I taught the log cabin quilt classes through our local community college's community education program. I also taught it at several quilt shops. I always had one in progress to demonstrate on so I made lots of them.
This quilt was made during the mid 1980's. At that time polyester bonded batting was the only thing the machine quilters were using. This one has double batting! It said on the wrapper that you could leave up to 10" unquilted, so we did. I was a self taught quilter from a non sewing family so I did my best with what I knew.
I think I made this one in the late 1970's when there really weren't many cotton fabrics for quilting available. We were in the poly/cotton blend era.
This quilt has 13 different fabrics in the blocks and every block is identical. The first quilt, the navy and gold one has 7 fabrics in the blocks.
I made this one in 1984 while I owned a quilt shop. I had 3 employees and we spent a lot of time choosing fabrics for log cabin and sampler quilts for ourselves and the customers.
I used 7 fabrics in the blocks and all of the blocks are identical.
I enjoy scrap/multifabric quilts more now. For years I made quilts to demo on in classes and used the fabrics that were available at the shops I taught at. I felt limited in my selection. I enjoy the freedom of working from my stash now. I like to put at least 50 different fabrics in a quilt and if I can use 100 I'm even happier. Now you can see why I don't need more than a half yard of most fabrics.
I have a scrap quilt class to teach today and tomorrow night my daughter's family will be here for 2 days. I also have a high school class reunion birthday party to go to this week. Do you think I could lose 20 pounds by Thursday? I had another pretty visitor to my flowers yesterday. I think this one is a painted lady.
Thanks for a look at your earlier works Wanda. I'm with you on the scrappy look, it adds a lot more interest to the quilt.
One thing though, you really have to have an eye for colour and design to make it work and you have it. I've seen some so called scrappy quilts and they can be very jarring to the eye and leave one wondering what was that person thinking.
I hope you have fun with the family visit and your high school reunion.
Wanda! It´s so interesting to look at your work and read your thoughts. Your recent work bring out the artist in you! Really love your scrap cuilts! Though they are´t scraps just wonderful quilts!!! Thanks for sharing!!! Maja
Thank you for the trip down memory lane. My, isn't it amazing to see how fabrics, colors, and fabric content has changed so drastically? One thing that has stayed constant is the pattern though. The log cabin is timeless. Have a great time with your daughter and family as well as the birthday party.
Very interesting history. Even though both my grandmothers made quilts, I never had the pleasure of learning it from them. The butterfly picture is delightful.
Thanks for sharing these quilts from the past. Even in limited colours they are beautiful! I had not been bitten by the quilting bug during the poly/cotton era. Does 100% cotton really make a difference?
Your many fabrics do make for a much more interesting looking quilt. I agree with you that I would prefer using 100s rather than a few.
Isn't it amazing to see how fabrics (and battings) have changed over the years? I did a log cabin in the 80s and it looks almost exactly like your blue one. Hmmm....could it be we used some of the same fabrics??????
Wow, your pictures and comments remind me how far we have come, and to be thankful for the amazing choices and fabrics we have now! I remember, I made my mom a memory quilt around 1980,and I had trouble finding solid yellow 100% cotton fabric for the sashing! Enjoy today's lovely weather~Chris
The log cabin block - 4th one down from the start of your blog - is nearly identical to a log cabin that I made in the early 80's. The only difference on mine is that in the dark fabrics, a couple have tiny orange florals. And yes, I bought every piece of fabric at your shop.
This was a great trip down memory lane and I loved seeing your log cabins because it is one of my favorite patterns. Loved it when I started quilting. Still love it today.
Thanks for showing your earlier log cabins. I like them, but your more recent quilts are the ones that make my heart sing! The complexity of the colors and patterns you achieve is just amazing. I never get tired of looking at what you do!
I like your latest log cabin the best. It is so cool that you go out to enjoy your garden and all it's beauty in between your sewing. Too bad Las Vegas is not a garden mecca!
I first learned how to do a log cabin "four block" as a pillow and it is worn, in pieces but I would never throw it away and cannot remember my "extension teacher" and am sure she must be in quilter's heaven.
As I can't thank her, I would just like to say a special thank you to all you and others share, just like sharing these log cabin quilts. Your tutorials have me coming back often to study. Thank you so much for the inspiration and I feel honored to visit your site and follow your quilt journey as I am attempting to make a small quilting journey of my own. I have so much to learn!
Teachers are blessed and we often don't let them know how far those "threads" passed on mean to us. A BIG THANK YOU!
Hi Wanda, Whoa, what a quilting flashback! I remember similar quilts in the early 80's quilt books. And I think I recognize some of the fabric!
My first log cabin was a quilt-as-you-go log cabin blocks made into placemats (rectangular). I got the mini lesson from a local quilt shop in the late 70's. Boy, were they skewed! And parrot green with royal blue, no less. I wonder why I couldn't find dishes to match (hah)!
Thanks for sharing some of your early quilts. It's amazing to see how your work has evolved but it still looks like the log cabins are a favourite for you.
Your latest log cabin is so beautiful. It's hard to even think of it as being the same pattern as the first ones! My cousin learned to quilt in the early '80s and some of her early quilts are very matchy-matchy with huge puffy batts.
