selecting and cutting the strips from five pink/purple and five green/turquoise batik fabrics plus squares with a cheeky gold daisy peeping out, Iassembled the Log Cabin blocks using the fabrics in rotation. This resulted in five different blocks and four duplicates. The quilting pattern evolved from the shapes created by the blocks and was continued out to the edge of the borders. (Sue Fawcett)”
Construction
The instructions that follow apply to making the Syncopation and Off-Beat Batik quilts. If you are confident about making the classic Log Cabin block, then start reading from step 12. If you require more help, start from step 1 below and refer to Fig 2.
Strips cut in the same direction as the selvedge will be far less stretchy and easier to handle than strips cut across the fabric from selvedge to selvedge. If you have to use strips cut across the fabric, do not pull on them as you stitch, to avoid stretching. Alternatively, spray starch your fabrics before you cut the strips, which will keep them firmer.
MAKING THE LOG CABIN BLOCKS
1 Cut strips 2in (5cm) wide from all the fabrics in both colour teams. Cut pieces for the centre squares each 2½in × 2½in (6.3cm × 6.3cm). The strips should be used as randomly as possible within each colour team to give a scrap effect. The block has four complete rounds of strips built out from the centre square (Fig 2). Each block needs to measure exactly 14in × 14in (35.5cm × 35.5cm) before the corners are cut off and repositioned. The block in Fig 2 should measure½in (1.2cm) more than this and will need to be trimmed to the right size before cutting the corners.
Fig 1
2 Make four blocks at once using the following speedy method. Cut four squares of fabric for the centres each 2½in × 2½in (6.3cm × 6.3cm).
Fig 2
3 Stick a small square of masking tape on to the back of one of the centre squares, avoiding the ¼in (6mm) seam allowance. Label the tape with numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 as in Fig 3. The numbers give a guide to where each strip will be stitched.
Fig 3
4 Take a cut strip from team A fabrics at least 12in (30.5cm) long. Place it right side up on the machine in the correct position for a ¼in (6mm) seam to be sewn. Lower the pressure foot and wind the needle down into the fabric. Now the pressure foot can be lifted and the centre squares added without the first strip slipping out of position.
Fig 4
5 Place the first centre square right side down on the strip with side 1 on the masking tape as the edge to be stitched. Using a short stitch and a ¼in (6mm) seam, sew the centre square on to the strip. Sew onwards a few stitches and place a second square in position, then add the third and fourth squares in the same way (Fig 4).
6 Remove the strip from the machine and carefully trim it to match the centre squares exactly (Fig 5). Finger-press the seams away from the centre squares (Fig 6).
Fig 5
Fig 6
7 In building up the Log Cabin rounds of strips, each colour team of fabrics is used twice, making an L shape. This can be of the same fabric or a different fabric from the team – your choice. So put the second fabric strip (either the same fabric or another from team A) on the sewing machine again, right side up and move the needle down into the fabric. Take the original block with its piece of masking tape and place it right side down on the strip with side 2 at the edge to be stitched (Fig 7). Sew down this edge and place the second block on the strip in the same way. The first block is your model and the next three blocks must follow the same arrangement as they are positioned on the strip. Stitch block 2 and add the third and fourth blocks to match (Fig 8).
Fig 7
Fig 8
Now trim the strip either side of the blocks to match exactly the edges of the four blocks (Fig 9), then finger-press the seams away from the centre square (Fig 10).
Fig 9
Fig 10
8 Having stitched on two strips from the first team of fabrics (A), take a strip of fabric from team B and place it on the machine again, right side up with the needle wound down into it. Position the original block right side down with side 3 on the masking tape at the sewing edge (Fig 11). Sew down this edge and add the remaining three blocks to match the first (Fig 12).
Fig 11
Fig 12
Trim the strips to match each block and finger-press the seams away from the centre (Fig 13).
Fig 13
9 Using another strip of fabric from team B, either the same as before or a different fabric from the team (remember, always use each team twice to make an L shape), follow the same procedure, stitching side 4 of each block on to the strip. You now have a complete round of strips surrounding the centre square (Fig 14).
Fig 14
Once the block has got this far there is a quick way to see at a glance which side of the block is the next one to be stitched. Look at the block and find the edge that has two seams along it – this is the side to be stitched next (Fig 15).
