Easy Log Cabin Blocks

 

You asked for it! You got it!

Many Inklingo quilters asked for more rectangles. A new collection is ready now.

Monkey and I were a bit surprised by requests for rectangles, because they are not usually difficult to cut quickly and accurately with a rotary cutter.

You opened our eyes.

Why rectangles?

  • Some quilters want to cut with scissors.
  • Quilters love the accuracy of perfectly printed shapes without measuring.
  • Quilters love having matching marks and stitching lines on every piece, so they can hand piece when they are on the go, and machine piece when they need speed.
  • Quilters love the way Inklingo helps them use scraps.
  • Quilters love the way Inklingo helps them estimate how much yardage to buy.

Whether you are an absolute beginner (“right sides together”), or a professional designer, we think you will love these shapes.

When we thought about rectangles, it made sense to start with a Log Cabin Shape Collection—rectangles and squares.

  • 2 Squares – 1.0 and 2.0
  • 9 Rectangles – 1 x 2, 1 x 3, 1 x 4, 1 x 5, 1 x 6, 1 x 7, 1 x 8, 1 x 9, 1 x 10

 

Print several sizes at once or one size at a time!

There is a Combo layout to print 10 shapes at once on a scrap. Monkey is not sure about it, but it might be useful. We want to see what you do with it.

When we made our first Inklingo Log Cabin block, we learned a little trick. From the blue batik, we needed one log 1 x 4 and one log 1 x 5. We printed two 1 x 5 logs (above)and cut one down to 1 x 4 after sewing. We had perfect matching marks on each one. Of course, we were just making one block.

 

Through the magic of Photoshop, I just made that single block into four. If I had actually sewn four blocks, I would have printed four 1 x 4 inch logs and four 1 x 5 inch logs on the blue batik.

The usual problem

There is a little problem. As usual, these shapes are so versatile that it is difficult to name a collection. Rectangles can be used for many, many designs other than Log Cabin. Oh, well. We live with it.

What to make?

To sample the possibilities, google “log cabin quilt” (without the quotation marks), and then click on “images” in the left sidebar. Wow. There are a lot of variations! Then try “courthouse steps quilt” and other common names and misspellings.

There is a helpful summary of Log Cabin, Straight Furrow, Courthouse Steps, and others in Jinny Beyer’s Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns on pages 88-89. We love that book.

As usual, Monkey’s Cheat Sheet will help you print exactly what you need.

We think this would make a great baby quilt or place mats or a spring table runner.

Wouldn’t it be fun to print all the scraps in your stash and have them ready? Print the combo or the longest logs each scrap allows, and cut them down later if you need to.

 

We are expecting a mix of rain and snow today, but yesterday while I was writing this, Russ spotted the first chipmunk to visit the front porch since last fall. We put sunflower seeds on the windowsill in a hurry.

Spring must be right around the corner, don’t you think?

Linda & Monkey

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start  (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares  in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

9 thoughts on “Easy Log Cabin Blocks”

  1. With Dear Jane in mind – is there any chance that the log cabins are going to be available in .5 inch size? Wow, could I stand it !

    Reply
  2. This is a great collection for Sashing and Cornerstones that will help me to piece my Inklingo blocks together! Also great for those UFOs and the Dear Jane quilt blocks that have been piling up.

    Thanks Linda!

    Reply
  3. This is fabulous!! There are so many different uses for rectangles! The design possibilities are, I think, endless. I will have fun tonight mulling over some ideas. Thank you SO much!!
    I’m glad you saw that chipmunk as this weather today is making me wonder if spring will ever show up. It’s getting really nasty downtown now!

    Reply
  4. Hurrah for little chippie in the window! Grson mentioned that he thinks he saw a humming bird today…ummm not likely as in Utah we don’t get hummers until Mother’s Day in May.
    As for the collection…a great beginner project and a wonderful suggestion to print as big as you can from scraps and then trim as necessary!

    Reply
  5. This may be the one and only pattern I am not rushing out to buy – I have 8 Inklingo projects in the works right now – and anyway I am addicted to curved piecing. But… I can see that this would be a great portable project and a perfect one for beginners.

    Reply

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