Susan Beal has a new book out, called Log Cabin Quilting: 25 Simple Quilts and Patchwork Projects. I jumped at the chance to preview this book (my love of log cabin quilting is well documented). Variations of the log cabin pattern have been around for hundreds of years, and once you sew any variation of it, its not hard to understand why. Once thought of as an old fashioned look, its versitility is now being explored in new, modern ways, and Susan's book is a wonderful example of that. She explains the general method of piecing basic log cabin blocks (which are easy and addicitve), and from there, she takes you through options of playing with pattern and color within the blocks, designing your own blocks, turning blocks into all sorts of projects.
The other thing I love about this book is that is beautifully photographed, and the projects themselves are shown plainly. I know how to do log cabin quilting, but also I am very visual (as many of us are). Seeing beautiful photographs is often all it takes to get me truly inspired.
One project I have my eye on making, a single, supersized log cabin block variation called "Housetop". This type of project is a good beginning quilt project (not too much fussy piecing), and great for showing off larger pieces of your favorite fabrics-
I also love this blue and gray combination, very modern-feeling. In this project, Susan explains how to make a quilt version or a duvet cover version (no quilting involved), which is great for anyone intimidated about quilting a large quilt themselves-
The book is 10 quilt patterns in a range of difficulty, and 14 smaller projects for those wanting to tackle log cabin but not ready for a full quilt yet. The day this book came in the mail was the same day I had found some pretty blue corduroy while thrifting, and knew I wanted to make a blue version of the Red Cross Bag project. It was the perfect afternoon project that day.
I am so in love with this bag. 4 log cabin squares make up the front and back sides of the bag, and I added a layer of thick cotton canvas in between the lining and the outside to add stability. I used my very favorite Japanese fabric for trimming out the handle. (In the pacific northwest, you can get away with carrying around a corduroy bag like this for at least a couple more months, its crazy.)
Susan has generously offered to giveaway a copy of her book with a log cabin kit put together by Susan to two lucky wise craft readers. Just leave a comment on this post and I will randomly draw names late next week.
In the meantime, you can read an interview with Susan here at Crafter News, the blog for the book is here, and the book is available at Amazon. I am hoping that Susan will come to Seattle this summer for a book signing party, don't you think she should??
Edited to add- Giveaway is closed and winners have been chosen, thank you to all who entered!
