Log Cabins
The Log Cabin has over the years been one of the most popular patterns used by quilters, the pattern lending itself to a wide number of variations.
Strips of Fabric
Based on the patchwork block, the basic design is of a central square which is surrounded by strips of fabric. The centre square is often three to four times as wide as the strips of fabric which surround it. The number of strips to be sewn will depend on the width of strip you intend to use and the desired size of the finished block. As with other block patterns, once the individual blocks have been made they can be sewn together to form the quilt top. It is common in this design for one diagonal half of the strips forming the block to be dark and the other diagonal half to be light.
In antique American quilts it was quite common for the centre square to be in a shade of red as this represented the chimney of the log cabin.
Unlike other block patterns, Log Cabin blocks are pieced together in the round. One strip is applied to one side of the centre square, the square is turned and a second strip is attached to the square and so on until the square is surrounded by strips. The second round of strips is then pieced in the round to the strips already sewn to the square. This is continued until the block is complete.
Courthouse Steps
A variation of the Log Cabin is the ‘Courthouse Steps’. Here the centre square would traditionally be black to represent the judge’s robes. Of course the centre square can be any colour you choose. The main distinguishing feature of the Courthouse Steps is that the strips are pieced to the square so that rather than having two adjacent sides dark and two light, the dark and light strips are pieced opposite each other on either side of the square.
Chevron Log Cabin
Another variation is the Chevron Log Cabin. In this pattern, instead of the square being placed in the centre of the block, it is placed in one corner. Strips of alternating light and dark are pieced to two sides of the square to form a chevron design.
There are many other variations of the Log Cabin which makes this a really versatile pattern which can be easily sewn by the novice quilter.