Tag: log cabin

National Log Cabin Day

June 30, 2024

We as quilters like to celebrate any holiday that relates to our hobbies. Today is just one of those days. While National Log Cabin Day is to commemorate the wooden kind of Log Cabins. I am celebrating Fabric Log Cabins by sharing some of my favorite log cabins and some interesting historical facts.

I love this log Cabin that is on the cover of American Patchwork and Quilting. Made by Sherri McConnell.

Liberty Log Cabin Quilt made by Meghan of www.thencamejune.com. So fun and fresh and who doesn’t love a striped binding and a plaid backing. I love plaids!!!

A log cabin pattern using Moda’s Honey Buns by Kansas Troubles. Perfect for a Christmas quilt.

This is one of my quilts that was in American Patchwork & Quilting. I named it When Harry met Sally after the famous movie. The name seamed fitting with the mixture of designers and the fact their styles are complete opposites, Primitive Gatherings and 3 Sisters. (reference why I used the red centers in the history section below.)

How fun is this great big single log cabin block? Perfect for a baby quilt.

An oversized log cabin rotating darks and lights and a variety of sizes of strips.

This quilt is on my bucket list to make. It is a modern take on a log cabin quilt designed by Jen Kingwell.

Here are some interesting facts about its history:

Origins and Name: The Log Cabin quilt block is thought to have originated in the mid-19th century, around the time of the American Civil War. Its name is derived from the log cabins built by early American settlers. The block’s design, with its central square and surrounding strips, resembles the way logs are stacked to build a cabin. See the reason why I can celebrate the quilts on this day?
Symbolism: The central square, often made from a red fabric, traditionally symbolizes the hearth or the fireplace, which was the heart of the home. In some variations, a yellow center represents a welcoming light in the window.
This is one of my patterns and it is super fun to make. Link to pattern here.

Popular During the Civil War: The Log Cabin quilt gained popularity during the American Civil War. It was used not only as a practical item but also as a symbol of support for the Union. Quilts made with a black center square were said to indicate support for the Underground Railroad. There are stories telling stories of quilts hanging outside giving clues to what direction the soldiers were coming from.
Versatile Design: The Log Cabin block can be arranged in numerous ways to create different patterns. Common layouts include Barn Raising, Straight Furrow, and Courthouse Steps and so many more options. This versatility made it a favorite among quilters who could achieve various visual effects with the same basic block.
Pioneer Tradition: For many pioneers moving westward in America, quilts were an essential part of household goods. Log Cabin quilts, in particular, were practical because they could be made from small scraps of fabric, making them an efficient way to use up remnants.
Cultural Significance: The design of the Log Cabin quilt block also has roots in various cultures. Similar patterns have been found in ancient Egyptian textiles, and the concept of a central motif surrounded by incremental design elements appears in many folk art traditions around the world.What is your favorite version of a log cabin quilt?
-modalissa

Time for another Quiltalong

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June 24, 2024

Quilt-Alongs

One of the good things that came from Covid is the Quiltalong which kept us busy once we had finished making masks. We could hop online and join like minded quilters quilting along and sharing our project online. Recently some of the customers at the Old Craft Store joined me in an IN PERSON QUILTALONG. It was fun and of course we had them parade their quilt tops out along the downtown square.

TIME FOR ANOTHER QUILT ALONG

The “Little Light of Mine” quilt was on display at The Old Craft Store in Carrollton, Texas and some of the gals there wanted to do another quilt along, they decided this quilt needed to be the one.. This quilt is perfect for both beginners and experienced quilters. The pattern features a series of blocks that come together to form an interesting quilt that is much easier than it looks. I am not saying this is a quick project but I will share some cutting and sewing tips along the way that make this a mindless, therapeutic project.

Why Participate?

Participating in a Quiltalong is a wonderful way to improve your quilting skills, meet new friends, and create something beautiful. The structured timeline helps keep you on track, and the supportive community ensures you’ll have help whenever you need it. Plus, seeing the diverse interpretations of the same pattern is incredibly inspiring!

Quiltalong Details

Materials

You’ll need the “Little Light of Mine” quilt pattern, which can be purchased from The Old Craft Store either online or in-store. Additionally, we’ll provide a detailed list of fabric requirements and other supplies you’ll need to get started.

Schedule

Join our kick-off party on Saturday, June 29 @ 10:00am. in store. Sign up for the workshop here.

We’ve broken down the quilt construction into manageable weekly segments. Each week, we’ll focus on a different part of the quilt, from cutting and piecing to assembly and finishing touches. Here’s a quick overview:

Week 1: June 29 10 am- 11:30 Talk fabric, my favorite subject!. Plus I am going to play a little fabric color game. Don’t miss it!
Week 2: July 13 1-4:00pm Cutting and organizing your strips for fast and efficient sewing and the use of a design board. Each week of the workshop their will be a bonus project or creative exercise involved.

