On Point Log Cabin Quilt – An EQ8 Tutorial Inspired by an Antique Quilt

1/10/2026

Do you have a box—or maybe two—of leftover fabric strips from old quilt projects? I feel like I’ve been collecting them for a decade… or two.

I’ll admit that most of mine were donated during the great declutter before my move earlier this year.
Now I’m wishing I could track down the lucky recipient and hand her the instructions for this quilt.

Or maybe it’s time to cut up a few more strips of my own.

Quilter's Quest - Minnesota Quilters 2026 Mystery Quilt

I’m excited to invite you to join Quilter’s Quest, the Minnesota Quilters 2026 Mystery Quilt. I designed this mystery specifically for Minnesota Quilters and look forward to watching the quilts come together—and answering questions—inside the private Facebook group.

Clues will be released throughout September 2026, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the process.

Cost:
- $50 for MN Quilters members
- $70 for non-members

On Point Log Cabin EQ8 Tutorial

Inspiration

The inspiration for this project came from a Facebook post by Julie Silber Quilts. Julie collects and sells antique quilts and regularly shares stunning photographs of those quilts on her Facebook page.

Quilt from Julie Silber's Facebook Page

As soon as I studied the photo, I realized the design was a variation of a log cabin block. Naturally, that meant I had to draft something similar in Electric Quilt.

Fabric Selection

For my version, I chose the Chambray collection from Tilda Fabrics. A collection of Civil War reproduction fabrics would also work beautifully for this design.

The Chambray fabric images are included in Electric Quilt’s 2025 Stash Download 3. While they read as muted solids, the subtle texture adds depth and interest—perfect for a design that relies on contrast and rotation.

On Point Log Cabin Block

To draft the block, use EasyDraw.

Set the block size to 12" x 12" and set the snaps to 24 x 24.
Draw an on-point square in the center of the block.
In each corner, draw diagonal lines spaced 1 inch apart.
Draw a courthouse steps–style log cabin block in the center.

When drafting log cabin–style blocks, I recommend starting from the outside and working inward. This approach makes it easier to keep measurements consistent.

I created two different colorings of the block.

On Point Log Cabin Block - Coloration 1

On Point Log Cabin Block - Coloration 2

Sizing the Block for the Quilt

If you print the rotary cutting chart for the 12" block, you’ll notice that the strip size is 1¼". Since I prefer working with 1½" strips, I experimented with resizing the block.

By increasing the block size to 16" x 16" (finished), the rotary cutting chart updates so the strip size becomes 1½"—perfect for using standard pre-cut or leftover strips.

Quilt Layout

For the quilt layout, I selected a Horizontal Layout with:

3 blocks across
4 blocks down
16" x 16" blocks

For the borders:

A 6" horizontal border
A ½" mitered border added for the binding

When placing the blocks, I alternated between Coloration 1 and Coloration 2. You could easily add additional colorations if you want a more scrappy look.

Don’t forget to use the Symmetry feature in EQ8—it’s a great way to explore different block rotations before committing.

Horizontal Borders

Set the horizontal border block size to 60" x 6", with snaps at 60 x 6. This makes it easy to place the initial diagonal line starting in the lower-left corner.

The trickiest part was spacing the diagonal strips so they could also be cut from 1½" strips.

This is where a little math comes in handy.

A Little Help from the Pythagorean Theorem

If the finished strip width is 1", the diagonal measurement along the edge needs to be approximately 1.41".

If math isn’t your thing, no worries—an online calculator works just fine.

Top and Bottom Borders
To determine the number of snap divisions for a 60" border:

Divide 60 ÷ 1.41
Round to the nearest whole number

This results in 43 snap points.

I found it helpful to set both the snaps and the graph paper to 43. The graph paper makes it easier to see snap locations that aren’t immediately visible on the quilt worktable.

When copying and pasting diagonal lines, be sure they snap precisely to the bottom of the block.

60 x 6 Pieced Border Block

Left and Right Borders
Repeat the same process for the side borders.

Border size: 64"
Divide 64 ÷ 1.41
Result: 45 snap points

Once the snaps are set, drafting the diagonal lines follows the same steps as the top and bottom borders.

64 x 6 Pieced Border Block

Finishing the Quilt

Once all of the blocks and borders are drafted and placed, take time to review your quilt as a whole. Check that the diagonal border strips are going the correct direction and that the block rotations create the movement you intended across the quilt.

At this stage, it’s helpful to:

Print the rotary cutting charts to confirm strip sizes
Review fabric yardage to be sure you have enough of each fabric
Preview the quilt to double-check contrast and value

On Point Log Cabin Quilt

Video Tutorial

Prefer to follow along step by step?

Watch the On Point Log Cabin EQ8 video tutorial, where I walk through the drafting, sizing, layout, and border construction in detail.

The video is a great companion to this post, especially if you want to see how the snaps, symmetry, and calculations come together in real time.

Share Your On Point Log Cabin Quilt

I can’t wait to see your version of this quilt!

Please share your finished quilts—or works in progress—in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I love seeing how each quilter interprets the design, fabric choices, and color variations.

Learning EQ FB Post for On Point Log Cabin

This project is a wonderful way to turn leftover strips into a cohesive, visually striking quilt—while stretching your EQ8 skills just a bit along the way.

Happy quilting.

Kari

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