The wonky log cabin quilt pattern is a version of the traditional log cabin quilt block. A perfect pattern to use up your fabric scraps. All you need is a ruler and rotary cutter to trim up the blocks as you sew, intentionally making them not perfectly square!
In this tutorial, I’ll share with you tips for how to make a wonky log cabin quilt block that actually looks wonky! You can make them any size you’d like – from small to one big wonky quilt block for your project or quilt!
The process follows the basic log cabin block construction. First, start with a center square then add strips around the block. The difference for this quilt block pattern is that the strips added can be any size or shape – you even trim the edge after sewing to be at different angles for more wonkiness!
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Some people refer to this quilt block as the crazy log cabin quilt block. This scrap-buster project is a perfect way to use up those strips of fabric left from other projects. I use off-cuts from trimming up the edge of my fabrics.
How to Make a Wonky Log Cabin Quilt Block
Learn how to make a wonky log cabin quilt block with our tutorial. It's a fun block to make, especially if you are looking for a free spirited project where your corners don't need to match. In fact, it's best they don't match!
Materials
- Fabric scraps or at least 6 different fabric fat quarters that coordinate
- Thread for sewing
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing mat or surface
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilter's ruler
Instructions
- Start by pulling out your fabrics. I love to do surface design on fabrics and then never quite know what to do with them. I had one piece that was supposed to be whole cloth abstract that just didn't work. I cut 3-1/2" squares from it to be the centers for my wonky log cabin quilt blocks.
I like to trim up the edge of my fabrics before cutting strips to make sure they are straight of grain. I just can't throw them out! I use them to tie up bundles but there are still plenty! This is a perfect project! Here I've pulled out a bunch and put right next to my sewing machine to start making my wonky log cabin blocks.
- One of the big differences between making a traditional log cabin quilt block and a wonky log cabin is you don't cut your strips first when making a wonky log cabin. Just pull a piece of fabric and stitch it to your center square, working around adding strips until your block is the finished size you'd like. Here I'm adding the second piece of fabric to my center piece.
- Using the chain stitching method makes it easier. Just line up your center pieces, start adding strips from your scrap pile, sewing them all at once. Then make one trip to your pressing station to press your seams to your preference. Read our article about pressing seams.
- For a more scrappy look, use different fabrics so that the blocks look different. I pulled the scraps to my pile to work from so that all of the colors worked together, but intentionally sew them together with different arrangements.
- Here are all of my centers with one side added.
- Here are all of my centers with two sides of fabric added.
- Now there are three sides added.
- And four side strips added to the center.
- Once you have all four sides with strips, now is the time for the first trim. Take your ruler and cut one or more of the sides with an angle. I had narrow strips of the red fabric that I thought would be fun to add more visual interest to the quilt block. They are too narrow to trim at an angle. I'll add wider fabric to them on the next round to be able to add an angle to that side of the block.
- At the end of each round of strips, trim the edges. This is when you add the wonkiness to your block. Trim them at angles, make sure to trim them at different angles to add to the design movement.
- Here is a block with the fifth strip of fabric sewn to one side. Now you need to trim with each round so that you have a straight side to sew the next strip to.
- Here is how I trimmed up three of the sides for this block.
- Beginning to add the second round of strips to the center.
- You can see here how my blocks are growing with their wonkiness as I add more strips.
- As they get larger, you might only need to add strips of fabric to one or two sides to get to your finished block size. I choose a 12-inch finished block size, mostly because I have the ruler that makes it easy to trim it to finished size!
- Just keep adding fabrics. Here are six of the blocks finished. I like to put them on my design wall to see what fabrics I might want to add to the last few blocks to maintain contiuinity in design and color.
- Here are the finished 12-inch blocks ready for me to audition how I want to sew them together.
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Here is another layout option for these nine quilt blocks.
For the wonky log cabin quilt pattern, I like to have some of the colors match between blocks. This blurs the edges of the blocks and gives the overall quilt even more wonkiness and makes the edges of the blocks less distinct. After it is quilted the lines will blend even more.
Here is the final quilt all ready to be hung on a wall!
Check out our tutorial on how to make a log cabin quilt.
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy.
