How to quilt a Log Cabin

[Bransmom]

OK, so I made my first log cabin and am ready to sandwich it to quilt it. My question is how do I quilt it? Do I quilt every seam so it'll be reinforced? If so, that's a lot of quilting.

I made it using El's pattern and it went together so easily and quickly! Her directions are the absolute best!

Thanks!

[sewbug]

I have always read the straight lines of a quilt looks better with curved lines of quilting and vice versa. I quilted a log cabin with graduating rings in each block. It looked great. I don't have the quilt to post a picture.

[Joannequilts]

sewbug, I read the same thing about using curves in quilting a pattern that has alot of straight lines. What I do, though is to quilt in the ditch on a log cabin, then the borders are always a curving design. I just personally like to make the pattern stand out with the stitch in the ditch. If the logs are narrow, though, maybe do every other one instead of all of them. If the blocks aren't too big you could do a "X".

Joanne:0)

[Bransmom]

The blocks are 12" and the strips were 2 1/2".

I've only done stitch in the ditch and the X so far, no free motion or anything, well, I did try free motion and it was a disaster. I just thought every log would be a lot of quilting for me.

So, are these blocks too big for an X (I would guess yes) but what about every other log? I love the idea of the circles, tell me more. I "may" be able to do that.

Thanks for the info.

[Quilter7]

You might try "auditioning" a couple different designs by using a piece of clear plastic and drawing on the plastic. May I suggest you use a "Vis-a-Vis" Pen (Used for transparencies)? You can purchase a piece of clear plastic or use a new clear shower curtain.

[12stepquilter]

How do you quilt it?????? However you want to my dear. Not much help huh?

Rhonda

[cyndyduncan]

I did the log cabin and laid them in a whinpath design, should I quilt only the outside block and criss cross to enhance the design. I was concerned this is too far apart. I am using the quilt in a day log cabin book.
thsnks

[CaroleJ]

Cyndy, the density of the quilting depends on the kind of batting used. If you used Warm and Natural, I believe the directions say you can leave up to 10" UNquilted. It doesn't shift much.

Check the recommendations on the label from your batting. That should give you an idea what to do next.

Good luck!

[Granma2five]

One suggestion, is that which El used in her book, "Make a Quilt in a Day, Log Cabin Pattern", where she quilts diagonally through the blocks, using the points of the logs as her guide. An easy place to start marking might be right through the center of the center square piece in a log cabin block. If you have her book, refer to the pics and info on pages 81 & 82.

Personally, I like that a lot better than stitch in the ditch, and it seems it would be much less time consuming as well as giving a new design element to the quilt.

Of course, you want to do what appeals to you, but I know as a newbie to machine quilting, when a pattern says "quilt as desired", or other quilters say, "Quilt however you want", I didn't know where to start.

I now pay close attention as to how folks have quilted their quilts that I see in quilt mags as well as on line. The more you look at quilts, the more ideas you'll get. Have fun and best of luck!

Happy Quilting,