Week 3: July 27, 10a-2:00 pm Squaring up blocks, Show n tell and charts of various sizes for more log cabins fun.

Week 4: August 24, 10a-2:00pm Setting and corner triangles and quilting options.

$40.00 for all 4 dates

I am working on a red, white and blue option, but this quilt will be great in any combination. OCS has some fat quarter bundles ready if you have a hard time choosing.

The Old Craft store will also have their classroom open and available for additional sewing times the following dates separate from my classes. Their staff will be available for help during the Monday sessions.

Monday, July 15, 10a-2:00pm

Monday, July 22, 10a-2:00pm

Monday, July 29, 10a-2:00pm

Monday, August 5, 10a-2:00pm

Monday, August 12, 10a-2:00pm

Monday, August 19, 10a-2:00pm

Monday, August 26, 10a-2:00pm

Saturday, August 31, 10a-2:00pm

How to Join

Joining the Quiltalong is simple:

Purchase the Pattern: Get your copy of the “Little Light of Mine” quilt pattern from The Old Craft Store or as a download here..
Gather Your Supplies: Make sure you have all the necessary fabrics and tools.
Sign Up: Register for the Quiltalong by calling the Old Craft Store, 214-242-9911
Mark Your Calendar: Be ready to start quilting with us on June 29th

If you can’t join us in person, leave me a comment and I will see about doing an online QAL soon!

Happy quilting!

-modalissa

1980’s log cabin

4 Comments

March 3, 2018

Back in January, Carrie Nelson and I were on a road trip and stopped by to see Kimberly at The Fat Quarter Shop. Kimberly decided to start a series of Q& A with Kimberly videos and we were the guinea pigs. We had a great time visiting and answering questions from online viewers. I mentioned the log cabin quilt that I made back in the 80’s. I have had several people ask me to show the quilt so I dug it out of the playpen from my grandson’s house.

Log Cabins Rock!!

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February 12, 2016

One of the most recognizable American quilt blocks has got to be hands down the log cabin block.

One of my quilts is featured in I Love Log Cabins by Martingale Publishing.

The setting seems fairly common but for me it is really different. I did not use 5,000,000 different fabrics like I usually do. Each “log” is the same fabric as it is built out from the center, rotating from light to dark and back to light. The blocks are then sashed with assorted putty grey fabrics on only 2 sides, making the blocks easy to assemble. This quilt looks just like it could be a modern version of a quilt on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s bed. Little House on the Prairie fan, anyone?

Stock # b1339 Available now at your favorite retailer!

How about this classic log cabin with the added stars?

Quilt made by Kimberly Jolly

Log cabins with red centers represent the hearth (fireplace/warmth) of the home while the light side of the blocks represents the sunny side of the home, dark side represents shady side. to me this version represents a happy cheerful home full of warmth. Isn’t that the fun part of quilting and sharing stories? Each quilt speaks to each of us differently.

Wouldn’t this be so yummy in Christmas colors?

And if you think quilting is for “old ladies” then you are in for a treat. Just look at this Log cabin variation, Rockin’ the Rainbow by Jackie White. I have not meet Jackie and I have no idea how old she is but she has got to be a ton of fun just by looking at her quilt. It makes me happy, plus I love the funky pieced binding.

Young or old, their is a log cabin for you.

The log cabin quilt is symbolic for the westward movement following the civil war. There are all kinds of stories about the underground railroad and the use of log cabin quilts to send the enemies locations just by the direction of how the quilts were hung along the fence. Truth or Fiction? Who really knows but as a quilt enthusiast, it does my heart good to believe that quilts have had a social and political statement for hundreds of years. If you would like to learn more about the history of Log Cabin quilts, visit Barbara Brackman’s blog.

If you are as hooked as I am on Log Cabins and want to make one of these quilts, visit Martingale for all the details.

-modalissa

Log Cabin- circa 1982

4 Comments

May 20, 2015

One of my previous posts mentioned that I was going to document a few of my quilts and share their stories. so in no particular order……

This is probably one of my best loved quilts, really I should say best USED quilts. It is also one of the first quilts that I had machine quilted in a wonderful all over snoopy loop design. At the time commercial machine quilting was fairly new. Machine quilting and the talented machine quilters have single handedly reinvented the art of quilting. Machine quilting has also helped facilitate making more quilts. Thank you for that!!

