A little break this week from the technical, tip laden posts I usually do. I decided I wanted to delve into some of my favorite quilt blocks I’ve worked with over the years to find some history on them. I’ve got several favorites. I’ll talk about mine and then you can share your favorites with me. Let’s have some fun!

My Favorite – The Log Cabin Block

I describe this as one of my favorite blocks for many reasons. It’s easy to piece and it also has different variations. I like the traditional Log Cabin (below, left) and also the Courthouse Steps (below, right) variation the best.

The fun things about these blocks is how they can use up your scrap stash. I like to collect strips by cutting up leftover fabric from various projects. So when I decide I want to make a Log Cabin block, I just head to my stash.

Here’s a little history on those blocks. They’re thought to have been designed by the pioneer women as they moved west in the mid 19th century, inspired by the homes of logs they constructed. 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.

I have been known to play with these blocks to add some interesting “spin” to them. Here’s the block in my quilt, Follow the Stars:

I thought it would be fun to have a star in the center and then use a black square running through each block to create a secondary design when the blocks were pieced together.

I also turned the blocks on point in my quilt, Wildflower Lane, and added appliqué so they looked like flower vases.

I have a lot of other patterns where I have played with this block. Once you start making these, you can’t stop!

The Churn Dash Block

Looking at my patterns, you will see that this is another of my favorite traditional quilt blocks. It’s a block that has been around for over 150 years. In the nineteenth century, women would make blocks and would often name them after everyday items they used daily. Even if it already had a name. Churn dash is one of them. The perimeter of the block resembled a churn and the center a “dash” (the stick that was used) to these women.

You can also make these blocks from a scrap stash of strips and squares. Or you can gather a stack of fat quarters with tans and color prints and make a bunch.

I’ve played with this block too. I’ve turned them on point with another block for a different look, I’ve added stars to the center of the block in other quilts and I even made a scrappy version.

The Album Cross

I’ve only used this block a few times, but hope to use it in more quilts in the future. I first came across it in a couple of books on antique quilts.

This block was popularized in the 1840s and 1850s when album quilts came into fashion. The blocks were assembled into friendship quilts, fundraising quilts and even quilts that were given to a person or family leaving a community. There was usually a section of light fabric where someone could stitch or sign their name or even an inspirational quote.

The 19th century version of the block pictured had Y seams. Yikes! I do not like Y or set in seams so I set about creating an easier version that had the same look but no Y seams. Here’s mine:

My version uses the stitch & flip method I talked about a few weeks ago to create the same look. I used it in my pattern, Scrap Basket Duo:

If you are looking for some unique blocks, check out an antique quilt book. You’ll find some interesting things.

Snowball Block

Finally another simple block that’s fun to use in many different ways. The block dates back to the mid 19th century and has it’s roots in Amish quilting. It is a block that creates an optical illusion when you look at the quilt it’s in. If you stand back, the snowball blocks look like circles. It was actually created with that intention in mind.

I’ve used this block as a part of the design in quilts as small as table runners to larger quilts. It’s a good block to use as a separator between another block style and it can even create a secondary design when used that way. Here is my pattern (on the left), Carnival Time, that uses the Snowball block as more of the “star” of the pattern. And on the right, I made a variation of the Snowball Block with an open center in Addie’s Garden.

Now here’s a pattern I’m working on writing now called Diamonds in the Rough where the large Snowball Block is the accent to the other pieced block and helps to creates a secondary design.

So those are some of my favorite quilt blocks. I have many more too! Let me know what blocks you like the best in the comments below.

Happy Quilting!
Deanne