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Log Cabin pattern
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Posted by dian57 (My Page) on Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 5:15
| For the life of me I can't figure out how the Log Cabin pattern got to be such a favorite for quilters. All that stitch a few inches, walk to the ironing board, and square up just for one block made me crazy yesterday.
Am I making too much work of this? Is there an easier, more efficient way to construct the block?
It sure was a great-looking block once completed, but MAN, it was like going to the gym.
Dianne |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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If you do them assembly line style you can sew ALL the blocks at once. Then walk to the ironing board, then sew the next strips on all at once and walk to the ironing board.
I like the Log Cabin, it was my first quilt. Vicky~ |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I love a log cabin quilt, like Vicky it was my first quilt. I did alot of walking as I was ironing like you Dianne back and forth, back and forth. The end result is worth it. Good Luck with you LC quilt. Sidnee who needed the extra walk to the ironing board |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| Some patterns have a size for each log that you cut ahead so theres no squaring.Im thinking its in quilters cache maybe???No,wait,I know!!! Its in an Eleanor Burns book,Underground Railroad. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I'm with you, Dianne. I don't care for sewing them either. That said, I have one I'm saving fabric for because I like the way it looks! Orion's Star with black and white fabric and pink. Cutting the actual strip sizes does help and then chain sew. Sharon |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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When you work like Vicky said it really isn't bad at all.
I really like the log cabin also. Sally |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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Or you can be bad like me and just finger press - it eliminates at interaction with the ironing board!
Karlene |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I am sitting here laughing out loud, because it's exactly the sentiments I uttered when doing my first log cabin blocks. It was physically exhausting going back and forth to the ironing board. That's when strip sewing dawned on me. Oh my gosh. It was a light bulb moment. I strip sew almost anything I can use the technique on now, even if it means working on four blocks at once, doing the same seam on each. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| When I'm doing repetitive sewing, I get out the extension cord and move the ironing board next to my sewing table, like an L shaped desk. I lower it to a height just a bit lower than the sewing table and then I don't have to get up at all... works great! Kate |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I have resorted to pressing on the cutting /pressing mat on top of a wooden TV tray next to my sewing machine - this is squeezed into my office - it sits next to the shredder - betcha nobody else has accidentally shredded fabric before :) |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I LOVE the log cabin block! I HATE the log cabin block! LOL. Log cabin is incredibly versatile; there are so many ways to arrange the blocks. It is a lot of sewing for just one block, though. I cut all the strips to the correct length. I find the "add strips, trim them off" method both time consuming and less likely to produce a good block. One of my first Quilts of Valor was a log cabin block. I then posted a sign in my studio - "Remember!! You don't like making Log Cabins!!!" 
The quilt is hung sideways and the wind was blowing, but, oh well. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| "I have resorted to pressing on the cutting /pressing mat on top of a wooden TV tray next to my sewing machine - this is squeezed into my office - it sits next to the shredder - betcha nobody else has accidentally shredded fabric before :)" No, can't say as I have, but when I bought my first rotary cutter, I used it at the ironing board and forgot that when you were cutting cloth, one should remember to put a mat underneath it. I ruined a perfectly good, rather expensive teflon coated cover. The little rascal cut clean down through the teflon, the cloth, the padding to the metal board. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I love the Log Cabin block. You can do so many things with it: 
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RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| Mary and Annie-Both of yours are great! I want to make one even though the blocks are tedious. I really like the different patterns you can make with them. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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They are both gorgeous!!!! I don't mind the Log Cabins because I am up and down with all blocks.
I tried the sew and then trim and it is more accurate for me but it does take longer.
Rosa |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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I took the class from Eleanor Burns,and we just strip quilted them,to me that's a lot easier.I also love the Log Cabin and have made a few of them.
