Drafting for the Creative Quilter

8 squares per inch

LOGCABINANDPINEAPPLEBLOCkS 39

„ Log or strip size—Proportion is important. If you

choose a 6 ̋ block, 2 ̋ logs are too wide. I usually stay

with 1/4 ̋- to 11/2 ̋-wide logs.

„ Number of logs or strips—Going around the center

at least four times is a suggested proportion, though

the narrower the strips and the more there are of

them, the more color, design, and detail you can

create.

„ Odd or even number of logs

Drafting the Log Cabin and Courthouse Steps blocks

can be done from the outside inward, if a specific block

size is needed for a sampler quilt or friendship exchange,

or from the inside outward, when block size is not an

issue, as perhaps in the case of a repeat block quilt. All

the blocks just need to be the same size.

Drafting from

the Outside Inward

TO DRAFT A 6 ̋ (FINISHED) BLOCK:

1. For either Log Cabin or Courthouse Steps, draw a 6 ̋
   square.


2. In this example, we’ll use 1/2 ̋ logs. Working from the
   outside inward and on one side at a time, lightly draw
   grid lines the finished width of the logs apart (1/2 ̋). Draw
   as many lines as there are logs (5). The center square
   (chimney) remains.

Working inward, add grid lines to create logs.

73 15 9

2

6

8

4

For the Log Cabin block: Work clockwise from the center out,

darkening seamlines over the grid in red pencil and num-

bering the logs 1–20 for the sewing sequence. You could also

work counterclockwise instead—just be consistent.

42 24

5

1

3

3

5

1

For Courthouse Steps block: Work from the center out,

adding logs to the top and bottom, then to the two opposite

sides, repeatedly. Number the logs 1–10 (two of each) for the

sewing sequence. Odd numbers are the top and bottom logs

and even numbers are the side logs.