Autumn Harmony within a Log Cabin quilted sampler by Nancy Devine October 10, 2016 written by Nancy Devine October 10, 2016 775 “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!” — Percy Bysshe Shelley I love autumn, that season of color. As quilters, we appreciate the vivid hues of changing leaves, set against the intense cyan skies. These post-card pretty days are often bathed in the pure sunshine. It’s like a big finale before the greys and icy whites of winter. That saturation of colors is the inspiration behind my Autumn Harmony wall quilt. Made up of four large log cabin blocks in low volume creams and neutrals, the fanciful batik foliage dances across the surface. And it all starts with scraps and strings. This is the ultimate frugal art piece. Colorful batiks frolic across neutral log cabin blocks in this fanciful wall quilt. I’ve begged batik scraps from quilting friends, and prepared some lightweight quilting muslin flat in preparation for some string pieced foliage. Let’s get this color party started by creating a cozy quilted canvas to showcase our wild autumnal colors. Autumn Harmony: a seasonal sampler You will need Various quilting fabric remnants in neutrals (creams, beiges, very light yellow) Green batik scraps and pieces Yellow, red, gold, pink batiks Bias binding in brown batik Binding strips Bias binding maker Tailor’s awl Finger pressing tool Batting 505 basting spray Template plastic Spray Starch Freezer paper Small paint brush Clever Clips (large and small) Marking pen Flatter pressing spray Quilting muslin Gutermann silk thread Size 10 hand quilting needles 24” quilting hoop Thimble Birch branch Curtain rings Cut out 2½” strips from a variety of cream, beige and low volume neutral fabrics to create a log cabin canvas. We’re going to make four 14½” log cabin blocks. The log cabin is a beginner block that requires a lot of cutting. It’s a perfect use for jelly roll pre-cuts, since they are 2½” wide strips. Unfortunately, you might not have a jelly roll bundle of neutral fabrics. No worries. Let’s whip out our rulers and rotary cutters and make some 2½” strips. I cut seven strips from eight different neutrals. It helps to have some Clever Clips around to clip the strips together as you go. It just keeps everything tidy. After you’ve cut your strips, you then cut them (which is called sub-cutting in quilting lingo) into varying lengths, but the width stays the same. For one block, cut: Two 2½” squares Two 4½” strips Two 6½” strips Two 8½” strips Two 8½” strips Two 10½” strips Two 12½” strips Two 14½” strips Log Cabin block diagram Start piecing by joining the two 2½” squares, followed by the 4½” strip, all around the block, pressing with each addition. Try to get the strips to lay as flat as possible after piecing them. I’ll make for easier time later when you’re quilting the sandwich. Make four 14½” blocks. (Please see the layout diagram above). Use Flatter pressing spray and a finger pressing tool to make the Log Cabin blocks as flat as possible. Completed blocks are pressed flat before being joined together to create a large quilt top. Spray baste the quilt sandwich to prepare it for free motion quilting, pinning the corners to prevent shifting. Join these two blocks together, then join the resulting half square to form a 28″ x 28″ quilt top. Make a quilt sandwich spray baste layers together, using safely pins to secure the corners. Free motion quilt in wavy vertical lines. I added leafy squiggles along the lines. Set aside. Let’s take a break for today, and bask in the glory of your quilted canvas. Join me tomorrow when we start working on the colorful elements of our Autumn Harmony wall quilt. This is part 1 of 5 in this series. Go to part 2: How to coordinate color-soaked batiks to make fanciful fall foliage Print this page or save as a PDF 0Qs125autumn wall quiltlog cabin blocksnancy devinewall quilt FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinRedditWhatsappTelegramEmail Nancy Devine Nancy Devine is a self-confessed craft-crazed blogger. She is a regular contributor to A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine, one of the administrators for The Craft Café, a Facebook page devoted to the international sharing of the creative life, and a curator of an impressive collection of fabrics, notions and seam rippers. In her spare time, she wrangles dust bunnies and writes a blog called Nancy Dee Needleworks. Understandably, her house is a mess. previous post Essential steps for sewing elegant French seam pillowcases next post How to coordinate color-soaked batiks to make fanciful fall foliage YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... DIY quilted Christmas ornaments with Bosal Foam Stabilizer Gütermann Metallic Threads add beauty to your quilting... 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