The general poop about this quilt is as follows:
The strips are 1″ finished. The layout of these blocks is done in a big barn raising style. The border is a mission valley woven. Traditionally the center of log cabins were red or yellow representing love or warmth in the home. A friend of mine hung this quilt in her den for years. She needed something to cover the wall while decorating for a party and we both thought this quilt was just the thing. Since her home was like my second home the quilt stayed there for years until I pointed out to her that the corner of the quilt still needed the binding sewn down.

Since then this quilt has been on many a family picnic, fort building adventure and now resides as a play mat for my little grandson.
Another tidbit about this quilt is that I used all kinds of fabrics. In the 80’s I was a young mom and a fairly new quilter. There were not very many quilt stores around at this time. I would go to any fabric store and buy fabric by the inch. Can you believe that?
Right?
That would be insane now.

I would go and buy a few inches of as many different fabrics as I could possible find. Since the selection was limited this also meant that not everything matched or maybe I was not yet very confident in my color choices or both.
I sent the quilt top to a machine quilter in another state. This was in the early eighties and keep in mind, the quilting resurgence started in 1975. There were not many quilt stores, and there certainly were not many home machine quilters. I found a company that quilted fabric for those big puffy bedspreads.
I convinced them to quilt my patchwork and NO, I did not want 3″ tall batting.
I am sure they thought, oh this poor young thing, she has no hope or sense of color.
Little did they know that I had a plan all along. I wet the entire quilt and threw it in my washing machine along with a little bit of tan rit dye. I thought what the heck, and loved the look of the quilt when I was done. Some how magically the tan dye made all those calicos “go-together.”

You could possibly say this was the beginning of my love of jelly rolls. And I do still love to experiment with bleaching and dyeing fabrics!!

enjoy,
modalissa

Log In, Log Out

19 Comments

January 22, 2014

I am super excited! Just received the news

that my super duper big log cabin quilt

made the cover of

Quilts and More, Spring 2014.

Magazine on Newstands, Feb 4, 2014

This quilt was so fun to make. I just started and

did not know for sure where I was going

but loved the final outcome.

I combined jelly rolls from

2 collections from Primitive Gatherings.

I am obsessed with shirtings and how they can be

used in 1890’s quilts as well as how

modern they look in

some of the quilts of today.

Combine the shirtings with Floral Gatherings

by Primitive Gatherings and have fun sewing

round and round.

There is no way to go wrong.

I cant wait to get my hands on the real copy and

see all the other projects inside.

Thanks to Maggi Honeyman for her great quilting.

Maggi, you rock!

enjoy,

-modalissa

When Harry Met Sally

71 Comments

November 3, 2011

Have you ever worked on a quilt project that you just couldn’t sleep? You were so excited to see it all come together that you would sneak off to your sewing machine for hours at a time?

I make alot of quilts but I must say that this happens to me a couple of times a year. I even dream about sewing the quilt when I do sleep. I know this may seem extremely odd to some of you, but for those that have caught the fever they will know exactly what I am talking about.

My quilt is featured in the current issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.

While I was making this quilt, I thought I should name it When Harry Met Sally. You all know the hiliarious movie starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal?

If you read my blog often you know that I like to mix different moda designers lines to challenge myself on fabric combinations. I choose two totally opposite groups, Little Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings and paired it with Etchings by 3 sisters. Just like the movie where two total strangers meet, these two fabric lines seem strange to include in the same project.

But I love it!

As I sewed the dark browns, blacks, tans, blues and greys on one side and then mixed the soft romantic floral on the other side, I couldn’t help but think of this movie and the power of opposites attracting whether in a chick flick, real life or a patchwork quilt. Throwing in some medium fabrics on both sides for the “Clash Factor” helps make it all interesting.

The Log Cabin block is one of my all time favorites. I made larger blocks for a graphic look. The color and layout options are endless. You can find all the instructions on how to make this quilt in American Patchwork & Quilting, but I have taken those same blocks and given you several layout options below.

I didn’t name it When Harry met Sally for the magazine but will probably always refer to it as that.

So with any quilt I make I have a few scraps left over. It isn’t enough to make the quilt but it will get you started and I am giving it away here along with a copy of the magazine.

Leave a comment and tell me your favorite quilt block.

I will pick a winner Saturday night the 5th of November.

Make sure you have an e-mail address that I can contact you.

my beautiful scraps

this isn’t a great picture but I had to introduce Bo’s new puppy, Cassie. A black lab with huge feet just like my boys!

Thank you for stopping by. Good Luck and Happy Quilting.

COMMETNS FOR THE GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

The Winner is

charlotte said…

I love the idea of mixing two such different lines. How clever of you to have come up with that. It never would have occurred to me. I love the log cabin. I also love the simple 9 patch.

November 3, 2011 6:31 PM