Saturday, December 8, 2012

A Walk thru the Neighborhood

I have to say that the Log Cabin block is just about my favorite traditional block.  I like Ohio Stars but I love Log Cabins.  And I particularly love the Barn Raising setting.  There are so many different options but after playing with the blocks -- this is the one that that always makes me the happiest.  Check out all the different settings in the link to Big Horn Quilts.
I just finished this quilt and it's ready to gift to a soon-to-be-first-time-grammie.  If you're a periodic reader of this blog, you may remember that this was made from her sons' boxer shorts.  I hope she will like it and it can become a floor quilt for Baby A when he gets here.  It was fun to do but the cutting of boxers is not nearly as efficient as cutting from men's shirts.  Logs finish at 1" and the blocks are 7" finished.
This is the first log cabin I ever made.  The logs finish at 1.5" and it's made of lots of scraps.  It's been a constant on my guest bed for years and it always makes me smile when I wash it and put it back on the bed. It was quilted on my Bernina when I had no idea what to do -- and my plan was to quilt the lights in a neutral thread and the darks in an Aurafil variegated that.  The variegated didn't cooperate for some reason and that plan was abandoned.  The quilt was heavy, I didn't do a good job of supporting it while quilting, and it torqued something important.  Lesson learned.


This is my second log cabin and maybe my favorite.  The logs finish at 1" and I made long before "latte quilts" were trendy.  Actually, I made it long before I knew what "latte" even was!  It was also quilted on my Bernina and I think the quilting overshadows the piecing - which is not what I wanted.  I do love it and plan to do another one of these day. Nothing uses up those strips and bits of left over fabric than cutting logs.
This quilt was made for my sister, Tuthfairy, and is out of Christmas fabrics.  She has always loved this block and when it was time to make a Christmas quilt for her -- there was only one block to do.  Logs finish at 1" and I really like this quilt as well.  It's always fun to see it come out during the holidays.
This quilt is similar to one that I saw in a quilt shop in a Chicago suburb.  It's called Curved Log Cabin (I think) and is with Asian fabrics.  I collected those for a while before starting this and then I got the "bug" out of my system to use them.  I do love their richness but I never could really bring myself to combine them with other fabrics in quilts.  For the first time, I switched thread colors on Sadie Gammill as I was quilting.  What a pain!  But I wanted a light thread in the white area but not in the darker logs. The scraps went into a paper piecing project that has gone to live elsewhere.  More on that at another time.
These are special Log Cabins and are placemats made by my sister.  She was not a quilter before this but has wanted log cabin placements for a long long time.  Her kitchen is brick red and the colors are perfect for her breakfast bar -- as is the binding she chose.  All I did (other than cutting and putting the binding on) was show her what to do and she did the rest.  I think they are magnificent and I'm hoping she will want to do more quilting.  It was fun having her in the quilt room!  Nothing like sharing what you love to do with someone you love.

So what's next? I'm wondering about one in all grays -- lites to charcoal much like my neutral quilt above.  And I have to do one with 1" strips that finish at 1/2".  I think those are unbelievable quilts and I want one.  I've also thought about my Cherrywoods but don't think I can bring myself to put so much of those incredible fabrics in the seam allowance.
I always keep logs in "inventory" and periodically make a few log cabin blocks as part of my leaders and enders.  I have about 10-15 that I've done in the past.  Some day I'll get serious about those -- but for now, they are in a tote and I'll keep cutting logs as I work with my scraps.  In looking at the tote -- maybe I should spend some time sorting them!

What about you?  What's your favorite block or quilt pattern than you've duplicated over the years because it's just "perfect"?

I hope you're finding time to sew and create during these crazy, busy days!  Jan


29 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I love log cabin too and have done more than 20 of them over the years. Everytime I taught the class I had to start at new one. I don't know about 1" strips though, maybe 1 1/4" strips (3/4")for the narrowest for me.

