When I posted about the mini quilt swap that I had with Christina @Wips and Tuts last Friday, I was asked if there were going to be tutorials written for the mini quilts. I decided to just jump right in and do a quick tutorial since I think there are so many fun ways to play with quarter log cabin blocks. Before I go any further, I also want to mention that Christina used a Film in the Fridge tutorial when she made the orange and blue mini quilt fore me: Quartered Squares: A Modified Bento Box Tutorial.
Each quarter log cabin block in this tutorial finishes at 7.5-inches square, and the quarter log cabin mini quilt should finish at 28.5-inches square.
Quarter Log Cabin Block
Fabric Requirements
You are welcome to use whatever color scheme you desire, but for the purposes of this tutorial I will use the color scheme of the quarter log cabin block shown above: a pink center fabric, teal fabrics (teal fabric 1 = lightest, teal fabric 4 = darkest), and blue fabrics (blue fabric 1 = lightest, blue fabric 4 = darkest).
WOF = width of fabric (Assuming 40-inch wide fabric)
- Pink (center fabric) – (1) 1.5-inch x WOF strip
- Teal Fabric 1 (lightest teal fabric) – (2) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Teal Fabric 2 – (4) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Teal Fabric 3 – (5) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Teal Fabric 4 (darkest teal fabric) – (6) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 1 (lightest blue fabric) – (3) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 2 – (4) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 3 – (5) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 4 (darkest blue fabric) – (7) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Binding – (3) 2.5-inch x WOF strips
Quarter Log Cabin Block Piecing
For faster block construction, the instructions below are based on chain piecing the quarter log cabin blocks. An accurate quarter inch seam allowance will yield consistent block sizes, or you may chose to sew with a scant quarter inch seam allowance and trim your blocks down to size as noted in the instructions.
Step 1
Pre-cut the pink (center fabric) and (1) teal fabric 1 1.5-inch wide strip down to 1.5-inches wide by 26 inches long. Sew right sides together down the long edge. Press seams open. Cut (16) 1.5-inch by 2.5-inch sections.
Step 1
Step 2
Using the remaining teal fabric 1 1.5-inch wide strips, chain sew the (16) sections from Step 1. Trim apart, press seams open, and trim to 2.5-inches square.
Step 2
Step 3
Using blue fabric 1, chain sew the (16) sections from Step 2. Trim apart and press seams open.
Step 3
Step 4
Using the remaining strips of blue fabric 1, chain sew the (16) sections from Step 3. Trim apart, press seams open, and trim to 3-inches square.
Step 4
Step 5
Continue chain piecing each subsequent color to the log cabin block, noting that after each color has been added to both sides the expected size of the block below.
- Teal 2 – 4-inches square
- Blue 2 – 4.5-inches square
- Teal 3 – 5.5-inches square
- Blue 3 – 6-inches square
- Teal 4 – 7-inches square
- Blue 4 – 7.5-inches square
Step 5
Step 6
Arrange the (16) quarter log cabin blocks in a pattern pleasing to you. Several layout options are below, but play and have fun discovering a layout that you like best! Sew blocks together into rows, pressing seams open. Sew the rows together, pressing seams open. The mini quilt top should finish at 28.5-inches square.
Step 7
Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Form the binding by cutting the number of binding strips indicated and chain sew the strips together. Bind and enjoy your mini quilt!
Tips and Tutorials Tuesdays
Linking up to Tips and Tutorials Tuesdays @Late Night Quilter.
Great tutorial. I have been playing around with the idea of quarter log cabin blocks set on point. Your layouts are really funky and kind of mess with my eyes I love it!
You write the best tutorials Yvonne! This is such a great design and looks like so much fun to ‘play with’!
Great tutorial, your drawings are very clear and easily understandable. I love the layout options you gave, option #3 just pops out at me.
I love the varied widths of your logs- simple chnage with dramatic impact!
Thanks for sharing this easy to follow tutorial Yvonne. I am definitely going to try this. I just need to decide on what colours to use and then which option looks best!
What a great tutorial! I love layout option #3
Thanks so much for this. It’s a great block!
I really like layout #4, Yvonnne – I’m gonna fav this post so I can reference it later. I’ve used this chain piecing method to make log cabins, and right now I’m in the middle of using Judy Martin’s technique where you cut all the logs at the beginning. I’m not sure whether one way is faster or not, but I really appreciate the second way cause I hate trimming off all those little bits of overhangs! Have you compared these methods?
I need to print this tutorial out for my files and pin it on Pinterest, for sure! I think #3 is my favorite, but I love #4 too. It’s so cool how different all the layouts are — a totally different quilt every time. You are so talented, Yvonne. Genius. And to comment on one of your FB posts today, the US government would be lucky to have you researching Mars for them, at home in your jammies.
Thank you for the tutorial! I love this quilt.
I ( think) the graphics for steps 2 & 3 are not quite correct,(turned) Step 3 shows the blue being stitched to the pink square, which it doesn’t do and step 2 shows the second teal being added to the teal but not the pink, which it is. The written instructions are great!
I hope I manage some time today to make a block! I love log cabin blocks, this one has so much visual appeal for me. 🙂
I really appreciate you taking the time to show us this strip piece technique!
I believe the graphics are now updated; thank you so much for your attention to detail and letting me know!
Thanks for this clear tutorial. Makes me want to run to my sewing machine…
Great tutorial, Yvonne! It makes me want to start another quilt. . . or two! There are SO many options with these blocks – I like all of the options you have illustrated! Not sure I could pick just one 🙂
Lovely! This is much faster than the way I’ve been making my log cabin blocks. I’ve been having fun playing with them lately, but all the cutting was a pain.
This is so pretty, thanks for sharing! I love all the different layouts as well 🙂
Such a versatile block. I do love anything log cabin like!
This is a great tutorial. Thank you so much! I love your color scheme and all the various layouts. Julie at The Crafty Quilter pointed me in your direction, and I’m so glad she did.
Love option 2. They all look as though there is a light on in the corners. I have spent the last few days piecing log cabin blocks and I am currently trying to decide which way to lay them out. I just love illusional quilts.