A log cabin block can be very easy to do – if you do it right! You have to piece it like a paint by number – follow the numbers and you do it right – if you don’t you just might mess up without even realizing it. That is why a lot of quilters paper piece this pattern – you follow the number and you are not ripping. Yesterday I was ripping because I was just not paying attention – I got half way done with the block and happened to really look at it and knew I was off. I should have taken photos of the all the mistakes. You get one piece off when you are sewing and the whole block is messed up.
The yellow highlight is light color strips – the red highlight is darker color strips. You sew according to number starting at the center number one which for me is purple – this photo could be turned actually to have it laying right – but I think you can get what I mean from it – this is from my Block Base program
I finally managed to get one block done after I had messed it up more than once – I guess I got to cocky – thinking about how well I know this block LOL – right now it is just up on the wall in a well known design, there are many different layouts and it will get changed later on.
I actually got some hexies out to start thread basting the next flowers – didn’t get much done but progress!
And quilting on Scrappy Crossroads from Thursday night. I am linking to Patchwork & Quilting —
I hurried here when I saw your title. I have heard of folks paper piecing log cabin and wondered why go to that trouble, but if I think about how mixed up I get, I should try it! I really love the fabrics you’re using, looks very pretty and cozy.
Bummer! You have enough fabric, you could have just started over! Lol it’s not fun to rip!
Dear Karen,
This happened to all of us, do not beat yourself up about it. Seam ripper’s are great tools to help us. I have spent a lot of time this past week with mine to fix several different things that just didn’t work out the way they are supposed to.
Love the scrappy log cabin, the fabrics looks great and reminds me of American Jane from Moda. They are such happy fabrics! Enjoy your weekend.
I managed to mess up some log cabin blocks using the paper piecing method. It’s a deceptively easy looking block that does not qualify as mindless stitching for me.
We all hate ripping, but have all been there, too! I was making a small log cabin for my Pieces of My Life quilt the other day, and got confused about what went where – and it was lots fewer pieces than your blocks are. They are looking good up on your wall now, though!
Sorry you and Jack had to spend time together. Been there done that! I like to lay a perfect block out and follow that, but even then I can screw it up.
I think we all have that issue! I’ve learned to always keep a sample block by the machine to verify. Hope things are moving smoothly now. Everything is looking good.
Ripping sometimes takes longer than stitching because I use a 2.0 stitch length when piecing. You did have progress though. A few hexies a day will add up fast.
Ripping is not fun. I made some log cabins but they were much easier than yours, monochromatic, so I wasn’t worried about the light and dark sides. Your blocks are beautiful, do you sew the strips as you go, or do you follow a color scheme? Thank you for sharing your work in progress on your wonderful projects.
Your log cabin is going to be beautiful with what I see so far. Your fabric choice is fantastic! I would love to make one but I am stumped from the get go because of fabric selections. I hope you show more as you progress.
No matter how long I have been quilting (currently 39 years) I know no matter how simple or complex the block I need to layout it beside the sewing machine before I start quilting. Even so, I share your frog quilting on more occasions than I care to admit. I never tire of the infinite possibilities with a log cabin block. Love the scrappy old timey look of yours.
Sometimes ripping happens like that. Ripping at any time is not fun especially when you have a handle on the block!!! Log cabin blocks are amazing in the many layout possibilities.
I only do log cabin blocks on foundation paper because, otherwise, I mess up every one!
There are those blocks that are so easy, but you do have to pay a lot of attention as you construct. At least you caught the error before you got it finished.