Quilt Block of the Month - No. 2

  • Difficulty Rating: Beginner
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Beginner, Cutting, Fabric, How-To-Projects, Quilting, Smitha Katti,

Tools used:

Cutting Mat 18x24

Cutting Mat (18" x 24")

Coastal Colors Acrylic Ruler 6 x 24

Coastal Colors Acrylic Ruler (6" x 24")

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Titanium Comfort Stick Rotary Cutter 45 mm

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Quilt Block of the Month No 2

Keeping up with my new years resolution for 2012 of one new quilt block every month, I have this months quilt block all sewn and ready to share with you. By making one quilt block every month, I will have a total of 12 blocks by the end of the year, ready to be made into a new quilt…
For this month’s block, my second block, I chose an off centered log cabin pattern. I chose different widths of fabric for the strips in my block, but you could easily make the stripes even and make the cutting process go quicker.

Again, this is a perfect block to use up your fabric scraps. You could use fabrics of one color to make a monochromatic block, or alter dark and light fabrics too. I have chosen most of the fabric scraps from last months quilt block here.

I used a 2-inch square (plus seam allowances) as my starting point. I cut my fabric scraps into widths 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 inches (plus your seam allowances). The length of each strip will vary, depending on where it is to be sewn, but I just trimmed all of my strips roughly into 10 to 15 inches long.

step1

To construct this block, I chose to sew consecutive strips to my starting 2inch Log cabin block and trim them to length after sewing. This way there was less mathematics involved in my cutting process. Alternatively, you could sketch out your block beforehand and calculate how much fabric you will need exactly for each strip.

Pin the first strip onto the center square and sew into place. Press the seams open or press the seam to one side. I often use my bone folder (used to fold cardstock into cards) to crease the seams. Now trim the next strip to size.

step2

Pin second strip (same colored fabric as the first) into place, with right side of fabrics facing each other and sew into place. Press seams open. Continue adding strips in this fashion.

step3

I have varied the thickness of my strips, and also alternated the strips, to have a thick strip and then a thin strip. Alternately, you could arrange the strips in an ascending or descending order of thickness. That would be a beautiful block too. When my block measured about 7.75 inches wide, I ironed the block and trimmed to form a square block using my Rotary cutter. At this stage, the block is called a Chevron Log Cabin block.

step4

I then rotated my block 180 degrees on my work surface and then pinned and sewed the last two strips in place. You could add more strips in this fashion, and push the center block further deep into your block.

step5

Trim the edges or overhang off, and press all the seams open. You know have an 8 by 8 inch Off-center log cabin block finished!

step6