SeeMyQuilt
Strips & logs · Beginner · 12" finished

12 inch Half Log Cabin quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Half Log Cabin block that finishes at 12". The block is a 4 × 4 grid and each cell finishes at 3".

Finished block 12" × 12". Unfinished 12 1/2" × 12 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Background1 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle9 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle9 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle12 1/2" × 3 1/2"–

How to piece it

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 4 × 4 grid, and each cell finishes at 3". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  3. Join the rows. The block should measure 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 12" Half Log Cabin blocks

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentFabric 4Fabric 5Fabric 6Fabric 7Border & bindingBacking
Baby3 × 4 (12)42" × 54"1/8 yd1/8 yd1/4 yd1/4 yd3/8 yd3/8 yd1/2 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap4 × 5 (20)54" × 66"1/4 yd1/4 yd1/2 yd1/2 yd5/8 yd5/8 yd3/4 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw5 × 6 (30)66" × 78"3/8 yd3/8 yd5/8 yd5/8 yd7/8 yd7/8 yd1 1/8 yd1 3/8 yd5 yd
Twin6 × 8 (48)78" × 102"1/2 yd1/2 yd7/8 yd7/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/4 yd1 3/4 yd9 1/4 yd
Queen8 × 8 (64)102" × 102"3/4 yd3/4 yd1 1/4 yd1 1/4 yd1 3/4 yd1 3/4 yd2 3/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd
King9 × 9 (81)114" × 114"3/4 yd3/4 yd1 1/2 yd1 1/2 yd2 1/4 yd2 1/4 yd3 yd2 1/8 yd10 1/4 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

What a lap quilt looks like

4 × 5 blocks, 54" × 66" with border.

This diagram uses plain colors. To see the quilt in your own fabrics, with sashing or on point, use the tool below: tap a fabric and choose a photo.

See it in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

What do I cut for a 12 inch Half Log Cabin block?

1 main square at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 background square at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 accent rectangle at 6 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 4 rectangle at 6 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 5 rectangle at 9 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 6 rectangle at 9 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 7 rectangle at 12 1/2" × 3 1/2".

What size is the block before it is sewn into the quilt?

12 1/2" square. It finishes at 12" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 12 inch Half Log Cabin blocks?

30 blocks make a 66" × 78" quilt. Buy 3/8 yd of main, 3/8 yd of background, 5/8 yd of accent, 5/8 yd of fabric 4, 7/8 yd of fabric 5, 7/8 yd of fabric 6, 1 1/8 yd of fabric 7 and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 5 yd for the backing.