I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of That Log Cabin

Back in October of last year Sally who blogs at The Objects of Design posted a partial photo of a log cabin quilt made in 1890 that was displayed at the Pacific International Quilt Festival. My comment on that post was "I can't take my eyes off that log cabin."

Sally posted that the quilt was part of a collection held by the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Recently I did a search at the Museum website to see if I could track down a larger picture of the log cabin quilt and further info on size.  My search revealed the size is 71 x 82 and it contains 72 blocks. 

 I finally decided it was time to take my eyes off of that log cabin long enough to make a few blocks. 

After studying photos I could see that there were two different block configurations of alternating colors. I'm not sure if that makes a difference to the overall pattern but I'm going to follow along with the picture and make both configurations - blocks one and two. From the size listed I figured I would make blocks that finish at nine inches so the center nine patch uses 1.5 inch pieces and the rest of the strips are cut at one inch.  I grabbed some scraps and I made 15 blocks.  

After I made these blocks I can clearly see I will have to replenish my red fabrics. I've done such a good job of using my red scraps that I don't have any but the tiniest of bits.  I do have a few red scraps in the bins of scrap sizes I save ( 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5) but none of those include one inch pieces and the pieces in this block are so long that it doesn't even make sense to cut one inch off of the end of those scrap pieces in the bins. I used the red scrap chunks in the making of these blocks.  I have no red solids except a piece reserved for sashing a UFO. And my shelf where the red fabrics are kept has only a few half yard pieces. After being on "no buy" for the better part of two years except for backings it must be time to shop!