Spooky Cabin – Make a Mini Log Cabin Quilt

Learn to make a mini log cabin quilt! This cute little quilt is small enough to hang on a clipboard or tuck on a stack of books while your fabric choices make it shine for any decorating occasion.

The little quilt is made up of (12) 2-3/4″ (finished) log cabin blocks. Each block has a “light” and “dark” side and the way you turn the blocks when laying them out is what makes for the variety of design. This pattern uses the “Fields and Furrows” layout which creates the diagonal lines of light and dark.

Free Tutorial for the mini log cabin

This block is simple but the directions assume you are able to sew an accurate 1/4″ seam. Consistency is most important in constructing a log cabin block. That means, if you are off by, for example, 1/8″, your blocks will still turn out the same size as long as you are off by that 1/8″ on every seam you sew. Do your best to be consistent, press carefully and measure as you go. I’ll explain that last bit more in the section on block construction.

Note: All of the instructions you need to make Spooky Cabin are in this post. But, I’ve also prepared a handy pdf you can print and take to your cutting table. If you would like a free pdf sent to you, just fill out the form above.

Fabric requirements:

1/8 yard of gold or orange fabric
Scraps in a variety of white and black OR half yard of white fabric and half hard of black fabric.
Fat quarter for backing
1/8 yard for binding

The mini log cabin block diagram:

Use this illustration as a guide for laying out the pieces you cut according to the chart that is immediately below the illustration.

Cutting instructions for 12 blocks:

Sewing one mini log cabin block:

Round 1

1. Following the diagrams below, lay out an orange piece A and a white piece B (Fig. 1).
2. With right sides together (rst), stitch a white piece B to piece A (Fig. 2), press seam toward B (Fig. 3).
3. Turn the unit you just made one turn counter-clockwise and lay out a white piece C as shown in Fig. 4.
4. With rst, stitch C to the unit and press the seam toward C (Fig. 5 and 6).
5. Turn the new unit counter-clockwise and lay out a black C (Fig. 7).
6. With rst, stitch the black C to the unit (Fig. 8) and press the seam to piece C (Fig. 9).
7. Rotate new unit counter-clockwise 1/4 turn and layout a black piece D (Fig. 10). Stitch with a 1/4″ seam (Fig. 11) and press the seam toward piece D (Fig. 12).

Round 1 is now complete and the unit that looks like Fig. 12 should measure 2-1/4″. This is the unfinished size of your block so far.

Assemble Round 2 the same way you made Round 1. Below is the diagram for starting Round 2 and of a finished block that shows where each piece goes. Remember to turn the completed unit 1/4 turn counter-clockwise each time before attaching another piece. Our mini log cabin block only has two rounds so you’re finished at the end of round 2! Your block should measure 3-1/4″ unfinished and will be 2-3/4″ when the blocks are sewn into the quilt top.

Laying out the finished blocks:

The photo below shows how to lay out the 12 blocks you’ve made to achieve the “Fields and Furrows” log cabin design. Double check it before you start sewing the blocks together.

After you lay out the blocks, use a 1/4″ seam to sew them together in rows and then sew each row together.

Your finished mini quilt top should look like this:

Binding:

Cut two 1-1/2″ strips by the width of fabric (wof). Piece them together and attach them using your favorite binding method. For mini quilts, I do not fold the binding because I find that it is too bulky.

Quilting:

Quilt as desired. I’ve made several of these quilts and my favorite method for quilting them is by hand. It’s very quick. I quilt an “X” in the orange center block and then straight lines through the middle of each “log.” It makes for a nice square in square design on the back. Of course, you can certainly machine quilt it in a similar manner if you prefer that method.

A bit about the fabric used for this version of the Mini Log Cabin, The line was called “Opposite Options” designed by Sheryl Johnson from Temecula Quilt Company. The manufacturer was Marcus Fabrics. You’ll find I am not affiliated with Marcus fabrics but use their products often in my reproductions. As a manufacturer, they carry a good selection of reproduction prints and the quality of their fabric is also good. I used every print from the Opposite Options line in my little quilt for a nice variety of patterns. It would be fun to try it in black and orange with, perhaps, a fussy cut cat in the center. Or, go for spring colors, or red, white and blue.

If you like making little quilts, here is another design to try:

Make an Easy Table Runner – “Autumn Glow” quilt pattern

Happy sewing!