Quarter Log Cabin Mini Quilt {Tutorial}
When I posted about the mini quilt swap that I had with Christina @Wips and Tuts last Friday, I was asked if there were going to be tutorials written for the mini quilts. I decided to just jump right in and do a quick tutorial since I think there are so many fun ways to play with quarter log cabin blocks. Before I go any further, I also want to mention that Christina used a Film in the Fridge tutorial when she made the orange and blue mini quilt fore me: Quartered Squares: A Modified Bento Box Tutorial.
Each quarter log cabin block in this tutorial finishes at 7.5-inches square, and the quarter log cabin mini quilt should finish at 28.5-inches square.
Quarter Log Cabin Block
Fabric Requirements
You are welcome to use whatever color scheme you desire, but for the purposes of this tutorial I will use the color scheme of the quarter log cabin block shown above: a pink center fabric, teal fabrics (teal fabric 1 = lightest, teal fabric 4 = darkest), and blue fabrics (blue fabric 1 = lightest, blue fabric 4 = darkest).
WOF = width of fabric (Assuming 40-inch wide fabric)
- Pink (center fabric) – (1) 1.5-inch x WOF strip
- Teal Fabric 1 (lightest teal fabric) – (2) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Teal Fabric 2 – (4) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Teal Fabric 3 – (5) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Teal Fabric 4 (darkest teal fabric) – (6) 1.5-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 1 (lightest blue fabric) – (3) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 2 – (4) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 3 – (5) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Blue Fabric 4 (darkest blue fabric) – (7) 1-inch x WOF strips
- Binding – (3) 2.5-inch x WOF strips
Quarter Log Cabin Block Piecing
For faster block construction, the instructions below are based on chain piecing the quarter log cabin blocks. An accurate quarter inch seam allowance will yield consistent block sizes, or you may chose to sew with a scant quarter inch seam allowance and trim your blocks down to size as noted in the instructions.
Step 1
Pre-cut the pink (center fabric) and (1) teal fabric 1 1.5-inch wide strip down to 1.5-inches wide by 26 inches long. Sew right sides together down the long edge. Press seams open. Cut (16) 1.5-inch by 2.5-inch sections.
Step 1
Step 2
Using the remaining teal fabric 1 1.5-inch wide strips, chain sew the (16) sections from Step 1. Trim apart, press seams open, and trim to 2.5-inches square.
Step 2
Step 3
Using blue fabric 1, chain sew the (16) sections from Step 2. Trim apart and press seams open.
Step 3
Step 4
Using the remaining strips of blue fabric 1, chain sew the (16) sections from Step 3. Trim apart, press seams open, and trim to 3-inches square.
Step 4
Step 5
Continue chain piecing each subsequent color to the log cabin block, noting that after each color has been added to both sides the expected size of the block below.
- Teal 2 – 4-inches square
- Blue 2 – 4.5-inches square
- Teal 3 – 5.5-inches square
- Blue 3 – 6-inches square
- Teal 4 – 7-inches square
- Blue 4 – 7.5-inches square
Step 5
Step 6
Arrange the (16) quarter log cabin blocks in a pattern pleasing to you. Several layout options are below, but play and have fun discovering a layout that you like best! Sew blocks together into rows, pressing seams open. Sew the rows together, pressing seams open. The mini quilt top should finish at 28.5-inches square.
Step 7
Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Form the binding by cutting the number of binding strips indicated and chain sew the strips together. Bind and enjoy your mini quilt!
