manx log cabin blocks

Showing posts with label manx log cabin blocks. Show all posts

Sunshine and Shadow: Manx log cabin coverlet

27 December 2022

It would be nice to write about all the things I made this year before the end of the year is up!

One of the makes I'm most proud of, I finished in early autumn and it had been a while in the making. I started making this coverlet when Jenni Smith taught the Manx log cabin technique at Stitch Gathering in 2019.

This traditional technique involves measuring and ripping fabric strips by hand, folding and sewing the blocks by hand and sewing them together front and then back. I made all the blocks by hand, sewed the fronts together on the machine and then hand sewed the back of the blocks.

My previous posts detail the process and my decisions a little more. I used fabric, mostly scraps, from my stash for the blocks. The centre squares are metallic Essex linen. A lot of the backing fabrics were bought for this coverlet though because I wanted to use woven fabrics, there's some shot cotton and lots of gorgeous Robert Kaufman Fabrics - yarn dyed, herringbone and gingham.

Manx log cabin blocks, showing front and back

I did think about doing a normal quilt binding, I wasn't sure I could be bothered with the traditional butted edge. I guess this is like a knife-edge but there's no sewing around the edges or trimming of wadding required like there is with a quilt, so technically I don't know what it's really called. Anyway, I did decide to finish it by hand the traditional way. I turned the edges under 1/4" and did a ladder stitch closure.

The whole thing is far from perfect and, to me, that's what makes it so absolutely wonderful. It's not about being precise, it's so personal and handmade.

I arranged the blocks in a traditional Sunshine and Shadow layout. There's no doubt that I will make another Manx log cabin at some point, next time with a different layout. I love this though. The pink, mint and navy are quite dramatic and give it a modern look.

Big thanks to my youngest for being such a good helper with these shots!

Girl holding quilt sitting on branch of a tree

Here's the back. You can see how the light shine though the centres of the block, where there's just two layers of fabric.

A close up of the quilt label I made last year. I did try to make the 1 into a 2 but it didn't really work! That'll teach me for counting my chickens before the coverlet is hatched!

Pretty pictures of it draped on the tree, just because.

Folded Manx log cabin draped on tree branch

The texture is what makes this so different and special. It's still warm like a quilt but so light. It's tactile in such a lovely way and this is my favourite make to date.

Close up of Manx log cabin blocks, you can see the folds of the fabric strips

I really hope this one is treasured and my family keeps it long after I'm gone. Knowing my house though, I'll have to make another one because this one will get worn out; being loved and used, as it should be.

Manx log cabin being held up in a park with big logs in front of it

It's funny that I'm writing this as I sit in the living room where I spent so much time with my Nan, given my last post. I'm currently visiting my Dad and since I can't go to sleep before around midnight, I thought I'd stay up and try to catch up on writing about things I've made this year. There's a few more posts I'm hoping to cram in before 2023, stay tuned!

| read more ... |

wordless wip wednesday

11 December 2019

| read more ... |

a (somewhat) needed sunday stash

03 November 2019

I bought fabric at Festival of Quilts and the Stitch Gathering - supporting those artists and shops I love - but there's not been much fabric shopping going on and that's mostly down to the fact that I want to be using what I have. There are plenty of times I do 'fake shopping', adding beautiful fabric to online baskets but I don't hit 'checkout' because I know that it will ultimately end up in the piles and piles of fabric I already have. The decision to buy fabric now has to be because I need it for a project I am actually working on. For my Manx log cabin blocks I am using woven fabric for the back of each block. I thought I had quite a selection but turns out no where near enough, so I picked up this gorgeous selection of fabrics from Patchfinders. It's a mix of shot cottons, Robert Kaufman Fabrics - yarn dyed, herringbone and gingham.

As the blocks are similar to quilt as you go, it's going to be so cool seeing a patchwork back of the woven fabrics. I've realised (thanks to comments on instagram) that this will be a coverlet rather than a quilt because there's no wadding in it. We have so many quilts in our house I am excited to create something slightly less structured and more blanket like. My Manx coverlet started with a peachy/pink and navy combo but I decided to add some mint to the mix too. I pulled all the mints from my stash but it was still lacking so I added these three from Patchfinders.

| read more ... |