How to make a basic patchwork sampler quilt top - block 4, sashing and border

Welcome back to the 3rd part of the basic patchwork sampler quilt top tutorial. This time we will be making the 4th and last block, join all blocks with sashing and add the border.

4. block - Log Cabin

The log cabin is a classic block that can be interpreted in lots of ways just by choosing the colours of the single pieces. This is what your finished block will look like.

First we will need to cut the following pieces:

- one 5.2 x 5.2cm/ 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 in square for the center patch (blue fabric)
- one 5.2 x 5.2cm/ 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 in square of the dark fabric
- two 5.2 x 9.2cm/ 2 1/8 x 3 3/4 in rectangles of the dark fabric
- one 5.2 x 13.2 cm/ 2 1/8 x 5 1/4 in rectangle of the dark fabric
- one 5.2 x 13.2 cm/ 2 1/8 x 5 1/4 in rectangle of the light fabric
- two 5.2 x 17.2 cm/ 2 1/8 x 6 7/8 in rectangles of the light fabric
- one 5.2 x 21.2 cm/ 2 1/8 x 8 1/2 in rectangle of the light fabric

Now place all pieces on the table arranged as they will be in the block. Start assembling the block starting from the smallest center piece and moving counterclockwise.

First join the two smalles squares.

Then keep on joining the following pieces. As you will note the next piece is always just as long as the two previous pieces together. This is a great block to do as paper piecing (click here for an explanation on paper piecing have a look at this tutorial).

Keep on joining the pieces as explained above to finish the block.

Now your four blocks are done. This is what they look like together:

To make the quilt top we need to join them and that is done by adding sashing.
For the sashing cut the following pieces from your background fabric:

- one 11.2 x 51.2 cm / 4 1/2 x 20 1/2 in strip
- two 11.2 x 21.2 cm / 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 in rectangles

Place you four blocks on the table and sashing in between as shown below.

Then start joining the rows. Attach the first block to the sashing on it's right and then to the second block.

Do the same with the remaining two blocks and sashing rectangle.
To finish the center of your quilt top now all you need to do is to join the three rows. Place the upper row on the middle sashing, pin together and sew. Then attach the bottom row in the same way.

Well done, here's the center of your sampler quilt.

Now let's add the borders and the top is done.

For the borders cut two rectangles measuring 11.2 x 51.2 cm / 4 1/2 x 20 1/2 in and another two rectangles measuring 11.2 x 71.2 cm / 4 1/2 x 28 1/2.

First attach the shorter, lateral borders, and then the upper and lower border.
Pin the first shorter rectangle to one side of the quilt top and sew it in place. Then join the second shorter rectangle to the opposite side.

Now attach the upper and lower border in the same way. They are longer as they cover not only the length of the center of the quilt, but the two lateral borders, too.

And here your are, this is your finished basic patchwork samper quilt top:

In order to prepare a finished quilt you will now need to make the quilt sandwich of quilt top, batting and backing, then quilt and finally bind the quilt.
For information on how to prepare a quilt sandwich, click here. For a tutorial on binding instead click here.
Regarding the quilting let me tell you that I will quilt this sampler in the ditch, outlining the four blocks and their patterns and then do some stippling over the background. 

Have you made a project following this tutorial? Let me know what you think. Did you like it? Was it easy to understand and to follow? Do you have any suggestions?
Write a comment or send me an email using the contact form at the bottom of the page.

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