One Minnesota Quilter said...

I just noticed the other day how many quilts I have made with 9-patches or simple half square triangles. I really love the humble 9-patch.

All of your quilts are beautiful. Great post!

Judy

Anonymous said...

What a job!!! That's really beautiful and so amazing! I would never be finished if I started a project like that, it's huge, but love patchwork :-) have a lovely day

Sylvia said...

I love log cabins too! Great idea to keep the strips in cut sizes.

Gayle Bong said...

Thanks for showing us your log cabin quilts. I recently fell in love with them. I aight have done 4 to date and will be doing more. No favorite block for me, unless ...

Michelle said...

I love that curved log cabin!

Petersons in Texas said...

I really want to get into quilting! Love these! Thanks so much for linking up to Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings!

Sheila said...

I love your log cabin quilts. I don't think I have ever made a log cabin quilt. One is definitely on my list for next year.

Diana of Diana Rambles said...

Beautiful! Diana

Anonymous said...

Linking up from Lil Luna, I love log cabin, 9 patch, and disappearing 9 patch, I have never made a disappearing 9 patch and I am going to try one in the New Year. Have a great day.

Lynette said...

What a fun post! I'm about to start a special log cabin quilt. Have you seen Flavin Glover's artsy log cabins? I love them! She works in those tiny finishes of 1/2" logs to make her pictures. Absolutely fascinating. http://www.flavinglover.com/Gallery_all.htm

Lynette said...

P.S. - do you have a tip for keeping the block from bowing when you're finished? It seems no matter how meticulous I am with my seams, I still get an inward dip on the middle of each side.

Melia Mae Quilting said...

I love the log cabin block as well. I just haven't used it that much yet!

Sel said...

Been working on a log cabin for several years now - batik scraps. Still not done. Thanks for the inspiration to get it done!

Jill said...

Oh my goodness - more gorgeous quilts!! I LOVE stopping by to see your amazing work!

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful quilts and the log cabin pattern is one of my favorites too! I just finished a stack of placemats made in the log cabin style. Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

Salmagundi said...

I'm also a Log Cabin fan - my favorite setting is "straight furrows" like your sister's placemats. I've made several Log Cabins over the years with several variations including the 'court house steps' block. Your quilts are lovely - I'm envious of your machine quilting. Sally

ChristaQuilts said...

Great quilts! We were both doing log cabins this week - what fun!!

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

I love log cabins too! My great-aunt made the quilt on my bed, which has 3" finished centers and narrower strips. I have made most my siblings one of these quilts! I like the barn raising setting best too with the dark being in the middle, although I have tried other settings. It truly is a great pattern to use up lots of scraps! Beautiful! Love how the placemats came out too! Cheers! Evelyn

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

Wow! That's a lotta logs! I love the curved one - very clever indeed.

Sara said...

I really enjoy piecing HST's and doing some paper piecing:)

I love the 1st log cabin pic, your most recent log cabin quilt. I think it is the white against all those colors. It looks like confetti to me:)

Have a Merry Christmas!

JoAnn SweetPepperRose said...

A truly amazing and beautiful piece of art!

M-R Charbonneau said...

Love the logs! It's so amazing what that classic block can do. Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

Unknown said...

Beautiful quilts! I want to try the curved log cabin one day.

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

Oh these are LOVELY! :)

Sarah Craig said...

Beautiful quilts! Whoop whoop!!

Pomegranate Quilts said...

What an amazing collection of log cabins... really inspiring!

The Busy Bee's said...

So BEAUTIFUL!!Thank you for linking up to the blog hop Adorned From Above. We are co-hosting and appreciate you joining the party! Have a great day!
Host: Debi @ adornedfromabove.com
Co-Host: Joye & Myrna @ thebusybhive.blogspot.com
Co-Host: Linda @ withablast.com

Maggie said...

Beautiful quilts! I found your blog through Sew Many Ways link party. Maggie xx