FF: Scrappy Log Cabins.

I heart log cabins oh so very much, and when I was thinking of quilt projects that would stretch me, I decided to improv piece some log cabins and see where it went.

I started this quilt with a round of white and gray fabrics, hoping to give the center alphabet blocks a bit more definition. After that, I went to work with another round pulled entirely from scraps. There were no rules. I grabbed what was handy and sewed it on, making for some very different sized blocks.

This top certainly stretched me. When I finally had a layout for the blocks, I didn't even know where to start. So I just started sewing blocks together, ironing seams, and laying things back out. It's certainly not as random as it could be, but there is only so much improv and randomness I can tolerate, at least at this point! I'm not loving the solid blue rectangle in the bottom left corner, but I think I'm going to stitch my son's name on there, and it will look intentional, right?

While I am exceedingly glad I gave this project a go, I'm not sure I ever want to tackle another quilt like this. Holy moley. There were practically tears at some points! While it's not the quilt that almost broke me, I can say with confidence that this kind of piecing does not feel liberating for me. It feels frustrating. And horrible. And I don't mean to say that I don't love this quilt top (I do) or that I don't love these types of quilts (ditto), but I don't love to make them, and that's okay.

And of course, I have no idea how I want to quilt this. Would it be completely wrong to quilt it in a diagonal cross hatch print? I did decide on background fabric--a yummy red sketch flannel, on sale to boot! And I have one more log cabin block to add to the back. (If you count carefully, you'll see only 25 on the front, and they are alphabet blocks.)

This makes quilt top #3 that's waiting for quilting love. *Sigh.* There are worse problems to have, I suppose. Like those leaves in the top pic. Raking my yard each year is a never ending battle. I'm linking up with Quokka Quilts for TGIFF and Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday. See you there!