Cabin Fever: The Very Variable Log Cabin

Log Cabin Pattern from Generations Quilt Patterns

The log cabin block is one of the most classic building blocks for quilters ever. And it's a wonderful optical illusion. It's made from straight, squared off strips sewn in straight lines. But because of the color choices, it gives us a great half square triangle look.



Which means that any block  you can make out of half triangles, you can make with log cabins. With no triangles.

Why? it's all in the color choices. Actually what makes the biggest difference is contrast. There are two sides to each log cabin block. They can be divided into bright/pastel

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color/neutral, dark/ light, 

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or bright/dull contrasts. But to get the triangle illusion, you need a strong contrast between the two sides.

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Log Cabin (Courthouse Steps variation), Maker unknown,

Once you've got a set of log cabin blocks you can play like a kid with colorforms. They can make just any half triangle block you want, without that pesky, bias, stretchy seam.
We'll look more at some of the very cool things you can do with log cabins in the next couple of posts.