Scrappy log cabin blocks

by Linda Theil

Scrappy Log Cabin quilt block by Linda Theil

Next month the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild will host a virtual quilt-along to make quilts for the SafeHouse Center womens' shelter in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

One of the suggested blocks to make at the event is a Scrappy Log Cabin suggested by GAAQG member and artist Mary Bajcz. I love the Log Cabin block design and decided to get a head start on next month's event by organizing my materials and develping a process for making my Scrappy Log Cabin blocks. I began by watching Mary's YouTube video: "Scrap Quilt Strategy: The Log Cabin Technique", and many others available on the topic. What a variety of approaches!

I'm not much of an improvisor and this is the first time I've tried the scrappy approach to quilt making. So It was quite an adventure for me.

I pulled out my scrap bin and began sorting for lights and darks. After looking at many videos, I decided to work with a central square of 2.5-inches, and to add enough strips to make a finished block of ten-inches square. I looked for pieces of fabric that were already 2.5-inches wide, or for pieces that could be cut into 2.5-inch strips. I found a bright red to use for my central squares as a unifying factor throughout the quilt top.

As I sorted I soon identified many pieces of reds, blues, and lights so I decided to pull those colors for my log-cabin kit. Once I had my color choices, I cut all the scraps into 2.5-inch-wide strips. Cut your strips as long as you can, but make sure that you have plenty that are at least a foot long, because that is the longest piece you will need for this 10-inch-square block. I cut all the red fabric into 48 2.5-inch squares -- enought to make a finished quilt of 60 x 80-inches with no borders. I put the red squares into a baggie so they would not get lost. I also cut a couple blue squares just to see how a blue centered block would go together.

I rolled my strips into color separated bundles and put the red squares and rolled strips into a small plastic storage bin to use as my Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt Kit.

Depleted Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt Block Kit bin after making 24 scrappy blocks

Although Mary Bajcz uses pieces of various widths and sizes, I decided to use a standard width and also use the classic Log Cabin Block technique of piecing lights on one side of the center and darks on the other side. I made a single block to see how it all worked together and loved it so much I got hooked. I only got 24 made before I had to invade my stash for more dark fabrics since I used up a lot of my longer pieces early. That was fun, too -- adding more guests to my party.

Scrappy Log Cabin kit in process of making blocks

Scrappy Log Cabin quilt block process

For each 10-inch block you will need:

One 2.5-inch square

Eight 2.5-inch-wide fabric scraps varying in length, aproximately 60-inches of strips, trimmed to length after stitching). (In the wonkier version, you just stitch strips to strips and cut the block to size when you are done.)

one 2.5-inch long
two 5-inches long
two 7.5-inches long
two 10-inches long
one 12.5-inches long

Add strips one at a time in the order shown below. Start with a center square (#1). I added two medium lights (#2 and #3), two medium darks (#4 and #5), then two lights (#6 and #7), then two darks (#8 and #9). I added each "log" from a long 2.5-inch-wide strip, and cut the strip to size after sewing each seam.

Here are some of my earliest blocks thrown up on the design wall as they were completed.

As I moved through the process, I began to use the same fabric for both same-color legs (two and three, four and five, six and seven, eight and nine) as seen below.

I couldn't resist trying out this block in a different color-combo that had crept into my kit.

Working with scraps is a whole lot of fun, even if I regimented my options -- lol. I'll post a picture of the quilt when it's finished!

Update December 18, 2021

Here is my scrappy log-cabin quilt, backed with ivory flannel and quilted by Laura Jarvis of KootsiQuilting in Stockbridge, Michigan. Jarvis, a brilliant long-arm quilter, and member of the GAAQG, quilts SafeHouse Center donations at a much reduced fee, as her gift of love.

Here is my scrappy log-cabin quilt, trimmed and ready for labeling and binding.