Drafting for the Creative Quilter

40 DRAFTINGFORTHECREATIVEQUILTER

Drafting from

the Inside Outward

1. Draw a square larger than the size you want.


2. Draw a center square within the larger square.


3. Based on either the Log Cabin or the Courthouse
   Steps design, add logs until you come close to a size you
   like, checking to be sure you have the same number of
   logs on each side of the chimney.

1

2

3

6

4

5

Log Cabin block

1

1

2 2

3

3

(^44)
Courthouse Steps block

Off-Center Log Cabin Block

Off-Center Log Cabin block

The Off-Center Log Cabin block is just that—a tradi-

tional Log Cabin block with the chimney moved away

from center. Multiple blocks sewn together create a

somewhat curved design. To see how the block looks

when four are joined, place your mirrors (page 91) on

the corner where the small logs merge.

There is no specific formula to determine the widths

of the logs. Experimentation is a great teacher. I like a

2-to-1 ratio. For example, for a 6 ̋ block, I would choose

1/2 ̋ and 1/4 ̋ logs. The center (or chimney) ends up as a

3/4 ̋ square (the total of two logs). The larger the differ-

ence between the two log widths, the farther offset the

chimney will be. This is a good time to sketch rather

than estimate how wide the two different logs should be.

Drafting from

the Outside Inward

TO DRAFT A 6 ̋ (FINISHED) BLOCK:

1. Draw a 6 ̋ square.


2. Draw 2 wider logs on one corner, and then draw 2
   narrow logs on the opposite corner. The order in which
   you add them does matter, just be consistent: Add wide/
   top, wide/left side, narrow/bottom, and then narrow/
   right side.

Draw a square and add wider

and narrower logs.