WTC Quiltstitched with care since 2001

Free pattern: log cabin quilt

The log cabin is one of the oldest American quilt blocks: a center square with narrow strips (the “logs”) added around it in rounds. One half of each block is light and the other half dark, and that split is what lets the same block make dozens of different quilts depending on how you turn it. A red center, often said to stand for the hearth, is the traditional choice.

A patchwork quilt in browns, gold, cream, navy and red hanging on a wooden quilt rack beside a stone fireplace
Log cabin block: a red center square with three rounds of narrow logs, light on the right and bottom, dark on the left and top
One block: a 3-inch center and three rounds of 1½-inch logs. 12 inches finished.
Log cabin quilt: 30 blocks, 5 across and 6 down, all turned the same way
Finished quilt: 60 × 72 inches. 30 blocks, all turned the same way.

Fabric

Log cabins look best scrappy: use as many different lights and darks as you can find. The amounts below are totals.

FabricUsed forYardage
Assorted lightsLight logs2¼ yd total
Assorted darksDark logs2¾ yd total
RedCenters⅜ yd
BindingEight 2½-in strips⅝ yd
BackingTwo 80-in lengths, seamed4½ yd
BattingMiddle layerTwin size (72 × 90 in)

Cutting

Cut the lights and darks into 2-inch strips across the width of the fabric, and the red into 3½-inch strips. Then cut the logs to length. For each block you need:

RoundLog 1 (light)Log 2 (light)Log 3 (dark)Log 4 (dark)
CenterOne 3½-in red square
Round 13½ in5 in5 in6½ in
Round 26½ in8 in8 in9½ in
Round 39½ in11 in11 in12½ in

All logs are 2 inches wide. For 30 blocks, cut 30 of each length. Keep them in labeled piles, one pile per length, and the sewing goes quickly.

Many quilters skip precutting and use the “sew and trim” method instead: sew a long strip to the edge of the block, then trim it even with the block. It wastes a little fabric and saves a lot of measuring.

Sew a block

  1. Sew a 3½-inch light log to the right side of the red center. Press the seam away from the center. Every seam in a log cabin is pressed away from the center.
  2. Turn the unit a quarter turn and sew the 5-inch light log along the bottom. Press.
  3. Add the 5-inch dark log on the left, then the 6½-inch dark log along the top. The unit now measures 6½ inches square.
  4. Repeat with the round 2 logs (6½, 8, 8, 9½), going around in the same direction. The unit measures 9½ inches.
  5. Finish with round 3 (9½, 11, 11, 12½). The block measures 12½ inches square. Make 30.

Always add logs in the same direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) on every block, or the light and dark halves end up on different sides.

Set the blocks

Lay out 6 rows of 5 blocks. Turned all the same way, as in the diagram, the light and dark halves form diagonal bands. Turning blocks a quarter turn in groups of four makes light and dark diamonds; rotating them around the center of the quilt makes concentric rings. Try a few arrangements on the floor and photograph each before sewing. Once you've chosen, sew the blocks into rows and join the rows.

Finish

Seam the two 80-inch backing lengths side by side, layer and baste. Quilting in the ditch between the rounds, or straight diagonal lines, keeps the logs crisp. Bind with the eight 2½-inch strips.

Other sizes

LayoutBlocksFinished
3 × 3936 × 36 in (baby or wall)
5 × 6 (this pattern)3060 × 72 in
6 × 74272 × 84 in (twin)
7 × 85684 × 96 in (queen)

Larger quilts need proportionally more logs and a bigger backing; StitchTested's fabric guide and backing calculator help with the totals.

More free patterns: see them all. This pattern is free for personal and charity use. Please don't sell the pattern itself.

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