Log Cabin Crossing EQ8 Tutorial

Log Cabin Crossing

6/3/2023

This block and quilt I am presenting today is an original design -- the result of some playing in Electric Quilt 8 the other day. When playing I will often go through a number of iterations of a block or quilt. It is a design that is scrap friendly and can use a collection of left-over 2" strips.

Tip -- always save multiple times as you draft your blocks and quilt. Sometimes your additional playing does not yield better results and you may want to go back to an earlier version.

Designing the Log Cabin Crossing Block

I started by drafting a very simple crossing block using EasyDraw. I chose to make the block 17" x 17". This is the size without added seam allowances.

The diagonal lines were drawn 1-1/2" in from each corner. They cross to create an on point square in the center. It also gave me some really large on triangles for additional designing.

Crossing Lines

When working with an on point segment in a block, the snaps horizontal and vertical won't always give you the precision you need to create perfect diagonal lines -- ones that produce squares and rectangles that are easy to cut.

Fortunately EasyDraw gives us the ability to partition lines. Use a similar partition for all three edges of your big triangle. I used Partition Segment - 6 for my design. However, feel free to experiment with the concept with a different number of partitions. Just remember that the more partitions you add the more piecing you will be doing.

Partition Segment 6

Next it is time to draw your lines.

Make sure to switch to Snap to Nodes only under your snapping options. If you also have Snap to Grid on, EQ will naturally gravitate to those snap points when they are close to a Node. EQ has a much stronger magnet on grid points versus the nodes.

Draw a series of diagonal lines that are parallel to the long diagonal lines originally drafted. This is super simple as all you need to do is connect the dots (or in this case nodes).

Draw Diagonal Parallel Lines

Go to Color and back to Draw. The will split all your drawn lines at intersections. So they are no more long diagonal lines but a series of small short lines instead.

This is a design decision point.

You could piece your block with 15 squares in each of the larger triangles. Or you could turn each of the squares into half squares triangles. A great idea if you have a stash of extra half square triangle units from a previous project. Maybe a set created from cheater corners.

Break lines at intersections

I chose to simplify my design and delete some of the small diagonal segments. This will turn the squares into 5 rectangles. Essentially creating log cabin pieces.

Much faster to piece.

Delete some of the small diagonal segments to create log cabin rectangle pieces.

You could replicate the process and draw the same segments for the other three large triangle units.

However, I chose to go with an easier approach. I converted the longer lines to guides (this will assist in placement.

Then cloned and rotated the log cabin pieces from the top and placed over the guidelines. I found it was easiest to get everything to snap if I switched back to Snap to Grid. Note that we have Horizontal and Vertical Grid snap points at all three corners of the large triangle.

Duplicate the top segments. Rotate and place on the other three edges of the block.

Just for fun I decided to create a small pieced unit in the on point square in the center.

Another design point. Chose your own design for that on point square.

A simple quarter square triangle unit for me.

Optional - Add some piecing to the on point square in the center.

After playing with my design in the quilt worktable, I realized I could simplify the construction process by making a slight modification to the corners.

By eliminating two diagonal lines and adding a third one going the other direction, I've eliminated the awkward house shaped piece in the corner. Instead I have an additional rectangle and a half square triangle for the corner.

Now all the pieces will show up on the rotary cutting chart and it will be easier to cut and piece the entire block.

Modify the corners to improve construction.

Color the block using a variety of fabrics for a scrappy look.

I used the latest free download from Do You EQ. Vertex was designed by QT fabrics. It has 84 fun fabrics to give your quilt a very scrappy look.

Link to free Vertex download from Do You EQ

Colored block.

Designing the Quilt

When I pulled the rotary cutting chart for my 17" block, I realized that it wasn't quite as rotary cutting friendly as I hoped.

Each of the logs needed to be cut from 2-1/8" strips. And the cross cuts had challenging measurements as well.

17" x 17" Rotary Cutting Chart

Fortunately in EQ, we don't have to create our quilts in the size we designed our blocks.

I could tell you that I worked through the math and figured out the size of the block that resulted in easier to cut logs. However, I wasn't feeling very brainy today -- so I cheated. I just experimented with some different sizes.

To do this, in the Rotary Cutting dialogue box, switch from "Use size from worktable" to "Custom Block size".

Type in a new size and select preview.

Type in a custom block size to experiment with different rotary cutting results.

Notice how much better the rotary cutting chart is once the block size is changed to 15-1/2" x 15-1/2".

Now the logs can be cut from 2" strips of fabric.

15" x 15" Rotary Cutting Chart

On the Quilt Worktable, select New Quilt and select the Style Horizontal.

On the Layout tab, change the number of blocks to 3 horizontal and 4 vertical.

Change the size of the block to 15.5"

Change the sashing size to 2.75"

On the border tab, set up 3 borders:
Border #1 - 1" Long Horizontal
Border #2 - 4-1/2" Long Horizontal
Border #3 - 1/2" Mitered (for the binding)

Horizontal Quilt - Layout Tab

On the Block worktable, create a block for the cornerstones. This is optional -- but I thought it was a way to carry the concept of the center of my bocks into the cornerstone.

My cornerstone block was designed at four inches. Make sure to turn on Snap to Grid before drawing the unit.

I created an on point square and then drew horizontal and vertical lines through the center.

Cornerstone Block

See the full video on creating your own blocks and quilt.

Here is my final quilt. I love how the log cabin units stand out when using a black background.

I am curious what you choose to do with the design. did you make any different design decisions. Whether you did (or did not) I would love to see your final quilt. Please feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group post I have set up.

Learning Electric Quilt Facebook Group - Log Cabin Crossing Post

EasyDraw Class Options in Tech Know Quilters

Did you enjoy learning some new skills in working with EasyDraw? If you are ready to enhance those skills, check out the three EasyDraw class options within the Tech Know Quilter membership.

Introduction to EasyDraw (Beginner)
EasyDraw Kaleidoscopes (Intermediate)
Advanced EasyDraw (Advanced)

If you aren't sure which class makes the most sense, take a look at the blocks for each class in the slideshow below. If you can draft most of the blocks for a particular class without assistance, select the next class on the list.

Not currently a member -- send me a note if you are interested in joining Tech Know Quilters -- and which class you would like to start with.

Current members, let me know if you would like any of these classes as an add-on to your current class for the month. We will send you a an add-on coupon for your discounted price.

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Happy quilting.

Kari