Log Cabin Evening - by Irena

The hall was set out with four groups of tables where members could sit. At each table sat one of our members who were going to demonstrate and talk about the variety of log cabin blocks.

As the room filled up and everyone was seated Deirdre – our chairperson welcomed members, and gave out notices regarding event members could attend, such as Doughty’s Road Show in Polegate on 23rd November, The Little Quilt of Fabrics Christmas Fair on 7th December and the Designer Craft Fair held at Bankside from 20th November until 1st December. 

Deirdre thanked members for collecting £145 last month for ‘Wear It Pink’. She said that ten more wooden stands were needed  to display our quilts and asked members if any had room to store some of them between exhibitions and to let the Committee know.

Following this Deirdre informed us of Kate’s workshop on 25th January where we would be able to make two different types of bags. Kate showed members the types of bags that we could be making.

After this some members were informed about the Hive Centre in Sanderstead – Jo and Kate demonstrated arm knitting where in two hours using just their arms they were able to complete a blanket.

Linus Quilts – Jill informed us that the group exceeded their quota of quilts and stockings this year and encouraged members to take kits to start making more for next year.

We then started our introduction to Log Cabins and the first one that I listened to was Erica. Erica was demonstrating IMPROVISED LOG CABIN and that it was made out of scraps and that she was guided by the size of the scraps. To demonstrate this Erica had cut up different coloured paper in different lengths and sizes. We were given a centre red piece and asked to choose an light colour, staple it together as if putting right sides together, then cutting it straight and attaching another light piece, doing the same and then for the other two sides to be dark and then when we had completed the first round to do a second round. Not as easy as you think but great fun.

The bell rang and we moved onto Eileen’s table where she showed us an amazing quilt made with tiny log cabin squares and explained it had been part of the Group’s January challenge where you were given a piece of fabric and asked to design a log cabin. Eileen then showed us a Cobweb in the Cabin block, in this you start of with the square add fabric around this block, then use triangles for each corner, add four more pieces of fabric and then another triangle, but of course this triangle is larger as the block is now larger. Eileen then showed us other blocks such as a hexagon block, courts house steps block and cabin in the sky. 

After tea we moved around again but first it wash SHOW and TELL – ladies who attended classed showed Block keeper which is a book with pages made from wadding where you can put completed blocks up to 12 ½” in. Jane showed us a colourful cushion of Daisy Cow she had made using raw edge applique and old shirts for the backing.

The third demonstration was by Jill who explained the history of quilts used by slaves in America to find safe houses and how the red block in the centre of a log cabin quilt represents the hearth in the home. She explained that you go round the square in a clockwise direction and to make sure to go from light to dark shading. Jill gave us a piece of brushed cotton, pre-cut fabric and asked us to layout a log cabin on this. She also said that taking a photograph of your block before you sew it will give you time to do any adjustments you may wish to make.

The fourth demonstration was by Chrissie (whose quilt was voted Best Quilt in our biannual exhibition in September) and she showed us a four block that she had designed and made using just plain colours and the effect Chrissie had created was as if the pieces were curved. She had created an 8” block with strips of 1 ½” strips and explained exactly how she had created the four-piece block. She mirror imaged two of the 8” blocks and this gave a fantastic effect. Chrissie explained that when showing over paper she uses very small stitches. She also explained to the group that we can make log cabins using diamond shaped blocks as well as triangles which can then be sewn together to make a hexagon.

Thank you to the four demonstrators for showing us such varied and interesting log cabin blocks – I am sure it inspired many of us to try making log cabins in different ways.