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Scrappy Improv Log Cabin Quilt

Learn to use your fabric scraps to create a wonky, scrappy, improv, log cabin quilt. This fun improvisational quilt block construction method is a great way to use up your fabric scraps.

purple, gray and black scrappy quilt hanging on fence outside in the Fall

Earlier this year I began sharing projects that I challenged myself to finish for my Finish it Friday series! I have a few more projects to share with you before the end of the year, but today for Finish it Friday I thought it would be fun to share a quilt that a friend of mine created.

Last year for the virtual quilt market, I asked a friend to help me create quilted projects. I needed to create a video with projects from my upcoming fabric line and was pressed for time to have enough finished projects to photograph.

My friend Traci (@quiltedimperfection on Instagram) makes these gorgeous, soft, cuddly, scrappy quilts, so I asked her to create one for me from my Spooky Hollow fabric collection.

screenshot of instagram profile

Traci has created dozens of scrappy log cabin quilts, and I thought the scrappy improvisational style would be perfect for a Halloween quilt.

What is a Log Cabin Block?

A traditional log cabin block is made by sewing strips of fabric to a center square. You sew one strip to each side of the square. Then repeat the process with another set of strips and keep sewing until your block is the size you want.

This quilt featured today is made using an improvisational, modern quilting technique. In this method, the blocks are constructed using fabric scraps, and you don’t need to cut your fabric pieces before you begin.

quilt on fence outdoors

How to Make a Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt Block

scraps of fabric on sewing machine table

I’m not going to be posting a tutorial for the blocks; instead, I will be linking to the tutorial that Traci uses.

  1. Using the method and technique on Diary of a Quilter’s site create 42 scrappy log cabin quilt blocks.
  2. Trim and square up the blocks to 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″.
  3. Sew the blocks together into seven rows with six blocks in each row.
  4. Finish the quilt and bind the quilt using your favorite method.
close up of scrappy log cabin quilt

Tips for Creating an Improv Log Cabin Quilt

close up of quilt

Traci shared a few tips if you’d like to create a quilt using this method.

  1. Don’t overthink it.  There is no wrong way to put colors, patterns or fabrics together.
  2. Don’t make one square at a time. But make it all a process where you add an additional strip and press all at the same time like an assembly line. 
  3. No scrap is too small.  Sometimes I even sew several together to make one strip to add to the “log cabin.”  This adds to the wonkiness.

Finished Quilt Details

blue, gray purple and white scrappy quilt draped on back of couch
  1. The quilt is approx 72″ x 84″.
  2. The fabric is from the Spooky Hollow Collection by Melissa Mortenson for Riley Blake Designs. Traci used approx 1/2 yard of 14 different fabric prints plus some basics mixed in. If you’d like to make a quilt like this, a fat quarter pack of fabric would be perfect! If you mix it in with other scraps and basics that you already have, you should have plenty of fabric to create a similar-sized quilt top.
  3. See the explanation above for the quilt pattern information.
  4. The quilt backing is Shannon Minky Solid Cuddle 3 Extra Wide, Silver
  5. It is quilted using the Cobwebs Pantograph.

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2 Comments

  1. The link to Simple Girl, Simple Life does not work and I tried typing in the name directly, it goes to the same bad page. Tried searching for her, all I get is an Instagram page, no directions to her technique.

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