Kathi |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I love log cabin, have just finished piecing one which is hand stitched and made from all diffent pieces of fabric - i just press mine by hand. I will be unable to walk for about six weeks without the aid of crutches and i have all my fabrics ready to start another log cabin or similar lap quilt. Personally i dont like saving time on quilts - they are a pleasure and should not be made to feel like hard work - i just sit of an evening curled up in my chair in front of the tv and sew and in the summer i take my sewing out into the garden |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I used to get up and down and walk back and forth to the ironing board. Then I read someone on this forum say, "Just put the ironing board next to you and LOWER it until it's the right height, so you only have to turn your body and do your piece pressing." BINGO!! I've been doing that ever since. You wouldn't believe how much time and body aches it saves. Susan |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I have mixed feelings about the log cabin. I chain piece them and they are not that bad. Cut the strips WOF and just lay the pieces down one after the other till you use up that strip (no pinning). I do one complete round before pressing. This doesn't work if you are using up scraps, but you can still string piece. beverly |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I imagine it would be much easier to make more than one block at a time, as Beverly described. I'm fascinated by the idea of setting up the ironing board next to me. I will definitely have to try that soon. Dianne |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| Pressing is one of the worst parts of quilt making for sure. The way I deal with it is to use a office swivel chair at my sewing machine so that all I have to do is turn the chair around and there sits the iron and board. I can swivel back and forth. Makes the whole process much easier. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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You are a group of very brave ladies LOL!
I bump into my ironing board on the other side of the room, if I had it sitting next to me I would have burns all over me.
It seems like a great idea but not for me!
Rosa |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I've seen Log Cabin blocks made by paper piecing.I use a seam roller to "press" most LC seams.Works for me. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I do like the idea of finger pressing. I used the finger pressing method yesterday when I did 100 flying geese pieces. I still have another 100 or so to go, and I just couldn't press these one flying geese square at a time. I will press all of them after I cut off the excess fabric. I have used one of the small table ironing boards before, setting it on towels on top of my table, not using the legs so it would be lower. It wasn't a very comfortable situation as I still had to reach. I do get up and walk to the ironing board. At my age, it helps my back to get up and it's good to stretch your legs, and give your eyes a break as well. It is more time consuming, but your body will appreciate it. It forces you to take little mini breaks. It's also a good time to refill my coffee cup or go to the bathroom, LOL. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I have my coffee table right by my sewing table...never used it in the living room area. I covered it to use as an ironing board...just swivel to the side and use the iron. But I agree with downsouth. For me it would probably be better to get up and walk to the ironing board.....it's a bit of exercise and gives you a break. Sometimes, after sitting at the machine for a long time I'm stiff when I try to get up---I can barely bend at the waist. I'm thinking that walking to the ironing board would help me. Maybe I'll give it a try. ~Geraldine |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I have never made a log cabin block. You ladies are a real inspiration and maybe I will try one as a scrappy charity quilt. I used to do pressing sitting down by just rolling my chair over to my make shift board sitting on top of my trunk. I also get very stiff from sitting too long and don't take as many breaks as I should. I recently had DH make me a new smaller board that is quite portable and I can set it on the cutting table. I need to stand to use it and I like it much better. I like to sew my projects in sections. I will get a whole bunch of sewing done and then go and press and then go back to move to the next stage.
Jeane |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I deliberately have my ironing board set across the room so that I have to get up and move to press. I will assembly-line piece, though, working on a dozen blocks at a time, to make the process more efficient. I strip-piece and then trim the blocks to size. I find that I'm most accurate that way. |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I didn't plan it this way, but ends up that I have the sewing machine in the kitchen (on the table, next to the window & the best daytime light), while the iron & ironing board are in the living room in front of the computer & the TV. I don't iron anything other than my quilting, so otherwise the iron never comes out. Now that I seem to quilt multiple projects at the same time, I never close the ironing board, much less put it away. I too think it best to have to walk btwn the two, I like the break & the exercise. On wknds, if I don't go out that becomes my only form of exercise. After 20 yrs. or so of word processing, it's very clear to me I'm at my best when I get up & down very often. Now that I'm in my 50s, I find that's even more the case than before, otherwise my knees get too stiff. I've never done a Log Cabin & something tells me y'all are scaring me off it! LOL! |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| I have set up a cutting and ironing table at rt. angles to my sewing machines.[29"x18"] Rt. side for one and lt. side for the other. It's the adjustable ht.. I never have to stand, (but I like cutting that way)It holds a june taylor ironing mat and 12x18 cutting mat. I give it a quilt twist when I change machines. I don't even have the ironing board set up. I have made a few LC and like the pattern. I have found that precutting the strips make them more accurate. Jayne |
RE: Log Cabin pattern
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| Pirategirl, don't be afraid of the Log Cabin! It's not my favorite block to sew, but that's just because there are so many pieces. The Log Cabin block is wonderfully versatile. There are so many layouts possible. |
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