Half Log Cabin Block Tutorial

How about a tutorial today? Get your 2 1/2" strips of lights and darks and let's make some half log cabin blocks!

Traditionally, log cabin blocks start with a red square in the center, but here I changed it up and made it green. You can use any color you'd like, just make sure you have lights and darks for the entire block.

From green 2 1/2" strips, cut to make 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares. Do the same with the light strips. Sew them together like this:

From both light and dark (I used dark red) 2 1/2" strips, cut 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" rectangles. From only the dark 2 1/2" strips, cut 8 1/2" rectangles.

Mix up your pieces within each size stack by moving the top piece to the bottom occasionally. That way, there won't be identical blocks appearing.

To the 2 1/2" unit made before, add a dark 4 1/2" piece. Keep the first unit oriented in the same direction throughout the block.

Press the seam, and add a 4 1/2" piece to the unit, keeping darks on one side, lights on the other.

Press, and add the 6 1/2" piece to the unit, next to the previous dark piece.

Press again, then add the 6 1/2" light unit onto the light side.

Press once more, and add the final dark 8 1/2" piece.

This unfinished block measures 8 1/2" x 8 1/2". Once there's a stack of blocks, start playing with arrangement, as there are many ways to place these blocks.

Have fun!