Since it’s Labor Day Weekend, I’m taking it “easy” on my blog post for the week. I really love to delve into the history of quilt blocks, especially my favorites. So, I thought it would be fun to share three of my favorite blocks and some trivia about them. There’s also a chance for you to win a free pattern by commenting and sharing your favorite block or blocks!
Log Cabin
This is probably my favorite block. There are many variations of the Log Cabin block and I think I’ve probably made them all. These blocks are thought to be very American, representing the pioneers as they moved west and built homes of logs. However, this pattern has been found in earlier quilts and on other items as early as the mid 18th century. The traditional Log Cabin has a center square with “logs” added on alternating sides. Two sides of the block is light fabrics while the opposite sides are built with darker fabrics.
The center square was often a red fabric to represent the hearth of the home.
One of my favorite variations of the Log Cabin block is the Courthouse Steps variation.
It’s named that because the “logs” look like steps up to a door. Here are a few other variations that I have used in quilts:
Star Blocks
If you are a fan of my designs, you will notice that most of my patterns contain star blocks. I love stars! One of my favorites is called the Sawtooth Star block. It’s one of the most common and easiest to make. It is also known by other names like Evening Star or Variable Star. Because women in the west often shared patterns, but didn’t know it’s original name, they would often rename a pattern to their liking. That’s why a lot of traditional blocks are know by more than one name.
The block is made with one large center square, 4 flying geese units and 4 smaller squares.
The stars in the photo above are Sawtooth Star blocks. They can be all one color, or the center and points can be separate colors. This block first appeared as a pattern in Farm & Fireside magazine in 1884.
Here are some of my quilts with stars in them.
Churn Dash
This block design comes in as a close second to the Log Cabin block for me. I have used this in many, many quilt designs of mine. The Churn Dash is one of the oldest block designs. It dates as far back as 1800. Since it was an easy pattern to learn, new quilters often learned to piece by making this block.
For the quilt pattern on the right, I combined the Sawtooth Star and the Churn Dash blocks for this fun design!
Many quilt blocks got their names from everyday items that women used everyday in their homes on the frontier. Women thought this design resembled the butter churn and dash so that’s how this block got it’s name. There are a lot of Churn Dash variations with different names like this one:
This pattern is called Monkey Wrench or Shoo Fly.
So, share with me your favorite block to make. Comment below and be entered in a drawing for my Country Dance pattern!
The drawing will be on Monday, September 9th. Good Luck! *** We have a winner! Congrats, Deanna Bassett!***
Happy Quilting
Deanne
I too like star blocks. You have many really pretty ones. I also love the log cabin bkock.
Love the curved log cabin block. Love your colors Deanne.
I love star blocks within the log cabin block. I also love the simple four patch and churn dash. Guess you could say I love them all
I definitely love stars, and Sawtooth Star is there at the top, right next to Friendship Star. I have a whole bile of Churn Dash blocks that are sitting in a pile waiting to be pieced together. And lately, I have been hand-piecing 16-patch blocks together as I sit in medical facility waiting areas with my husband (could not do just a simple 4-patch, had to make those blocks a bit bigger).
I, too, love making the log cabin block. I gave my first log cabin quilt to my mother and she loved it! I got the quilt back after she passed away and it is now hanging on my bedroom wall … a sweet memory kept alive.
I love star blocks and log cabin too.
Log cabin blocks are wonderful! I think I may need to try the Churn dash block for our County fair next year.
I also love the star blocks. I also like half square triangles blocks, they can be made into multiple different pattern designs.
Star blocks are my favorites… small, large, any pattern. But I’m the same way with house blocks. ☺
Star blocks and pinwheels are my favorites. Haven’t tried the churn dash yet but I plan on it!
I love star bloks in log cabin but also want to try a curve log cabin too.
The Log Cabin block was one of the first blocks I learned and used as a pot holder. I included an “Ohio Star” block in a queen size Sampler quilt for myself. I love star blocks because they are so versatile.
I am drawn to anything with a half square triangle, at one time it was a to 9 patch….
I have completed a mini log cabin table topper and it turned out sooooooo well. I too love stars. Your patterns are beautiful
I love a couple of the same blocks you do, log cabin and star blocks.
I, too, love star blocks. Probably my favorite is the Ohio Star. The first quilt gift I gave my mother was a pillow with the log cabin block. 20 some years later it’s in her chair to support her 89 year old back.
My favorite is a simple nine patch; second favorite is flying geese. But they are all such fun to make!
Just joined your list for emails, i’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say thanks for the oppounity Bobbie
My favorite blocks are Churn Dash and Bear Paw. I am working on a Churn Dash full sized quilt from my stash of Thimbleberries fabrics.
The simple 9 patch can’t be beat for usefulness. Vary the size of the squares to change the size of finished blocks – the 9 patch can be tiny or large; vary the light/dark square placement; small 9 patch blocks can become one of the squares in a larger 9 patch; 9 patches can be combined with other pieced blocks in a variety of ways, etc. I love using the 9 patch.