Beautiful work. I think the scrappier the better in my opinion. If you find out how to get rid of the 20 pounds let me know. Chris
ReplyDeleteThanks for a look at your earlier works Wanda. I'm with you on the scrappy look, it adds a lot more interest to the quilt.
ReplyDeleteOne thing though, you really have to have an eye for colour and design to make it work and you have it. I've seen some so called scrappy quilts and they can be very jarring to the eye and leave one wondering what was that person thinking.
I hope you have fun with the family visit and your high school reunion.
Wanda!
ReplyDeleteIt´s so interesting to look at your work and read your thoughts. Your recent work bring out the artist in you! Really love your scrap cuilts! Though they are´t scraps just wonderful quilts!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Maja
Thank you for the trip down memory lane. My, isn't it amazing to see how fabrics, colors, and fabric content has changed so drastically? One thing that has stayed constant is the pattern though. The log cabin is timeless. Have a great time with your daughter and family as well as the birthday party.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting history. Even though both my grandmothers made quilts, I never had the pleasure of learning it from them.
ReplyDeleteThe butterfly picture is delightful.
You've come a long way baby! So have fabric designers and manufacturers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these quilts from the past. Even in limited colours they are beautiful! I had not been bitten by the quilting bug during the poly/cotton era. Does 100% cotton really make a difference?
ReplyDeleteYour many fabrics do make for a much more interesting looking quilt. I agree with you that I would prefer using 100s rather than a few.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing to see how fabrics (and battings) have changed over the years? I did a log cabin in the 80s and it looks almost exactly like your blue one. Hmmm....could it be we used some of the same fabrics??????
Thank you for sharing. Everyone who knows me knows that the Log Cabin is my favorite block. I really enjoyed seeing your earlier quilts.
ReplyDeleteHere's my suggestion: start right now and until it's time to get dressed for the reunion, keep jogging in this heat - 24/7. I bet you'd lose that 20#.
ReplyDeleteCourse you'd need a medical team driving along with you in a car. *L*
Wow, your pictures and comments remind me how far we have come, and to be thankful for the amazing choices and fabrics we have now! I remember, I made my mom a memory quilt around 1980,and I had trouble finding solid yellow 100% cotton fabric for the sashing! Enjoy today's lovely weather~Chris
ReplyDeleteThe log cabin block - 4th one down from the start of your blog - is nearly identical to a log cabin that I made in the early 80's. The only difference on mine is that in the dark fabrics, a couple have tiny orange florals. And yes, I bought every piece of fabric at your shop.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great trip down memory lane and I loved seeing your log cabins because it is one of my favorite patterns. Loved it when I started quilting. Still love it today.
Those log cabin quilts are timeless... A treat to see them no matter how old.
ReplyDeleteYour photo's always make me smile.
J~MT
Pretty quilts all, Wanda! Being primarily a scrappy quilter myself, I'm with you--the more fabrics I can put in a quilt, the more the fun. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing your earlier log cabins. I like them, but your more recent quilts are the ones that make my heart sing! The complexity of the colors and patterns you achieve is just amazing. I never get tired of looking at what you do!
ReplyDeleteI like your latest log cabin the best. It is so cool that you go out to enjoy your garden and all it's beauty in between your sewing. Too bad Las Vegas is not a garden mecca!
ReplyDeleteWhile it's interesting to see how things have changed, these still look great!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to look back! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI first learned how to do a log cabin "four block" as a pillow and it is worn, in pieces but I would never throw it away and cannot remember my "extension teacher" and am sure she must be in quilter's heaven.
ReplyDeleteAs I can't thank her, I would just like to say a special thank you to all you and others share, just like sharing these log cabin quilts. Your tutorials have me coming back often to study. Thank you so much for the inspiration and I feel honored to visit your site and follow your quilt journey as I am attempting to make a small quilting journey of my own. I have so much to learn!
Teachers are blessed and we often don't let them know how far those "threads" passed on mean to us. A BIG THANK YOU!
Isn't that fun. I loved seeing all those interesting blocks. Log cabin was the first quilt that I made back in 1961.
ReplyDeleteHi Wanda,
ReplyDeleteWhoa, what a quilting flashback! I remember similar quilts in the early 80's quilt books. And I think I recognize some of the fabric!
My first log cabin was a quilt-as-you-go log cabin blocks made into placemats (rectangular). I got the mini lesson from a local quilt shop in the late 70's. Boy, were they skewed! And parrot green with royal blue, no less. I wonder why I couldn't find dishes to match (hah)!
Keep stitching, and keep cool!
Vicky F
Thanks for sharing some of your early quilts. It's amazing to see how your work has evolved but it still looks like the log cabins are a favourite for you.
ReplyDeleteYour latest log cabin is so beautiful. It's hard to even think of it as being the same pattern as the first ones!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin learned to quilt in the early '80s and some of her early quilts are very matchy-matchy with huge puffy batts.
Log cabin is one of my favorites, and was the first quilt I ever made!
ReplyDeleteI love all of the colors in your new one! A beauty!
SheilaC
Wow! 1980's huh? That kinda helps me date the stuff donated to our church group. Mostly 1990's. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDo you really still have all these old quilts?
You have really come a long way in your color use/sense! It is great to get perspective by looking at early work.
ReplyDelete