Scrappy Rainbow Log Cabin with Low Volume Border Block Tutorial

Phew! that is a catchy little block name I came up with right there... NOT!

December will see my turn to be Bee Mama in the Mo Stash Bee, quickly followed January Mama for the FQRK Bee {Now the Bumbling Honeys} and, after much deliberation, I have settled on the ever wonderful log cabin block.  Scrappy and Rainbow also being two of my favourite fabricy words, I thought I would throw them into the mix too.

So, here is a quick tutorial for my block which ends up at 13".   I love making log cabins because they appea to my lazy cutting nature... in other words, I just cut my strips as I go along and trim/square up each time. Making two of these blocks at the same time means that you can chain piece and they whiz together in no time.

I took some pics as I made my practice block, so I thought I would share them here in a tutorial for anyone else who wants to make their own version.   It's a perfect beginners block because its super easy and forgiving.

For my blocks

• I am hoping for a real mix of colour and modern prints.
• I would love a fussy cut 2.5" square centre.
• 4 x 1.5" strips for the the first round
• 4 x 2" strips for the second round
• 4 x 2.5" strips for the third round  
• Finally, add a Low Volume border {all the same fabric} of 4 x  1.5" strips 

Here's how I did it...

1.  Cut one 2.5" square and one strip measuring 1.5" x 2.5";

2.  Sew the strip along one side of your square using a 1/4" seam allowance.  I like to go for the right hand side for each new round of the log cabin but you can stitch your strip on any side you like first just remember to sew around clockwise and start on the same side for each new round.  {Even this rule can be broken on these blocks! and they still look fantastic};




3.  Now add another 1.5 strip to the bottom;



4. Here is the first round of 1.5" strips...



5.  The next round on my block is made up of 2" strips;



6.  Add all four 2" strips to make the second round of your log cabin;



7.  I find that a bit of wonk can creep in, so its a good idea to square up your block as you go;



8.  Now for the final colour round of logs and these measure 2.5"...



9.  Add all four;





10.  Finally, add a 1.5" border to your block.  Ideally for my blocks, I would like a low volume border {white/greys tones} or a solid light or medium grey border.



11.  Finished! Yippee!



Here is an inspiration mosaic.  If you are using this tutorial to make your own blocks, the strip widths can vary and you will end up with a more random looking block.  It's just so versatile and forgives any daydreaming errors that might occur.



Looking forward to seeing some fun log cabins.

Linky Party

Whiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

That was the sound of my week passing me by!

The iron mark has been surgically removed from the carpet {by that I mean all of my sewing supplies, kitchen table, fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer and masses of other random *stuff* has been moved and a new wonderfully soft carpet put in the old one's place}.

I hope to see the return of my sewing space soon but also not quite yet!

So, just hoping you have been busy making/blogging and linking up below...

Thursday Linky Party

We have been having a major *Spring* Clean in our house this week, so there is not much to report on the sewing front but I did purchase these Feathers...

Source: Village Haberdashery online store

I think I bought them in nearly every colour!

Source: Village Haberdashery online store

I am so in love with them and I can highly recommend making fabric purchases from the Village Haberdashery too... they are so quick and beautifully packaged. 

What about you? have you been buying or making anything this week? 

So, Breaking Bad Has Finished and Now I Have Time To Sew Again!

Yo, Sewistas!

I have been temporarily distracted by Jessie Pinkman and Walter White {from that show everyone has been on about Breaking Bad} but now the final credits have rolled, I am back on the sewing bandwagon with a vengeance.  I'm missing my daily dose of Saul Goodman but it feels great to back in the land of fabricness and cotton reels.

I still have my Aunt's quilt to finish - it needs sandwiching and quilting - but I wanted to get my bee commitments completed as early in the month as possible so I have spent the day making both sets of blocks.  They're quite similar block choices and both right up my street.

First up... Mo Stash for the lovely Jo,  she asked us to make Modern Halves blocks using Don't Call Me Betsy's magnificent tutorial which was featured over at Moda Bakeshop.

Next up were scrappy string half square triangles for Hilly Filly from the FQR Quilt Bee.  We used this tutorial from the Blooming Poppies site.  The fabric parcel only arrived at 10am this morning and these beauts were all sewn up by 2pm! now that is a record for me!!

Stringy half squarey triangles of loveliness.

It's such a rarity for me to have my bee blocks done so early in the month, so please excuse me whilst I dance the funky chicken in celebration!

Hope you are having a productive weekend too.

Liz

xxxx

Dandelion Block and the Link Up

I am really appreciative of my bee commitments at the moment.  Amid the general hustle and bustle of life with two little ones, I am finding very little time to sew.  But I do like to get my bee blocks out on time, so there is a real incentive in stitching up blocks every month.

You might recall the inset circle that I was working on when the iron-on-the-carpet incident occurred! Well that circle now looks like this...

Carol asked for a second low volume *filler* block, so here is my offering...

and both together...

If you'd like to see Carol's other blocks so far, click here.  This is going to be one fantastic quilt when its finished.

But enough about my sewing escapades... I'd really prefer to see what you've been making this week, so if you are feeling that way inclined, please link up below.

Linky Party

I'm currently buried underneath a poorly boy... so please excuse me today.

Earlier in the week, I started work on my bee blocks using some truly gorgeous fabric sent from Carol.  I was pressing an inset circle when this happened...

Yep! that is the carpet... right in the middle of my kitchen diner!!

It occurred in what can only be described as  *Lara Croft* style action; as I put the iron down, it tipped forward and was destined for either my arm or the bee fabric *sharp intake of breath* but I managed to kick the ironing board and send the iron flying through the air whereupon it landed face down and promptly welded itself to the carpet.  Needless to say neither carpet nor iron are looking their best.

There has also been a slight porridge incident but I will spare you the ugly details of that for today.

If you've had a better week... well you know what to do...

New Quilt News and Link Up

I've started on a new quilt.

It was definitely time to use the gorgeous rainbow charms from the Fluffy Sheep charm swap.

My Aunt asked if I could make her a bigger quilt and she loves colour, so I thought it could make the perfect combination.

There were 8 colour groups in the rainbow swap, so I also used charms from the text swap to make up a simple 9-patch.

This is as far as I have got.

But hopefully I will get it finished quickly because its definitely getting chillier here and snuggles await it!

Anyway, enough about me... what have you been up to this week?????