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How to Make Stunningly Beautiful Log Cabin Quilt Block

October 10, 2022 by sewnikki 2 Comments

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log cabin blocks on cutting mat
Want to make these log cabin quilt blocks? Then read the article below, How to Make Stunningly Beautiful Log Cabin Block/Quilt by Sew Nikki!

Today I’m going to show you how to make this stunningly beautiful Log Cabin quilt block. You will be given written fabric requirements, materials needed, suggested amount of fabric and best of all I have step by step picture instructions too! Stay with me as I show you how to make one of the prettiest, most charming, and spectacular blocks ever.

How to make one of the prettiest, most charming and spectacular blocks ever. Use one 3″ by 3″ square and 1 1/2″ strips of assorted lengths in light and dark fabrics. I’ll give you the exact fabric measurements down below along with step by step picture instructions. Now here’s a little about this block below.

More About The Log Cabin Quilt Block

log cabin blocks on cutting mat

A traditional Log Cabin block starts with a square and then the square has two sides of matching light colored fabric and the other two sides of matching dark color fabric which gives the block contrast. You are the person who is making this so do whatever you want to do. If unsure, make one block and audition it to see if you like it. Creating is all about trial and error so be brave, have no fear because you got this! Now let’s talk about what you need to make this.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

How To Make Log Cabin Quilt Block – Materials Needed For This Block

There are two main items you will need besides a sewing machine, quilting thread, ruler, rotary cutter and iron. It’s a good assortment of fabric and fabric starch. This block uses 4 dark and 4 light fabrics in each but you can keep going to your desired block size. Just remember to use the same number of dark and light fabrics for each block.

Colorful quilts are my favorite but this is your project so pick what you like as as many fabrics as you like and can afford! I recommend buying one yard of each fabric. My quilt will be using 18 fabrics total, 10 dark and 8 light.

assorted fabric on quilted bed
I purchased these 18 assorted fabrics at two fabric stores, both were either discounted or on sale.

Here are the products I used for this block and some are featured in my photos. Please note that fabric used was not included in my list below because it was bought at local fabric stores in discount bins or on sale with coupons.

Products Used:

Omnigrid Non-Slip quilter’s Ruler, 6″ x 24″, Neon Green

Niagara Heavy Finish Spray Starch

Fons & Porter 7718 Machine Quilters’ Friend, The Ultimate Stiletto

JUKI TL-2000Qi Sewing and Quilting Machine

Coats & Clark Inc. Machine Qlt Ctn Winter White

Fiskars Classic Stick Rotary Cutter, 45mm

Fiskars Crafts Folding Cutting Mat, 18 x 24, Grey

Prym 0.60 x 50 mm Quilters Flat Flower Pins, Silver/Yellow, One Size

Pyrex Simply Store 6-Pc Glass Food Storage Container Set with Lid

BLACK+DECKER IR03V Easy Steam Compact Iron, Blue

Ritz Professional 100% Natural Cotton Ironing Board Pad, Heavy Weight Padded Ironing Board Cover – Fits Standard Sized 54” Ironing Boards

How To Make Log Cabin Quilt Block – Press and Cut Your Fabric Into Strips

Get our your ironing board, iron and starch. Press the fabric and fold in half so your selvage edge shows on the outside then fold over. Cut 1 1/2″ strips for each fabric.

Assortment of fabric cut into 1.5″ strips, simply gorgeous! Light fabrics the the left and dark fabrics to the right.
Assortment of fabric cut into 1.5″ strips, simply gorgeous! Light fabrics the the left and dark fabrics to the right.


How To Make Log Cabin Quilt Block – Step by Step Instructions With Pictures

Are you done ironing and cutting your fabric into 1 1/2″ strips? Awesome, now here are the fabric lengths for each set of strips. Simply follow these step by step picture instructions and repeat the process to make this stunningly beautiful Log Cabin quilt block.

Fabric Requirements:

One 3″ x 3″ square – solid color of your choice

First set of strips, light fabric. One strip 3″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 4″ x 1 1/2″.

Second set of strips, dark fabric. One strip 4″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 5″ x 1 1/2″.

Third set of strips, light fabric. One strip 5″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 6″ x 1 1/2″.

Fourth set of strips, dark fabric. One strip 6″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 7″ x 1 1/2″.

