- Background (muslin)
- Light (faded chambray)
- Dark (indigo)
- Deep (damson)
- Accent (madder red)
Block No. 07 · log-cabin
Log Cabin Quilt Block
Also known as Courthouse Steps (variation), Traditional Log Cabin
Part of: Log Cabin Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks Using Squares And RectanglesEasy Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For Beginners
The Log Cabin quilt block pattern builds outward from a central square with successive fabric strips, or logs. Its familiar light-and-dark arrangement has long been used to create larger designs by rotating blocks in the finished quilt.
- Level
- Beginner
- Grid
- 8 × 8
- Pieces
- 13
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
8 × 8 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 8" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Background | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 6 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Light | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 11" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Light | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 9 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Light | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 5" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Light | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 3 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 12 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 11" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 6 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 5" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Deep | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 9 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Deep | Rectangle | 1 | 2" × 8" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Accent | Square | 1 | 3 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the accent hearth square at 3 1/2". Cut all twelve logs from the chart, labelling them 1 to 12 by length: logs are 1 1/2" wide finished and 2" wide unfinished.
Step 2: Round 1: sew log 1 (light, 2" x 3 1/2") to the top of the hearth. Press away from the center. Rotate clockwise and add log 2 (light, 2" x 5") to the right side.
Step 3: Add log 3 (dark, 2" x 5") to the bottom, then log 4 (dark, 2" x 6 1/2") to the left. Pressing every seam away from the center keeps the logs square.
Step 4: Round 2: continue clockwise with logs 5 and 6 in background (2" x 6 1/2", then 2" x 8") and logs 7 and 8 in deep (2" x 8", then 2" x 9 1/2").
Step 5: Round 3: logs 9 and 10 in light (2" x 9 1/2", then 2" x 11") and logs 11 and 12 in dark (2" x 11", then 2" x 12 1/2").
Step 6: Measure after each round: the unit should be 6 1/2", 9 1/2", then 12 1/2". Trim any drift before starting the next round.