Log Cabin Quilt Block

Log Cabin Quilt Block

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They say that if you had grown up on the American frontier during the mid-1800s, the Log Cabin Quilt Block would have been the first piece of patchwork you would have learned to make. To this day, the Log Cabin Quilt Block is one of the most easily identifiable quilt blocks to the general public and secured its place in history when it was woven into the legends of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War period.

The Log Cabin Quilt Block is a type of patchwork that we call "strip" patchwork, as it essentially uses small strips of fabric that are placed around a central unit in a regular fashion. There are many variations of this block and it can be used in many ways. Other similar blocks are the Courthouse Steps Quilt Block, the Cabin in the Cotton Quilt Block, and the Pineapple Quilt Block.

The Log Cabin Quilt Block is traditionally made with a red square in the center, with light shades of fabric strips placed towards one diagonal of the block and dark shades of fabric strips place on sides toward the other diagonal.

One reason the Log Cabin Quilt Block is so well-loved is that it is a very versatile design. Interesting motifs appear based on how the blocks are turned and placed in the quilt layout. Below are a few of the more popular ways to arrange the blocks.

Grouping of Log Cabin Quilt Blocks 1
Grouping of Log Cabin Quilt Blocks 2
Grouping of Log Cabin Quilt Blocks 3
Illustration of a heart quilt block made with log cabin quilt blocks
Heart quilt made with Log Cabins
Exploded view of a heart quilt block made with log cabin quilt units.
Layout diagram for Heart Quilt made with Log Cabin Quilt Blocks

(See this page for more variations of Heart Quilt Blocks.)

There are many variations of the Log Cabin Quilt Block. Some are made with a rectangular center instead of a square. Some use a four-patch or nine-patch block in the center. One of my favorite variations is the Curvy Log Cabin Quilt Block which has its own page in the Quilt Block Library.

Below are a few illustrations of other Log Cabin Quilt Block variations, along with how they might appear in a quilt layout:

Image of the Rectangular Log Cabin Quilt Block
Rectangular Log Cabin Quilt Block
Image of Grouping of four Rectangular Log Cabin Quilt Blocks
Grouping of four Rectangular Log Cabin Quilt Blocks
Illustration pf Log Cabin Quilt Block with 4-patch in center
Log Cabin Quilt Block with 4-patch in center
Image of Log Cabin Quilt Block with nine patch center
Log Cabin Quilt Block with nine patch center
group of Log Cabin block with a 4-patch center
Log Cabin block with a 4-patch center
illustration of a Group of Log Cabin Quilt Blocks with 9-patch centers
Group of Log Cabin Quilt Blocks with 9-patch centers

Block Construction

Image of Exploded version of the Traditional Log Cabin Quilt Block
Exploded version of the Traditional Log Cabin Quilt Block

Coloring Sheets

Click to download coloring sheets