Fifth set of strips, light fabric. One strip 7″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 8″ x 1 1/2″.

Sixth set of strips, dark fabric. One strip 8″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 9″ x 1 1/2″.

Seventh set of strips, light fabric. One strip 9″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 10″ x 1 1/2″.

Eight set of strips, dark fabric. One strip 10″ x 1 1/2″. One strip 11″ x 1 1/2″.

Pictures for First Set of Strips – Log Cabin Quilt Block

ironing items on table
Spray your 3 inch by 3 inch square with fabric starch and press on both sides until the fabric is nice and stiff, no longer flimsy.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Take one light strip of fabric and cut two pieces. One piece 3″ x 1.5″, second piece 4″ x 1.5″
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Place the 3″ x 1.5″ fabric strip right side down onto grey square and sew with a 1/4″ seam.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Take piece to ironing table and press toward light fabric. Press again with fabric starch.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Place the 4″ x 1.5″ fabric strip right side down onto grey square and sew with a 1/4″ seam.
quilting patchwork being sewn on sewing machine
Use a 1/4″ quilting foot on your machine and sew a 1/4″ seam.

Pictures for Second Set of Strips – Log Cabin Quilt Block

fabric pieces on cutting mat
Take one dark strip of fabric and cut two pieces. One piece 4″ x 1.5″, second piece 5″ x 1.5″
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Place the 4″ x 1.5″ fabric strip right side down onto grey square and sew with a 1/4″ seam.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Take piece to ironing table and press toward dark fabric. Press again with fabric starch.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Place the 5″ x 1.5″ fabric strip right side down onto grey square and sew with a 1/4″ seam.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Use a 1/4″ quilting foot on your machine and sew a 1/4″ seam.
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Take piece to ironing table and press toward dark fabric. Press again with fabric starch.

More photos that may help

I hope you liked the step by step picture tutorials above for the first and second set of strips. I noticed that I did not take pictures of each step to complete one entire block but here are more pictures that may help if you are a visual learner. Put on some music, take a deep breath and have fun with this. If you are stressing out then step away and come back to it. This is supposed to be fun!

Pro tips: Use starch every time you iron. Press your block with iron and starch after every piece you sew on, it will make the patchwork stiffer which makes for a cleaner stitch.

Third Set of Strips

fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine

Fourth Set of Strips

fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine
fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces on cutting mat

Fifth Set of Strips

log cabin quilt block on cutting mat
fabric strip right side down and sewing 1/4″ seam
log cabin quilt block on cutting mat
log cabin block pressed on cutting mat

Sixth Set of Strips

fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine

Seventh Set of Strips

fabric pieces, ruler and rotary cutter on cutting mat
fabric pieces and rotary cutter on cutting mat
fabric pieces on cutting mat
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine
log cabin quilt block laying on ironing board

Eighth Set of Strips

log cabin quilt block
fabric pieces on cutting mat
Log cabin quilt block
fabric pieces being sewn of sewing machine
fabric pieces on cutting mat
log cabin quilt block being ironed on ironing board
log cabin quilt block being ironed on ironing board
finished log cabin quilt block on cutting mat with sewing supplies
The finished quilt block measures 10″ x 10″. You can make a 12″ or larger block by repeating the steps until your desired size.

About Sew Nikki

Hello, my name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space but have completed over 100 finished items in just over two years and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! Read more about me here.

Check out my blog, How To Make Crochet Baby Blanket From Start to Finish here.

Filed Under: Quilt Tagged With: #LogCabinBlock, #LogCabinQuilt, #LogCabinQuiltBlock, #LogCabinQuiltBlockPattern

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Comments

  1. Patti+E

    October 10, 2022 at 11:44 am

    This is awesome, Nikki! You have shown each step, from start to finish, so beautifully… I’ve never made a quilt, but feel as though I could by following your instructions 1 step at a time!!
    Looking forward to following you & your creative adventures

    Reply
    • sewnikki

      October 10, 2022 at 11:55 am

      Thank you, glad you liked this post.

      Reply

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sew nikki blog photo for foodie pro theme

Hello, my name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space but have completed over 100 finished items in just over two years and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! Read more about me here.

Copyright © 2023 Sew Nikki on the Foodie Pro Theme