No tutorial for you today, just a shot of the quilted log cabin pillow cover I finished up yesterday.  At the moment I’m trying to brighten up a colorless rental house, and all those small bits and pieces of fabric I’ve collected are finding a purpose here.

For this project I constructed 4 easy log cabin quilt blocks. Sewn together, they finished to a 12″ top.  I simply quilted the top to a piece of Warm & Natural batting (no backing here), using straight lines.  I added a back, and inserted a 12″ pillow form.  The cover is removable for washing.

Next up on the sewing machine – perhaps another pillow cover using just large squares, or maybe a pieced pillow case.  Then I may be ready for a new bag.

Several years ago I had a small collection of 1930s reproduction fabrics, and it was then that I made the log-cabin quilt pictured here.  I’m not always interested in traditional fabrics, but I find the 1930s reproductions very appealing.  They have a comforting, soothing effect on me, even the bright and crazy ones, especially when they’ve been used with a traditional pattern. In the quilt above, I used a cotton batting (can’t remember which one), and after some shrinking of the batting in the wash, I can almost convince myself that I have an authentic 1930s quilt.  Almost.

I’ve recently rediscovered 1930s reproductions, and love the prints that fabric designer Darlene Zimmerman has created.  I’ll soon be seeking out some of these prints, possibly for use in some wristlets and tote bags. You can see her designs here, on the Robert Kaufman website, so go over and take a look!