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Strips & logs · Confident beginner

Log Cabin quilt block

Strips, called logs, sewn around a center square: light fabrics on one side, dark on the other.

Log Cabin: main, background, accent, fabric 4, fabric 5, fabric 6 and fabric 7. A 7 × 7 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

7" Log Cabin (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Main1 rectangle2 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background1 rectangle2 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background1 square1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent1 square1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle4 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle4 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle6 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle7 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle6 1/2" × 1 1/2"–

10 1/2" Log Cabin (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle5" × 2"–
Main1 rectangle3 1/2" × 2"–
Background1 rectangle3 1/2" × 2"–
Background1 square2" × 2"–
Accent1 square2" × 2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle6 1/2" × 2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle5" × 2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle8" × 2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle6 1/2" × 2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle9 1/2" × 2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle8" × 2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle11" × 2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle9 1/2" × 2"–

14" Log Cabin (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle8 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle8 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle12 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 61 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle14 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 71 rectangle12 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

How to make a 14" Log Cabin block

  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 7 × 7 grid, and each cell finishes at 2". 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 14 1/2" now and 14" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Log Cabin quilt (14" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentFabric 4Fabric 5Fabric 6Fabric 7Border & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)34" × 48"1/4 yd1/4 yd1/8 yd1/4 yd3/8 yd3/8 yd1/2 yd7/8 yd1 3/4 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)48" × 62"3/8 yd1/4 yd1/8 yd1/2 yd1/2 yd5/8 yd7/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 yd
Throw4 × 5 (20)62" × 76"5/8 yd1/2 yd1/4 yd3/4 yd7/8 yd1 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 3/4 yd
Twin5 × 6 (30)76" × 90"3/4 yd1/2 yd1/4 yd1 yd1 1/4 yd1 3/8 yd2 yd1 5/8 yd5 1/2 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)90" × 90"7/8 yd5/8 yd1/4 yd1 1/4 yd1 3/8 yd1 5/8 yd2 3/8 yd1 3/4 yd8 1/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)104" × 104"1 1/4 yd7/8 yd3/8 yd1 3/4 yd2 yd2 3/8 yd3 1/4 yd2 yd9 1/2 yd

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

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 14" Log Cabin blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side2062" × 76"–
With sashing1668" × 68"Sashing 1 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks10 pieced + 10 plain62" × 76"Plain blocks 2 1/4 yd
On point1365 1/2" × 65 1/2"Setting triangles 1 5/8 yd

See Log Cabin 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

How many fabrics does a Log Cabin block need?

Seven: main, background, accent, fabric 4, fabric 5, fabric 6 and fabric 7. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 14 inch Log Cabin?

1 main rectangle at 6 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 main rectangle at 4 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 background rectangle at 4 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 background square at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 accent square at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 4 rectangle at 8 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 4 rectangle at 6 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 5 rectangle at 10 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 5 rectangle at 8 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 6 rectangle at 12 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 6 rectangle at 10 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 7 rectangle at 14 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 fabric 7 rectangle at 12 1/2" × 2 1/2".

How many Log Cabin blocks for a lap quilt?

12 blocks at 14", set 3 by 4 with a 3" border, make a 48" × 62" quilt.

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