Blocks 13 and 14 - Log Cabin and Courthouse Steps

These 2 blocks are some of the most time consuming easy blocks that there are. There's no shortcuts, each strip has to be sewn on individually. Between cutting each strip to size, organizing so that the right strip got sewn on to the right side at the right time, sewing and pressing I could have made dozens of other blocks. I'm not sure that I'd have the patience to make a whole quilt of blocks like these but I do love the way that they look.

The first block is Log Cabin and it finishes to 10 inches and there are 19 pieces of fabric in the block. The center is cut 2 3/8 inches square and each log is 1 3/8 inches wide. This is one of the reasons it took longer. It is harder for me to cut to eights as it is quarters. I have to concentrate and triple check before cutting.

I would alternate blocks. First, sew a strip onto block A, then block B. Then iron block A and sew on a strip. Then iron block B and sew on a strip. The weirdest thing happened. Block A would be the perfect size and block B would be a little small. The more I concentrated on getting the 1/4 inch seam allowance right, the more off it got. But, I cheated! I cut the outside strips big so I could trim down if needed. On block B, I needed.

The next block is Courthouse Steps and it also finishes to 10 inches with 21 pieces of fabric. It's similar, yet different.

For this block the center is cut 2 1/8 inches square and the strips are the same size 1 3.8 inches wide (except for the outer blocks which I cut wider so I'd have some extra fabric around the edges). This block goes a little quicker because you can sew to strips on between ironing but it's still time consuming.

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More Wildflowers of America

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