We Can Do It! Sampler, Block 1 - Log Cabin

Here we are at last!!! Week 1 of the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler. This week we will make a log cabin block. If you are already familiar with the log cabin block and feel confident in your skills, you might want to mix things up a bit and make a courthouse steps block using this tutorial. But for the rest of us, a log cabin is a must-make type of block.

It is one of the easiest and most versatile blocks around. It is formed by sewing strips of fabric around a central square of fabric. If half of the log cabin block is made out of light colored fabric and the other half out of dark fabric, multiple blocks can be arranged to form a variety of patterns. The possibilities are endless. (scroll down for instructions)

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Edited (5/15): The Skill Builder Sampler will is available for purchase in book form! It has been renamed "You Can Quilt! Building Skills for Beginners" but covers the same skills with the easy, medium and challenging blocks and is a million times better than the original quilt along. It is perfect for the beginning quilter or the experienced quilter who wants to branch out and learn new skills. Find more information and order a signed copy in my Etsy shop or order on Amazon.

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Skills
The goal with this block is to practice accurate cutting and sewing accurate 1/4 inch seams.

Fabric

Since this will be a stand alone block, you can either make it light/dark or mix a variety of different valued prints on both sides. I personally like to have a center square that stands out, but that is personal preference. Take out your fabric and start playing with it. You can repeat fabrics or have each piece be unique. If you use the same fabric on all four sides it will make a square within a square pattern.

Here is my layout. I apologize for the picture quality. My basement sewing room is not the best for pictures. Does anyone know if there is a type of light bulb that will help picture quality? Anyway...

I actually had to "try out" a bunch of fabrics before I came up with this layout. Play around with it and don't be afraid to cut extra pieces of fabric. I promise you will be able to use all the extra 2.5 inch strips that you cut later in the sampler.

Cutting

To start off, if you aren't using fat quarters (18x22 inch pieces of fabric) cut your fabric in half so the piece you are working with is only 22 inches wide. Fold up the other half of the fabric and save it to use later on in the sampler. Why cut your yardage in half? It makes it easier to work with and none of the blocks we will be making will need a strip of fabric 44 inches long. You can cut all of your fabric in half now if you want or just the pieces you will be using.

Cut 2.5 by 22 inch strips of all the fabrics you will be using.

Let me break that down for you. To cut your strips, first square up the edge of the fabric. Squaring up means to trim the uneven side of the fabric so it is straight.

To do this, fold your fabric in half so it is now 11 inches wide. Line the fold up with an inch mark on your ruler. If it is not lined up evenly along the whole fold your strip will not be straight.

Starting at the bottom cut along the edge of the ruler with the rotary cutter. Remove excess fabric. If the fabric is not cut in places, cut again. You might need to use more pressure, or your blade may be dull. Sharpen or replace your blade as necessary.

Next, move the ruler so the trimmed edge is lined up at the 2.5 inch mark and the bottom fold is on an inch mark. Make sure the fabric is lined up at the far side of the 2.5 inch mark not the inside of the line. You want that extra thousandth of an inch - it will help make sure your blocks don't end up too small.

Cut with the rotary cutter and voila! you have a 2.5 inch strip. Repeat for all of the fabrics you will be using.

Next, referring to my professional diagram, cut your strips to the necessary length.
Pieces 1 and 2 are 2.5 x 2.5 inches
Pieces 3 and 4 are 2.5 x 4.5 inches
Pieces 5 and 6 are 2.5 x 6.5 inches
Pieces 7 and 8 are 2.5 x 8.5 inches
Pieces 9 and 10 are 2.5 x 10.5 inches
and Piece 11 is 2.5 x 12.5 inches

For example to cut a 2.5 x 4.5 inch piece you would:

square up the end of the strip
line up the top of the strip along an inch mark
line up the short edge with the 4.5 inch mark
and cut

Once you have your pieces cut it is time to get sewing!

Sewing
To make sure we are sewing accurate 1/4 inch seam grab a scrap piece of fabric and sew 1/4 away from the edge.

Most of the time 1/4 inch is just shy of the edge of a regular sewing foot.

Let's see how we did. Line up the edge of the fabric along the 1/4 inch mark of the ruler. Your seam should be on or just inside the edge of the ruler. Having a seam that is just short of being 1/4 inch is called a scant 1/4 inch seam and is desirable. If you are over the edge of the ruler your seam is too wide and will make the block come out smaller than 12.5 inches. Trust me at the end of the sampler you will be much happier if all your blocks are the same size, so let's get that 1/4 inch seam right on.

To mark your 1/4 inch line, take a ruler and put the needle down on the 1/4 inch mark. Place a sticky note or piece of tape along the edge of the ruler. This is your 1/4 inch mark. Make sure when sewing you stay right on the edge of it, not on it. Try sewing a 1/4 inch seam again. Better? Then let's get going!

Sew Pieces 1 and 2 together

Put the two pieces of fabric right sides together and sew. With pieces this small it should not be necessary to pin, but if it makes you feel more comfortable, go for it.

Press the seam towards Piece 2. I don't press the seams open (I'll go more into pressing theory later - this post is getting too long!)

To press, open up the fabric and iron flat. Give the fabric a gentle push with the side or tip of the iron to make sure the seam is pressed completely open. If the fabric is not completely open the block will be too small.

Take a second here and measure the two pieces of fabric you have sewn together. They should now measure 2.5 x 4.5. If they don't check your seam allowance (distance from the edge of the fabric to the stitching) and pressing. Next sew on Piece 3. The block should now measure 4.5 x 4.5.

Sew on Piece 4 and press.

Then Piece 5 and press. Then Piece 6 and press (remember to press the seam allowance towards the newest piece).

Continue on and add Pieces 7, 8 and 9. After you have added Piece 9 measure the block. It should now be 10.5 inches square. If it is less than 10 1/4 inches square, cut Pieces 10 and 11 wider than 2.5 inches so your block will finish at 12.5 inches square. Also go back and look at the seam allowances and pressing. Figure out what went wrong. You might just have to sew your seams a bit more "scantly".

Finish up the block by sewing on Pieces 10 and 11.

Because we are focusing on 1/4 inch seams this week, take a second and do a final measure of the length and width of the block. I am a consistent 1/8th inch short. Not too bad.

Oh, take all of those 2.5 inch leftover strips and put them in a bag. I plan on keeping a bag for each width of fabric so I can find the right size of scrap easily for later blocks.

Whooo! We Did It!