Quilting Plans for Log Cabin Quilts
Log cabin quilts are a classic. They are beginner friendly, look great scrappy, and are a great pattern for practicing your quilting skills too!
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Growing up, I had a brown and calico string quilt that I absolutely loved. My Aunt Annyce pieced it sometime in the 80s (probably with her Aunt Betty). Aunt Annyce had tied the quilt, but by the time I started quilting, it was in need of a refresh.
(you can see how saggy it had become on the left above)
When I began longarming, I re-quilted this beauty, and I loved the possibilities that string pieced stripes created.
Similarly, the log cabin quilt is made of simple shapes (squares and rectangles) which means it can look amazing pieced scrappy with relatively simple quilting, or it’s perfect for practicing border and sashing motifs, or it can create a textured background for much more custom quilting. Let’s take a look!
All Over Quilting Plan
This simple, classic quilt pattern looks great with a simple, all over design. Choosing just one motif works really well if you chose scrappy fabrics, want to finish up this project more quickly, or if you’re new to finishing your own quilts.
Speaking of, if you are just starting to free motion quilt your own quilts, I usually recommend a panel for your very first projects because it is emotionally much less pressure. For your second project, this log cabin quilt is a perfect next step. It’s pieces together quickly, the throw size isn’t too big, and it looks great with something simple. If you want to quilt your own quilts with confidence, you can start building your skills today inside Quilting Rockstar University.
Semi-Custom Quilting Plan
If you are practicing your border and sashing motifs or wanting to add a lot of texture without too much complexity, the log cabin quilt looks amazing with motifs fit into the strips and squares.
Great motifs for the strips include switchbacks, wishbones, ribbon candy, and spiral chains.
Custom Quilting
The beauty of simple piecing is that it can be the perfect background for truly complex quilting, especially if you chose to use solids to piece your quilt top. The sparkle of different colors adds texture behind intense quilting.
If you’re feeling particularly creative, you could even draw pictures on your quilt like I did above (iced coffee on the top example, and the front of the Mathias building just above). You can learn more about this technique, quilting outside the lines, in this blog and inside Quilting Rockstar University.
Final Thoughts
In short, the log cabin quilt is a perfect skill builder– for piecing, stash busting, and quilting– plus it’s a cozy, functional quilt. It’s a fun quilt, and quilting, ultimately, is for joy units.
Resources
PATTERN: Download the Log Cabin Quilt Pattern
PATTERN: Lanterns of Hope is also a log cabin based pattern, and you can buy it here.
WORKBOOK: New to quilting plans? Check out the FREE Confident Quilting Plan Workbook
BLOG: Quilting in Layers
Quilting Rockstar University: The best way to learn how to finish your own quilts. Learn about QRU and join HERE.
