Sampler Quilt along Block 7 and 8

Today we’re working on block #7 and 8 of the sampler Quilt along

First a traditional log cabin block

And then a variation of that- a pineapple block but with more “freedom”

You’ll see what I mean in a bit.

For the log cabin block You’ll need 7 fabrics, OR you can have one half be the same color.

I’ll show cutting directions and LIGHTS and DARKS, though you can do whatever color you want, but usually one half is light and one half is dark in a quilt with all log cabin blocks.

Center Square is 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”

Dark#1 : 2” x 3 1/2” and 2” x 5”

Light#1 : 2” x 5” and 2” x 6 1/2”

Dark#2 : 2” x 6 1/2” and 2” x 8”

Light#2 : 2” x 8” and 2” x 9 1/2”

Dark#3 : 2” x 9 1/2” and 2” x 11”

Light#3 : 2” x 11” and 2” x 12 1/2”

Lay them all out how the block will look as you are constructing the block

Now sew the DARK#1 small piece to the top of the center square, and always iron toward the new strip.

Then add the other DARK#1 strip to the left.

Then add the LIGHT#1 in the same way to the bottom and right side.

Keep working like this to finish the block

I worked on BOTH blocks at the same time, or you can use it as a leader an ender so you don’t have to get up and iron every 2 minutes

Now to the freeform pineapple block

Start with a 3 1/2” center square also, then your next color cut

(2) 2” x 3 1/2” and (2) 2” x 4”

(I made the 2nd set a bit bigger than the 3 1/2” but it can probably still work with 3 1/2”

I liked to use my scraps from both the log cabin block and other blocks.

Sew the 2 smaller ones to the top and bottom and iron outward, then add the larger ones to the sides like this

Now trim the block at a 45 degree angle, BUT remember to trim 1/4” past the seam!!

I laid out my ruler and had one of the black lines go from corner to corner and then trimmed

Now measure the new sides and add 4 strips in the same way, it doesn’t matter how WIDE they are, if you want to have them all be 2”, I’ll show the other block that way, my snow block I did random widths

Now trim this row down by lining up the ruler on the seam between the center block and row1 and trim straight, also check on the mat that it’s square.

Here I wanted to show how I worked on both blocks at the same time

At a certain point you can add all 4 strips at the same time without having to get up and iron

Keep adding and ironing and trimming

When you’ve added 3 rows in each direction (6 total) stop and measure the block, it should be close to 12 1/2”

Then lay it out and measure what size the corner triangle needs to be

On my snow block I was able to use a 5” square cut diagonally, on the colored block it was 6”

I laid out my ruler in the middle and pinned at the edges

then pinned the middle of the corner triangles

and matched them up and sewed on the corners

Trim the block down to 12 1/2”

(6 1/4” from the center on each side)

Here’s both blocks done

Here’s all 8 blocks together, 4 more to go!

And both blocks with my 2nd color combination.

The pineapple block I used JUST 2” wide strips and the last 2 rows were repeated with the same blue fabric before the corner triangles.

the log cabin blocks had all BLUE as the DARK side

And all 8 blocks together too

Hopefully these weren’t too odd

Have fun and link up if you complete some blocks or link up last month’s blocks, if the linky doesn’t work, put it in the comments.