Log Cabin Blocks: The Interplay of Lights and Darks
The visual appeal of a Log Cabin quilt comes from the diagonal patterns created by different ways of arranging the contrasting light and dark fabric-strip “logs” in each block. Our eyes are built to pick up the patterns caused by these contrasts. That’s what gives Log Cabin quilts their dynamic sense of life and movement.
The four different Log Cabin blocks described in this article create four different patterns of lights and darks which you can use to create very different visual effects when you arrange the blocks into complete quilts. To see each block, look at the photos at the bottom of this article. Click on any photo to enlarge it.
Basic Log Cabin Quilt Blocks
In the most familiar type of Log Cabin block, the dark and light fabrics are stacked around two corners of the block, creating a stair step pattern of logs that climbs diagonally across the block from bottom to top. Looked at from a distance, these blocks look like squares divided into two triangles, one light and one dark. Standard Log Cabin blocks can be arranged into many different settings.
Courthouse Steps Log Cabin Blocks
In a Courthouse Steps quilt block, the fabrics are stacked in four piles around the center, with two separate stacks of dark logs and two stacks of light logs. The stacks divide the block into four equal triangles, with two triangles of light fabric and two of dark. The Courthouse Steps block offers fewer design options than basic Log Cabin blocks. They are usually arranged in a diamond pattern.
Learn how to strip piece Courthouse Steps blocks.
See four Courthouse Steps quilt patterns/settings.
Pineapple Log Cabin Quilt Blocks
The Pineapple block is the most difficult Log Cabin block to put together, because it requires half of the “logs” to be placed diagonally instead of at right angles to each other. That’s why quilters often use foundation or paper piecing to sew the block accurately. In a Pineapple block, the logs are laid out in eight piles, four light and four dark, which radiate out from the central square in an “X” shape.
Chevron Log Cabin Blocks
This block differs from the standard Log Cabin block in two ways: first, the hearth square is located in one corner of the block, instead of the usual spot in the center, with the “logs” stacked in an L shape around it. The second difference is that the logs are either all light or all dark – there’s no light-dark contrast in the block. This mono-color effect can be useful for creating specialized quilt layouts such as Log Cabin hearts or Christmas trees, where some blocks need to be all light and others all dark.
Other Log Cabin Quilt Block Variations
Of course, there are many other variations on the basic block. Electric Quilter 6 quilting design software includes 75 different Log Cabin blocks in its block library! You can create your own unique look just by choosing different fabrics.
Learn how to strip piece Around the Hearth Log Cabin quilt blocks.
Related Log Cabin Quilt Articles
Learn more about the history of Log Cabin quilts.
See five favorite Log Cabin quilt settings.
See four more historic Log Cabin quilt settings.
Christine Mann - Christine Mann writes about quilting, home decor sewing, and creativity in daily life.
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