By: Shelley Rodgers

-=-=-=-=- April 1994 Quilt Block Exchange -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I thought that for this month's entry into the Quilt Block
Exchange, we might do the traditional Log Cabin.

The center square is traditionally red, to represent the
"heart" of the home, the hearth.  The block is divided in
half diagonally.  Each diagonal half is made up of "logs"
of the same value of color.  One diagonal half is of light
color; the other half is of a dark color.

You will need 4 different lights, 4 different darks and a
center fabric.

You don't need a lot of any one fabric.  Scraps may provide
you will the amount that you need.  If you are buying
fabric, 1/8 yard is more than sufficient, as you are going
to be cutting the fabric into 2" wide strips.

For those of you who are already familiar with this block,
simply cut the center square at 2" square and the "logs" at
2" wide.  Make 4 "logs" to a side.  If you take a 1/4" seam
allowance, this will result in finished dimensions of a
13-1/2" square.

For those of you who are just starting out or who would
like a refresher, any basic quilting book should tell you
how to make the Log Cabin.  Just make sure that you cut
your center square at 2" square and your logs at 2" wide.
The sewing instructions will be the same no matter how wide
the fabric strips are.

If you don't have a basic quilting book or are unable to
lay your hands on one, give a yell and I'll mail
instructions out to you.

Here's a stab at a drawing:

         +---------------------------------+
         |  |                  L4          |
         |  +-------------------------+----|
         |  |   |            L3       |    |
         |  |   |-----------------+---|    |
         |  |   |  |       L2     |   |    |
         |D4|   |  +----------+---|   |    |
         |  |D3 |  |   | L1   |   |   | L4 |
         |  |   |D2|   +______|   | L3|    |
         |  |   |  |D1 |C |   |L2 |   |    |
         |  |   |  |---+--+L1 |   |   |    |
         |  |   |  |  D1  |   |   |   |    |
         |  |   ---+------+   |   |   |    |
         |  |___|___D2____|___+   |   |    |
         |  |    D3           |   |   |    |
         +--+---------------------+   |    |
         |____D4__________________|___+____+

C = center fabric square
D1 - D4 = dark fabrics 1,2,3,4
L1 - L4 = light fabrics 1,2,3,4