Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Another String Quilt

There were just enough Red and String blocks left for this toddler quilt. Perfect for one of the four baby quilts. Although I didn't intend to repeat a top, it's practically the same setting I used here. Cheerful and bright!

Blocks are made of large red triangles one one side and strings in random widths on the other side.
String Quilt

Ditch quilted along the sashing then quilted a simple grid across the quilt. The border has printed spirals so I quilted more of them. They look great.

Enjoy the day! Ann

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Four Patch Log Cabin Tutorial and Settings

Some people asked the directions for Four-Patch Log Cabin. It's an easy six-inch finished block using six fabrics. Here's a cutting chart.

Fabric Color       Number of Pieces       Cut Size
Bright A                       2                      2" by 2"
Bright B                       2                      2" by 2"
Black A                        1                      2" by 3.5"
Black B                        1                      2" by 5"
White A                       1                      2" by 5"
White B                       1                      2" by 6.5"

Four bright squares are surrounded by two black fabrics and two white fabrics to create this block.
Pieces for Four-Patch Log Cabin block
Using quarter-inch seams sew the four-patch together, pressing seams to one side and butting them together to finish the four-patch. Next sew Black A rectangle to the four-patch, pressing to the outside.

The four bright squares are sewn first;  then the first black rectangle is attached to begin the log cabin.
Partially sewn Four-Patch Log Cabin
Add Black B rectangle and again press to the outside. Double check that you are adding rectangles in the same direction on each block. Mine are clockwise. It doesn't matter whether they turn clockwise or counterclockwise as long as all blocks are consistent. Finally, add White A and finally White B, pressing to the outside.

What about the setting? Regular Log Cabins on point make a Straight Furrows set.

Log Cabins of light and dark scraps are laid out to demonstrate a straight furrow set.
Straight Furrows layout, log cabin blocks
When Four-Patch Log Cabin blocks are laid out the same way, they appear more like Streak of Lightning. Log Cabin blocks look like dark and light triangles. This block looks like a dark/bright square with a white L. That makes the difference in the layout.

These four-patch log cabins are set on point with red triangles surrounding them and a black and white striped border.
Four-Patch Log Cabin. Layout is Straight Furrow but looks like Streak of Lightning.
Here's one variation of regular Log Cabin Streak of Lightning layout.

Log Cabins of light and dark scraps are laid out to demonstrate a streak of lightning set.
Streak of Lightning set, log cabin blocks
The fabrics in FPLC are so strongly patterned that simple quilting seemed best. The black and white logs are simple straight line and ditch quilting; the bright squares are free-motion orange peel. I thought about heavier quilting but decided they should match the logs in density. There are lovely feathers in the bright red that don't show up. Finally, the border just needed simple echo quilting to highlight the prints. Sometimes less is more. But looking at the regular log cabins inspires me to use some of the designs Leah is using in her locks of hair. I'll have to sew these tops now.

Enjoy the day! Ann

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Four-Patch Log Cabin Quilts

I've gotten a bit sidetracked. Somehow four friends are having baby boys... soon. How did I not know? Fortunately I keep extra blocks for these events. I need to dig them out to see what can be done. Here are some I made last time.

Four-Patch Log Cabin, Streak of Lightning set

They are made with the same simple block using similar black & white fabrics. Streak of Lightning is so bright and cheerful but I also like the shadings of grey in the next. It was set with dark grey crosses centered on a multi-colored friendship star then sashed with very light greys.

Four-Patch Log Cabin, Cross set

Here's the original block: a four patch of 2" unfinished squares combined with one row of log cabin strips. Notice the darks were sewn before the lights. You can also see the quilting design. I squared off the individual feathers so it looks like a philodendron in my backyard. Linking up with the Free Motion Quilting Project.

Four-Patch Log Cabin block
Edit: I posted a tutorial here.

Fret not; enjoy the day. Ann

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Flower Power Bullseye

This was the final bullseye quilt finished around 2006 using the leftovers from my first one. I wanted to see how Texas Mink held up over time and thought it complemented the raw edge of the bullseye blocks. It has lasted very well. The quilt has been heavily used, washed and stored in a chest for several years. The border has flattened. Washing reinvigorates it but it never looks as pristine once it's folded or washed.

Thirty-six bullseye blocks are arranged by color into four 'flower petal' shapes on a quilt with a Texas Mink fringe border.
Four-Square Bullseye with Texas Mink border in 2013

Strips of bright fabrics, ribbons and braids are used to make a fringed Texas Mink border on this quilt.
Texas Mink border in 2006
Fret not; enjoy the day. Ann