This month my quilt bee group are making blocks for Bec. She sent us each some fabric cuts from Denise Schmidt's Picnics and Fairgrounds range and asked us to make 10.5" blocks based on a log cabin design.
We could do any interpretation of a log cabin we liked, using just her fabric or adding in from our own stash if we wanted to.
I did a bit of googling around and found a few that I thought might be fun.
My first block was a spiral design based on this image. I cut my strips at 1.5" so that they appear 1" wide in the finished block. I just kept adding spirals until I hit 10.5" wide. I measured and trimmed each time I added a strip to make sure I wasn't going wonky.
I was intending to use one of the DS fabrics against a white background, but then I thought it might be more fun to add something in from my stash (besides, as you will see below I had white fabric planned for another block). I chose a polka dot... because... well I just love polka dots and this one seemed to compliment the DS range nicely.
My second block was based on this unusual knot design I found while surfing the net for ideas. This one took a lot of thinking, as I had to piece some strips before I joined them to the log cabin. Even then I still don't think its strictly a proper log cabin- it started out as a courthouse steps block that morphed into a log cabin once I got my sewing groove on.
I had intended to use just one DS fabric against the white (as per the original picture) but at the last minute decided I should use up more of the ones that Bec sent to me.
My understanding is that 'traditionally' a log cabin block has a red centre and has 2 colours/values on each half of the block (see here). So even though we were only supposed to make 2 blocks for Bec I was also keen to try out a 'proper' log cabin.
I failed right at the beginning though, as I couldn't resist using this scrap of fabric for the centre, instead of red. I love it so much and it matched in with the DS nicely. Plus Bec is a farm girl! It seemed too perfect NOT to use. There are RED hens in there. Does that count?
The farm girl centre piece is 3.0" (cut 3.5") and then I added 1" strips of fabric until the block was 10.5" square. I sorted the strips into reds (with yellow hints) and blues (with green hints). I have most of the Picnics and Fairgrounds range myself, so I just added in from my own stash for this block.
All I managed this week was these 3 blocks so it was a pretty quiet week here at studio tin whistle. I cant wait to see the other blocks that Bec receives.
1 comment:
Oh wow! You already know I love the first two blocks but that number three is absolutely fantastic! The little farm print in the middle really makes it, and I love how you added similar fabrics to get the two main colours. I was thinking of doing a traditional two colour block but the fabrics she sent me were all so different. Might have to po by SL and get some more.
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