A scrappy, classic quilt is my favorite kind of quilt.

So when Liza Taylor (of Liza Taylor Handmade) announced

that she was hosting a Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt-Along

in 2022 - I couldn't resist joining.  And even though I am way 

behind schedule, I am so glad I participated!

I took my color palette inspo from some beautiful yardage

I had in my stash.  It's from the Kismet collection by Sharon Holland 

for Art Gallery Fabrics and I used it for the back of my quilt. 

I knew I wanted a layout that created diagonal rows of 

saturated prints and low-volume prints so I pulled warm

pinks, coppers, greens, golds, and low-volumes from my stash.

I tried not to choose "cutesy" prints.  I wanted a pretty, more mature 

feel to this quilt.  I auditioned and eliminated lots of fabrics along the way.

This basket stayed organized like this for about 2 seconds.

Once I started making blocks, strips were strewn about as I searched

for the perfect contrasting fabrics for each block.

I completely guessed how many strips to cut and I had to

cut more along the way to give me the variety I needed.

I have a bunch leftover so I may make a baby quilt out of them someday.

I cut fabrics for 6-8 blocks at a time and then chain-pieced

everything to help things go a little faster.

The blocks finish at 11-1/2" x 11-1/2".

You can get the free pattern if you sign up for

Liza's newsletter via her Instagram profile

@lizataylorhandmade.

I love Log Cabin quilts because there are so many ways to create 

secondary designs through fabric/color placement and block orientation.

My fave long-arm quilter, Jen Ostler quilted this for me. 

The panto I chose is called Behold.

I was a little nervous that it would be too busy but

I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

I think the design compliments the 

diagonal rows of the dark and light fabrics while

adding some softness to this otherwise, angular quilt.

I originally planned on using a green or dark pink

fabric to bind this quilt but a friend at the fabric

store found this sweet little civil war brown print that I really liked! 

I loved the scale of the flowers and that it incorporated several of my colors.

It added a nice vintage vibe to the quilt, which I always love!

I made 56 blocks for a 7 x 8 layout so it finished at 80" x 92".

A great size to snuggle under!

Have you ever made a Log Cabin quilt?

I had so much fun making this quilt and look forward

to making another one someday.

Itty Bitty Log Cabin Quilt Blocks - A New Start

I'm always snapping screenshots from my phone of quilty inspiration I see on Instagram.  Do you do that too?  They're usually pictures that inspire me because of a color palette or because it's a beautiful version of a pattern I want to make someday.  So I started an IG hashtag called #quiltyscreenshots to keep track of all of them and let the makers know they've inspired me!  You're welcome to play along too, if you're on Instagram.  Tag me @gigis_thimble if you decide to do a Scrappy Screenshots post.  Below are some pictures of solids quilts that I posted on there recently that really caught my attention.

Photo credit (using their Instagram names)

From top L to R: @claudiashearerquilts, @jeliquilts, @cabbagequilts, @bitsandbobbins, @adeeholcomb, @adeeholcomb, @tarafaughnan, @tarafaughnan

 

As you can probably see, the second quilt down in the right-hand column really spoke to me.  If you look close you'll notice that the maker, Tricia Royal of Bits and Bobbins had fun playing with color.  I love how she used varying shades of one color in certain areas.  It really gives it a playful "Tetris" feel!  I can't stop looking at it!

With some leftovers I recently acquired from a new "solids" pattern I'm working on, I decided to start a new project inspired by Tricia's quilt.  I decided to go small.  These blocks finish at 3.75".  Since I had a lot of strips already cut and I love paper piecing, I decided to paper piece these little babies.  Some people ask why I would paper piece something so simple?  I just like that I don't have to pre-cut anything with paper piecing!  I just grabbed my strips and my pattern and dove right in!

They whip up in no time!  And I'm having so much fun playing with color!

I have no specific plan of how big I'm going to make this quilt and in what layout I plan to put them in.  But I do know that they're fun to make and I'll try to use up most of my leftover strips!

If you want to sew-along with me, I am attaching the free Itty Bitty Log Cabin Block PDF pattern HERE.  There are two on a page!  Enjoy!

~ Amber