I loved making this quilt. I loved using the bright colours and different scale prints by Anna Maria Horner. And the mixture of traditional quilting cottons and Loominous woven fabric just added a whole extra level of texture! It's backed in a silky Anna Maria Horner wideback. It's just the best quilt. Although I'll probably say that about my next finish too.
This quilt top came together really quickly and was finished in early October 2017. It was then folded away until March this year when I quilted and hand-bound it in record time so that it could be used as a display at my first quilt show stall.
I've had a couple of queries about a pattern for this quilt so I thought I'd have a go at writing up a tutorial. I'm sure there are lots of other giant log cabin quilts out there as it is such a traditional block. Please respect the work that I put into creating this tutorial/pattern, and ensure that you direct people here to my website/blog to obtain their own copy of this tutorial/pattern. I'd love to see your own versions of this quilt so please tag me (either @hillstitches or @hillstitchesfabricshop) when you share it on Instagram.
If you look closely at the photo above, you will notice that there are three different blocks in this quilt. I did this to mix things up a bit and it keeps your eyes moving around the quilt. Plus a bit of asymmetry keeps things interesting. I'll refer to each type of block based on where the skinny strip is located. There is one block (lets call it Skinny Inner) which has a thinner border right next to the starting square. Then there is Skinny Middle, which has a thinner border in the middle round, and then Skinny Outer, where the outer strip is the thinnest strip. Does that make sense?
I'm also going to assume that you will have an understanding of how a quarter log cabin block is constructed, how to use 1/4" seams etc.
I used several Anna Maria Horner Floral Retrospective factory cut Fat Quarter bundles to make this quilt, and added in a few co-ordinating fat quarters from the shop. There is always room for more Anna Maria Horner fabric in your stash so clicking here will take you straight to all the Anna Maria Horner fabric available at Hillstitches.
I used at least 20 fat quarters in this quilt, and there was some fabric left over. You may wish to use more than 20 fat quarters if you would like an even scrappier-looking quilt. I'm one of those people who cuts and sews one block at a time, and I sometimes join blocks as I go so that the colours are balanced throughout the quilt. Each completed block is 18 1/2" square (18" square in the finished quilt).
SKINNY INNER BLOCK
Centre square - cut one square 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Round one (skinny round) - cut one strip 3 1/2" x 5 1/2", cut one strip 3 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Round two - cut one strip 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", cut one strip 5 1/2" x 13 1/2"
Round three - cut one strip 5 1/2" x 13 1/2", cut one strip 5 1/2" x 18 1/2"
SKINNY MIDDLE BLOCK
Centre square - cut one block 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Round one - cut one strip 5 1/2" x 5 1/2", cut one strip 5 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Round two (skinny round) - cut one strip 3 1/2" x 10 1/2", cut one strip 3 1/2" x 13 1/2"
Round three - cut one strip 5 1/2" x 13 1/2", cut one strip 5 1/2" x 18 1/2"
SKINNY OUTER BLOCK
Centre square - cut one block 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Round one - cut one strip 5 1/2" x 5 1/2", cut one strip 5 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Round two - cut one strip 5 1/2" x 10 1/2", cut one strip 5 1/2" x 15 1/2"
Round three (skinny round) - cut one strip 3 1/2" x 15 1/2", cut one strip 3 1/2" x 18 1/2"
I hope you have fun making your own Giant Log Cabin quilt, don't forget to tag me @hillstitches/@hillstitchesfabricshop so that I can see the photos of your finished quilt!
Emma x