More Quiltmaker Scrap Squad Quilts



My
Finished Linkin' Log Quilt



For the Sept/Oct 11 Quiltmaker Magazine, the Scrap Squad was given the pattern called Linkin' Logs.

The original was designed and made by June Dudley, QM Editor-in-Chief, in oranges and greens with a black background.


I have long been a feed sack collector, but have trouble when it comes to cutting into the sack fabric.  I am really stingy with the feed sacks!!!!  I thought this might be just the pattern that could temp me to use a feed sack background.  In my collection, I found four like kind of patterned sacks from the 1940's that I thought could work.  So my theme became "Something Old, Something New".  The "old" would be the feed sacks and the "New" would be the different shades of reds and teals from my stash and the "stash enhancements" from Quiltmaker's Diane.

 

A good variety let me make each log from a different fabric

 Making the Z block:
Each block was made from 2 reds (a dark and a light), 2 teals(a dark and a light) and the background feed sack fabric.  Since I was going to make each round log a different fabric, I desided to cut and sew one row at a time which made it easier to keep up with the fabric changes.

The Z block can be constructed like a big 9-patch, building the corner, center and side units before putting the 9-patch together.

I always kept the color placement in the same position.  Looking at the center partial seam unit, the dark red at the 12 o'clock position, the light teal at the 3 O'clock position, the light red at the 6 O'clock position and the dark teal at the 9 O'clock position.





Note the color rotation of corner pieces to form 1/2 of log



All blocks are the same layout, just rotated as the quilt rows are built





 

Making the Y Block:

The Y block completes rounded logs on the  top row, the bottom row and side rows.

See all block sizes, cutting instruction and for the block rotation in the section called "Assembling the Quilt Top"in the Quiltmaker September/October 2011 magazine.

It is most helpful to use a design wall when building the rows.  Mine is a flannel backed, plastic table cloth.  Usually put on a king size bed, sometimes on the floor,  when laying out the blocks.  When I'm not using it, can be folded and the blocks will stay in place.  This photo was before the Y blocks were added to the right side.



 













Laying out blocks



Making the Half Square Triangles (HST)

My Linkin' Log is like the magazine pattern, except that I made the half-square triangles (HST) a little different.  I cut fabric squares 3" instead of 2 7/8".  Made the diagonal line across the back, sewed a 1/4" seam on each side of the line and cut into 2 pieces on the drawn line.  This is how mine is different.  My favorite tool for making these HST is the Quilt In A Day Triangle Trimmer.  The extra room on the 3" square makes the trimmed HST a perfect 2 1/2" square every time







Red dotted line on sewing line and trim



Adding Borders:

The first border is the background sack fabric, to make the logs look like they are floating.  The 2nd border is a narrow dark teal. The last wider border is teal and white stripe.

Linkin' Log Quilt with 3 borders added





 

The corners are different on this quilt.  They are OK, but not something that I will regularly make.

The quilt is ready to go to Glenda Wilkerson to be machine quilted.  I chose a teal thread for the quilting, and as I usually do for quilts that are to get quite a bit of use, had Glenda split the batting in half, which make a light weight quilt that is comfortable and washes well.

How I do my Quilt Bindings:
I cut the binding fabric into 2 1/4" strips, width of fabric, and then sew them into one long piece.  This quilt took 8 strips.  Fold the binding in half, wrong sides together. Press.

Quilt ready to sew on binding

With the quilt face up, using a walking foot on the sewing machine, stitch a 1/4" seam around the quilt.

Since the corners on this quilt are different, I wasn't sure how the mitered corners would work, but they came out OK.  Just sewed to1/4" from the corner, then turned the binding back, away from quilt, and then back on itself to start down the next side.  When turned, this will become a "mitered corner".

At the end, sew the 2 pieces of binding together to complete the binding.

Now the quilt is ready for a "trim"  Cut the batting and backing along the 1/4" seam on the top side of the quilt.  Be very careful not to make a snip or cut into the quilt. Fold the binding over the cut edge, pin and then hand stitch the binding to the backing.  Always use a thread the color of the binding and your stitches won't show.

Linkin' Log Quilt is now finished and ready to use.  This was a very fun pattern to make and I think has a lot of possibilities.

P.S.  I'm glad I used some of my feed sacks!

Other places to see different versions of this pattern:
Check out the other Quiltmaker Scrap Squad members Linkin Logs.  You can see them reviewed on Quilitmaker's blog, QuiltyPleasures by Diane Harris.

Scrap Squad Blogs:
Dionne
Kim
Pat
Ruthie
Jane
Carol
Linda