Free delivery on UK orders over £50*

Your cart

Your cart is empty

Continue shopping

Wonky Log Cabin Block

The wonky log cabin is a great modern twist on the more traditional log cabin block. We made a scrappy version with a fussy cut centre, using our foundation paper.

To start with please download our free wonky log cabin template and print it onto foundation paper. Make sure the scale on your printer settings is set to custom and 100%. Use the test square to check the size is correct.

Cut around the outside of the square, then fold along the lines between the numbered sections. This will make it easier when you have to fold the paper back later.

Our foundation paper is semi transparent to allow for fabric placement, so you can fussy cut the centre like we have. Using fabric glue apply the first piece of fabric to the back of the paper so it more than covers piece 1 (with at least 1/4 an inch of excess fabric on all sides).

Fold back the paper on the line between 1 and 2, trim any fabric that goes beyond the quarter an inch seam allowance. I use the add a quarter ruler for this.

Choose a piece of fabric that more than covers shape 2 and lie it on top of piece 1 right sides together, aligning the fabrics on the edge that covers the line between shapes 1 and 2.

Take it over to your sewing machine and flip it so the fabrics are on the bottom and the paper on top. Sew along the line between pieces 1 and 2 using a small stitch. I use a stitch length of 1.3 for foundation piecing.

Fold the second piece of fabric over shape 2 and press into place.

Then fold the paper along the line between 1 and 3, repeat the earlier steps.  Keep going to grow your wonky log cabin. When you have finished trim off any excess fabric around the edges, you don't need to leave a quarter an inch seam allowance as we have already added that to the paper.

Tear off the foundation paper from the back and press your finished block.

Why not check out our quilt block category for other free quilt block patterns? Or we have 10 free 6.5 inch quilt blocks included in our Quilter’s Workbook with a free sampler cushion project on our blog.

We quilted our wonky log cabin block and turned it into a funky mug rug.

Wonky Log Cabin Block

General tips and points to remember…

  • The terms jersey, knitted and stretchy fabric can get used interchangeably, not just here but generally as you look around online you’ll see these terms being used to refer to similar things.
  • This fabric can be made from a variety of fibres such as cotton, viscose, modal, polyester, wool and bamboo. Usually they will also have a percentage of a stretchy fibre such as elastane or spandex.
  • The thickness or weight of them can be described in grams per square meter but as this number is hard to put into context and isn’t always available more subjective terms can be used to describe them such as light weight, medium weight etc
  • They can also be referred to with special more technical names such as ponte roma, double knit, single knit, sweatshirting and loop back. I’ll cover the most common ones below in more detail
  • I've tried to keep things are relevant as possible for the home dressmaker. These is lots of other more detailed and technical information out there but I hope this summery helps you understand more about this great fabric and how to sew it into your handmade wardrobe.

How to work out the amount and type of stretch

They stretch in different ways by different amounts. Some fabrics have a two way stretch and will stretch between the selvedges. Some have a 4 way stretch and will stretch lengthwise as well as between the selvedges. Use a swimsuit as a way to remember - it’s a 4 way stretch as it must stretch the length of your body as well as the width of your body.

The percentage of stretch refers to how much the fabric physically stretches, NOT the percentage of stretchy fibre (spandex or elastase) that is in them. Sewing patterns will typically as for a minimum percentage of stretch the fabric must have.

Why is percentage stretch important?

Sewing patterns designed for this type of fabric are typically designed with negative ease. This means that the garment you make will be smaller than your actual body measurement so that it stretches and fits around you. That’s why it's really important to use the right amount of stretch, otherwise you won’t be able to get the garment on/off or move in it!

How to use your Stretch Percentage Measurer

If you’re using a pattern which is designed for jersey fabrics then it will probably tell you the stretch percentage that the fabric you use needs to have. This is different from the stretch content, which is how much elastane or lycra is in the fabric.

Step One

Hold a 10cm section of your fabric, stretch it as far as it will comfortably stretch, without over stretching

Step Two

Every centimetre over 10 will correspond to 10% of stretching. So if your test piece stretches to 14cm, then the fabric has 40% stretch.