log cabin quilt with a quarter log cabin block.
Log Cabin Quilt Tips
If you’re looking for tips on how to sew log cabin blocks, or want to make a scrappy log cabin quilt, then check out this video tutorial! Watch step-by-step how to make this quilt block and see the helpful techniques used. After watching this video, you’ll be able to make a scrappy log cabin quilt in no time!
Beginners, Check This Out!
This quilt block is perfect for beginners and requires very basic sewing skills. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a beautiful log cabin quilt on your bed! This project is perfect for using up scraps and is a great way to learn quilting skills.
#1 Log Cabin Quilt Block Tip
My #1 Log Cabin Quilt Block Tip is to sew your strips together into longer strips with a diagonal seam. This simple step speeds up your piecing process so that once your start adding strips, you have plenty of lengths ready to be sewn. The above video shows exactly how to use diagonal seams to join fabric strips. It’s quick, easy, and will help keep your fabrics organized as you sew. That’s a BIG WIN!!
Spectacular Quilts Begin with A Plan
Yes, Even Scrappy Quilts Will Benefit From a Simple Plan
Scrappy quilts never appealed to me because they were just too scrappy. Most randomly pieced quilts can benefit from just a little bit of planning. No, not hours of sketching with colored pencils or computer drafted designs. Simply some organization of fabrics into some basic groups.
How to Make a Modern Log Cabin Quilt
Get Your Copy of My Garden Path Log Cabin Quilt Pattern
Most scrappy quilts include lots of colors and prints. By grouping colors, the quilt will have a more appealing design. The waves of color between blocks can be quite attractive and draw the viewer’s attention. Simply pull all your fabrics together and create three to five piles of different colors.
Begin with one piece and decide on the primary color you see and put it in a pile. Keep doing that with the first group of fabrics you’re working with. After a few piles are created, you may decide to group some together that have a lot of similar colors. That’s great, you just reduced another decision for later because you won’t have to choose between the two different colors. You can find quilting fabric and quilting supplies for your project at Fat Quarter Shop.
Join Strips From Each Group Into One Long Strip
This is where the diagonal seam really comes into play. There are so many benefits to using this method. First, you’re grouping all one basic color group together into a single strip. When you want a red fabric, you grab the red strip which is a collection of different prints with a generally red appearance. That makes sewing much quicker as you don’t have to choose between multiple shades of red, or measure to see if the strip is long enough.
As these strips are joined with a diagonal seam, the seam allowance is spread across the strip at an angle instead of straight up and down. The significance of that is appearance first, and bulky seams second. The diagonal seam blends two fabrics together nicely. It allows your eye to see a gentle separation of prints. Whereas the vertical seam is more abrupt, but more importantly will also disrupt the expected log cabin design. When you begin adding more straight seams within a log cabin block, you’ll loose the traditional look of the block.
Adding more straight seams can create bulk where multiple strips join together. A diagonal seams evenly distributes the seam allowance over a couple inches keeping a nice, smooth look across the entire block. The intended straight seams of the ‘logs’ maintain their position and your block will keep the look you want.
Color Groups with Multiple Colors
The beauty of this method is the freedom to allow colors to blend together within a single strip. If your blue pile has navy, aqua, and baby blue, then keep a few similar pieces together before moving to the next shade of blue. It’s likely that some of these prints will have multiples of these shades of blue and they will become your transition pieces. Simply insert these fabrics between other stronger colors for some engaging color placement.
Blending your strips in this method creates some wonderful contrast in your quilt block. As little pops of unexpected colors appear, they brighten the area and draw a bit more attention. It may take sewing a strip or two together before you get the hang of it, but you’ll love the difference! It’s definitely worth giving it a try.
Begin Assembling Your Log Cabin Blocks
Chain Piecing Is So Much Easier with Longer Strips
Begin with a pile of blocks and your first strip of fabrics. Place your block on the bottom with your strip on top and begin chain piecing. Just keep adding blocks until you reach the end of the strip or are ready to change colors. You’re sewing will go much quicker with longer strips and the diagonal seams are more gradual to sew across keeping everything nice and smooth.
You’ll also find that the mixed blend of colors and fabrics creates some fantastic interest in your blocks. There’s so much to look at and it’s very appealing to the eye.
Make Every Block Unique
The beauty of this method is that every block is filled with different fabric combinations. There may be lots of similar colors, but the different patterns and prints makes each and every block unique!
How to Assemble an On-Point Log Cabin Quilt
Don’t Miss the Final Assembly Tutorial!
Be sure to watch the Stunning Log Cabin Block Transformation into a Scrappy Fat Quarter Quilt video to see how the block are assembled!
You’ll love your scrappy quilt and will appreciate the bit of planning it took to get started. Sometimes starting a quilt can be the most difficult step as all those fabrics can be intimidating. By starting with just one piece, you’ll have this process mastered in no time at all! Have fun with your next scrappy quilt!
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