From Quick Quilts January 2004

Log Cabin Swirl designed by Brenda Groelz Finished Quilt Size 31" x 31" Number of Blocks and Finished Sizes 4 Log Cabin I Blocks ... 6" x 6" 4 Log Cabin II Blocks ... 6" x 6" 4 Log Cabin III Blocks ... 3" x 3" Foundation Guides You Need! 11 assorted mottles (labeled A-K) ... See Plan! Gold batik (L) ... 1 1/4 yd. Green batik (border, binding) ... 1 yd. Backing (pieced widthwise) ... 1 1/4 yds. Batting ... Crib size Sewing thread Machine quilting thread Plan! Head to the fabric store or your stash and choose 11 fabrics that move from color to color in progression. Brenda's fabrics from RJR's Jinny Beyer Palette moved in a "circle" beginning and ending with similar colors. Label the colors A-K. You'll need 3/8 yd. each of A and K and 1/4 yd. each of B-J. Experienced foundation piecers can get by with less fabric, but we plan extra for shrinkage, straightening ends and second attempts. After you've settled on the first 11 fabrics, audition them with several fabrics to choose your background. The key is to choose a fabric that contrasts in either color or value so the swirling design stands out.

Log Cabin Swirl - Page 2

Prepare!
Note: See pattern pullout section for foundation masters. They are printed reversed and are meant to be traced or photocopied. Make 5 copies of each foundation master on a foundation paper. Cut out each foundation along outside line. Do not leave any extra paper beyond the printed lines. All paper gets pulled away eventually, and having paper hidden in the seam allowance just gets in your way. Stitch on 4 sets, and use the 5th one as your color guide (refer to Color Guide and see Piece by Piece, Part 2 for ideas for making a color guide).

Color Guide
Shown from printed side of foundations

Don't be intimidated by the amount of information on the foundations. It's there to make your life simple! The bold numbers indicate the piecing order. Letters indicate which fabric is used for that piece, and the dimensions tell you the starting strip width. A quick way to prepare your fabrics is to cut them in strips across the width of your fabric. Cut one strip the suggested width, and cut to length as you go, cutting at least 3/4" longer than the finished piece. Cut more strips as needed. If you're trying assembly line piecing (Piece by Piece, Part 2), you can cut four pieces at once.

1. Before starting, read through Piece by Piece, Part 2, for instructions on foundation piecing. Some important things to remember: 1. The foundations are printed in reverse, so the printed side goes in the opposite direction of how the fabric is stitched on the other side; 2. You must follow the number order when sewing; 3. Use a small, sharp needle (Brenda uses Schmetz Microtex size 11) with a short stitch (15-18 stitches per inch); 4. There is no seam allowance on the paper foundation. Allow more than 1/4" of fabric beyond the perimeter of the block and do not trim along the paper's edge.

2. Foundation piece 4 each Blocks I, II & III. Trim fabric blocks 1/4" from edge of paper foundation. Do not remove the paper until the entire quilt top is pieced. Change sewing machine stitch length back to normal piecing length (10-12 stitches per inch). Arrange and sew 2 rows of 2 Block IIIs (see Diagram I). Sew rows together to make pieced square. Note: Watch orientation of blocks.

Log Cabin Swirl - Page 3

3. Sew together 1 each Fabrics A-G and K 1 1/4" x 5" strips with diagonal seams (Diagram II) to make pieced inner border strip (measuring approximately 23" each). Make 4.

Diagram I

Diagram II

Refer to Assembly Diagram and photo for next steps.

4. Arrange and sew Blocks I and II and pieced square into 3 rows, watching orientation. Sew rows together to make quilt center. Leave paper in blocks.

5. Sew 2 gold batik 1 3/4" x WOF strips to sides of quilt center. Trim even with top and bottom. Sew remaining gold batik strips to top/bottom. Trim even with sides. Stitch 2 pieced inner borders to sides of quilt, watching orientation. Trim even with top/ bottom. Stitch remaining inner borders to top/bottom. Trim even. Sew two 4 3/4" x WOF green batik strips to sides; trim even. Sew remaining green batik strips to top/bottom; trim even. Remove papers.

Assembly Diagram

6. Layer and baste quilt top for quilting method of your choice. Brenda machine quilted a feather design over all 3 borders and into the background fabric of the Log Cabin Blocks. She ditch quilted the 11 assorted mottle fabrics and emphasized the pinwheel effect in the center by stitching radiating parallel lines 3/8" apart from the center over the top of the Block III fabrics and into the backgrounds of the four Block IIs. Bind quilt with green batik fabric.