Finished size of Syncopation 83in × 95½in (210.8cm × 242.6cm)
Finished size of Off-Beat Batik (overleaf) 46½in × 46½in (118.1cm × 118.1cm)
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
This Log Cabin design needs two contrasting teams of fabric (A and B), which are stitched around a square of different fabric in each block centre. Sort through your stored fabrics and find as many as possible (at least six) that blend together for one team and another group for the opposing colour team.
• For Syncopation: about 3yd (3m) of each team of fabrics for the Log Cabin blocks plus ½yd (0.5m) for the centres.
• Borders: there are four – the first and last use fabric leftover from the Log Cabin blocks. The second border takes an extra ½yd (0.5m) of one of the red/purple fabrics. The third wide green border needs 1yd (1m) of fabric.
• Binding: an extra ½yd (0.5m) of one of the green fabrics.
• For Off-Beat Batik: about 1yd (1m) for each team of fabrics, plus a 9in (22.8cm) square of fabric to make all the centres of the blocks.
• Border and binding: another 1yd (1m) of fabric.
• For both quilts: wadding and backing fabric: at least 2in (5cm) larger than finished quilt size.
“I began this quilt in a class with Lynne ages ago. I went home inspired to make a full-size quilt hut, of course, it was a couple of years later that I pulled it out of its bag and carried on from the three blocks that I had made earlier. (Jean Campbell)”
Off-Beat Batik
Batiks are wonderful fabrics for patchwork. Each one has many varied patterns and colours swirling within the fabric, which provide lots of choices for patchwork layouts.
“After selecting and cutting the strips from five pink/purple and five green/turquoise batik fabrics plus squares with a cheeky gold daisy peeping out, Iassembled the Log Cabin blocks using the fabrics in rotation. This resulted in five different blocks and four duplicates. The quilting pattern evolved from the shapes created by the blocks and was continued out to the edge of the borders. (Sue Fawcett)”
Construction
The instructions that follow apply to making the Syncopation and Off-Beat Batik quilts. If you are confident about making the classic Log Cabin block, then start reading from step 12. If you require more help, start from step 1 below and refer to Fig 2.
Strips cut in the same direction as the selvedge will be far less stretchy and easier to handle than strips cut across the fabric from selvedge to selvedge. If you have to use strips cut across the fabric, do not pull on them as you stitch, to avoid stretching. Alternatively, spray starch your fabrics before you cut the strips, which will keep them firmer.
MAKING THE LOG CABIN BLOCKS
1 Cut strips 2in (5cm) wide from all the fabrics in both colour teams. Cut pieces for the centre squares each 2½in × 2½in (6.3cm × 6.3cm). The strips should be used as randomly as possible within each colour team to give a scrap effect. The block has four complete rounds of strips built out from the centre square (Fig 2). Each block needs to measure exactly 14in × 14in (35.5cm × 35.5cm) before the corners are cut off and repositioned. The block in Fig 2 should measure½in (1.2cm) more than this and will need to be trimmed to the right size before cutting the corners.
Fig 1
2 Make four blocks at once using the following speedy method. Cut four squares of fabric for the centres each 2½in × 2½in (6.3cm × 6.3cm).
Fig 2
3 Stick a small square of masking tape on to the back of one of the centre squares, avoiding the ¼in (6mm) seam allowance. Label the tape with numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 as in Fig 3. The numbers give a guide to where each strip will be stitched.
Fig 3
4 Take a cut strip from team A fabrics at least 12in (30.5cm) long. Place it right side up on the machine in the correct position for a ¼in (6mm) seam to be sewn. Lower the pressure foot and wind the needle down into the fabric. Now the pressure foot can be lifted and the centre squares added without the first strip slipping out of position.
Fig 4
5 Place the first centre square right side down on the strip with side 1 on the masking tape as the edge to be stitched. Using a short stitch and a ¼in (6mm) seam, sew the centre square on to the strip. Sew onwards a few stitches and place a second square in position, then add the third and fourth squares in the same way (Fig 4).
6 Remove the strip from the machine and carefully trim it to match the centre squares exactly (Fig 5). Finger-press the seams away from the centre squares (Fig 6).
Fig 5
Fig 6
7 In building up the Log Cabin rounds of strips, each colour team of fabrics is used twice, making an L shape. This can be of the same fabric or a different fabric from the team – your choice. So put the second fabric strip (either the same fabric or another from team A) on the sewing machine again, right side up and move the needle down into the fabric. Take the original block with its piece of masking tape and place it right side down on the strip with side 2 at the edge to be stitched (Fig 7). Sew down this edge and place the second block on the strip in the same way. The first block is your model and the next three blocks must follow the same arrangement as they are positioned on the strip. Stitch block 2 and add the third and fourth blocks to match (Fig 8).
Fig 7
Fig 8
Now trim the strip either side of the blocks to match exactly the edges of the four blocks (Fig 9), then finger-press the seams away from the centre square (Fig 10).
Fig 9
Fig 10
8 Having stitched on two strips from the first