Left Over Log Cabin Finished

Another UFO bites the dust!! Only a couple more to go! I call this one Left Over Log Cabin because it is made up of the left over 1 1/2" strips I used for my Omigosh Redux quilt. I just kept cutting and ended up with way too many. I'd never made a Log Cabin quilt before, so I thought this would be a good use of the strips. I made may Pink and Grey Zig Zag log cabin at the same time.

I played around with the layout for a while and came up with this one. I like the old school look. This is my second quilt with a wool wadding. I think this will be a great lap quilt. I had it quilted with baptist fan by Kathy at KoolKat Quilting. She did a great job. The only issue, and this has NOTHING to do with the quality of the quilting, is that it is a bit closely quilted and as a result, stiff, for my taste. I wish I could've had it done on a large scale.

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Repro Log Cabin Progress

On Saturday I decided the jobs I had planned weren't that important, so I stayed home and worked on my Repro Log Cabin quilt. I was able to lay the blocks out ready to be pinned together. I only pinned to keep them in the right order.

Here you can see Miss Cleo assisting with the layout.

I got this far and then was totally exhausted, so I layed down for a while as I had to go out in the evening. I figured best to stop and wait until I had a clear head. Sleepy head equals quilty mistakes!!

I'm glad I did. As I was waiting to go out, I checked my Log Cabin board on Pinterest and found a layout I liked better. It still has the star in the middle but rather than just continue the radiating lines (which I wasn't super happy with as they don't quite work on a quilt with this few rounds), I found one with a corner treatment I preferred much better. Almost like Geese in Flight. Here are some of the other layouts I considered.

Only problem is, once the rows were sewn together, I was one block short!! (Top right corner). At one stage, I was two blocks short but I found one. So I need to make one more block. It won't be an issue as I have heaps of strips left. It shouldn't take more than half an hour to cut, sew and iron. Anyway, I got all the other rows sewn and the top one is done bar the missing block. So just need to iron the rows and sew together and the top will be done. Not sure whether to do cotton batting or make another one with a wool blanket. Thoughts?

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Repro Log Cabin Comp Winner

A little bit late with this one, but it should affect the results. So the winner of the Dresden Plate template is:

Congratulations to: Cait 

who voted for Barnraising (which I called Barnstorming). So, I've emailed Cait, and should have her prize to her by the end of the week.

The Results

• Barnraising - 3
• Fields and Furrows - 1
• Streaks of Lightening - 5
• Star - 9
• Sunshine and Shadow - 1
• Other - 1

Very interesting results, all options got at least one vote. And the votes pretty much align with my top choices (Star, Barnraising and Lightening). I think at this stage I am going to go with the majority and make the Log Cabin Star. I think I will make a few more blocks, to make the barnraising outer section stand out a little more. And I have the feeling that I might have another one or two Log Cabins in me at some stage.

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Repro Log Cab Pattern and Competition

So I've finished a pile (about 36) of traditional Log Cabin blocks. They will be 7" finished. Now comes the hard bit, what layout do I use? Below is a collage (thanks  PicMonkey!) of some of the more common Log Cabin settings.

I don't have a real favourite at the moment. But this block is a real good example of how important getting good definition between your lights and darks. I'm working on a pink and gray log cabin as well, and you get a very different look when the colours don't contrast so strongly.

It's quite small at the moment, so I will probably need to make some more blocks, but they work up very quickly.

Competition 

Anyway, in an effort to make a decision, it's time for a bit of audience participation. I've put some more detailed photo below. The prize is a 20 wedge Dresden Plate template from Matilda's Own. Somehow, I've ended up with a couple spare of these, so I figure better to give them to a new home than just sit in my cupboard. It's brand new, never used.

If you've never used these templates, they are super easy to use. You can complete a plate very quickly and it's all straight sewing, no funky seams.

So, to enter the competition, just post a comment telling me which layout you like best for these blocks. Or, if it's not shown here the name (or a link to a picture) of another setting you think I should try.

If you want a second entry, then start following my blog or let me know if you are already a follower.

I will cover postage costs and it's open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Competition will be drawn Moday 21 Jan 2013 (Aussie time).

NOTE: if you don't have a Blogger account or you are a No-replay blogger, please make sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win!!

Barnraising (Not Barnstorming!! duh!)

Fields and Furrows

Streaks of Lightening

Log Cabin Star

Sunshine and Shadow

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Reconsidering The Log Cabin Block

I have to admit, I've always been a bit biased against the poor old Log Cabin block.  I don't know why. I've always been drawn to the more traditional designs of patchwork and quilting. So I'm not sure where the bias came from.

So now I find myself in the postion of making two Log Cabin quilts. Well, the blocks for them anyway.

These are the strips for the very traditional version of the blog. The strips are left over from my Ohmygosh Redux quilt. They are 1 1/2 inches wide with varing lengths. I went with the traditional Turkey Red for the centre square. I should end up with about 36 squares.

The second one is going to be a more modern interpretation. I've been slowly sucked in by all the lovely greys that are now so popular. Normally I'm not into grey, but there are so many nice, warm greys at the moment. So I ordered up quite a few and had to come up with something.

I have a pretty good collection of pinks and that with grey is a pretty traditional combo. Below, on the left of the cutting board is the various strips cut out. The long strips on the right are the leftover pinks. I might have gotten a bit carried away with the cutting out! I didn't really calcuate the requirements, just kept cutting.

Below are the left over grey, after I've cut the required strips. Again, a bit over excited with the cutting. But, I have another quilt planned for the left over grey involving some nice orange fabrics.

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