Skill Builder 2017-18 - Log Cabin block by Isabelle Jean

The Log Cabin quilt pattern is one of the most beloved and recognized of quilt designs. Log Cabin quilts first made their appearance in the United States in the 1860s during the Civil War.
Early Log Cabin blocks were hand-pieced using strips of fabrics around a central square. In traditional Log Cabin blocks, one half is made of dark fabrics and the other half light. A red center symbolized the hearth of home and a yellow center represented a welcoming light in the window. Some stories have also been told which suggest that during the Civil War, a Log Cabin quilt with a black center hanging on a clothesline was meant to signal a stop for the Underground Railroad.

How to sew a Log Cabin Block
To sew a traditional log cabin block, start with a square. Sew "logs" to each side of the block going clockwise (or counter clockwise) until you reach the size needed.

You can choose to make your logs any size you want and you can pre-cut each piece before you start sewing, or you can cut as you sew.

To make a 12.5" traditional log cabin block, start with a 2.5" square and sew 1.5" "logs" to each side until you have a 12.5" block. Remember to piece your block so that one half is dark and the other light.

Once your blocks are done, you can choose from a wide variety of layouts.

To modernize the log cabin block, you can:

Play with negative space

By Pasqualina at pasqualinathisandthat.blogspot.com

Play with bright solids

Periwinkle Quilting and Beyond

Play with improv

By Izzy (me!)

For more log cabin inspiration, check out the Pinterest board I created.

Another one by me

If you choose to make your own version of the modern Log Cabin block, be sure to share it on Instagram with the hashtags:

#mtlmqgskills and/or #mtlmqgskillbuilder