Beginner block
Log cabin quilt pattern
A queen-size log cabin quilt is 90″ × 102″: 56 12″ blocks and a 3″ border. It takes 10½ yd of fabric for the top and binding, plus 8¼ yd of 42″ fabric for the backing. Widely loved since the 1860s. Tradition says the red centre stands for the hearth of the home. Logs of light and dark build out around it, round by round.
How much fabric for a log cabin quilt
The same quilt in three sizes, with a 3″ border and 2½″ binding. Yardage is for 42″ of usable width after trimming selvages, rounded up to the next ⅛ yard with a little extra.
| Throw | Queen | King | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished size | 54″ × 66″ | 90″ × 102″ | 102″ × 102″ |
| Blocks | 4 × 5 = 20 | 7 × 8 = 56 | 8 × 8 = 64 |
| Barn red (blocks) | ¼ yd | ⅝ yd | ¾ yd |
| Cream (blocks) | 1 yd | 2⅜ yd | 2⅝ yd |
| Tan sprig (blocks) | ½ yd | 1¼ yd | 1½ yd |
| Forest (blocks, border, binding) | 2¼ yd | 4⅝ yd | 5¼ yd |
| Cocoa (blocks) | ⅝ yd | 1⅝ yd | 1¾ yd |
| Top and binding | 4⅝ yd | 10½ yd | 11⅞ yd |
| Backing (42″ fabric) | 3½ yd | 8¼ yd | 9¼ yd |
| Binding | 7 strips 2½″ × WOF | 10 strips 2½″ × WOF | 11 strips 2½″ × WOF |
| Batting | 62″ × 74″ (twin) | 98″ × 110″ (king) | 110″ × 110″ (king) |
Cutting for one log cabin block
A centre square and twelve "logs": strips that grow longer round by round, light on two sides, dark on the other two. All sizes include ¼″ seam allowances. Every piece is a square or rectangle: cut it the finished size plus ½″ for the two ¼″ seams.
| Fabric | 8″ block | 10″ block | 12″ block | 14″ block | 16″ block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | 1 square 2½″ | 1 square 3″ | 1 square 3½″ | 1 square 4″ | 1 square 4½″ |
| Light 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 2½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 3″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 3½″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 4″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 4½″ |
| Light 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 3½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 4¼″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 5″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 5¾″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 6½″ |
| Dark 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 3½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 4¼″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 5″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 5¾″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 6½″ |
| Dark 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 4½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 5½″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 6½″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 7½″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 8½″ |
| Light 2 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 4½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 5½″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 6½″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 7½″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 8½″ |
| Light 2 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 5½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 6¾″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 8″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 9¼″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 10½″ |
| Dark 2 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 5½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 6¾″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 8″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 9¼″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 10½″ |
| Dark 2 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 6½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 8″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 9½″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 11″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 12½″ |
| Light 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 6½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 8″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 9½″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 11″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 12½″ |
| Light 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 7½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 9¼″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 11″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 12¾″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 14½″ |
| Dark 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 7½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 9¼″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 11″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 12¾″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 14½″ |
| Dark 1 | 1 rectangle 1½″ × 8½″ | 1 rectangle 1¾″ × 10½″ | 1 rectangle 2″ × 12½″ | 1 rectangle 2¼″ × 14½″ | 1 rectangle 2½″ × 16½″ |
Block diagram
- A Centre (Barn red)
- B Light 1 (Cream)
- C Light 2 (Tan sprig)
- D Dark 1 (Forest)
- E Dark 2 (Cocoa)
Download the block diagram (SVG)
Prints sharp at any size. Use it to plan colours with pencils, or as a pressing guide.
Questions
How much fabric do I need for a queen log cabin quilt?
About 10½ yd for the top and binding (⅝ yd of barn red, 2⅜ yd of cream, 1¼ yd of tan sprig, 4⅝ yd of forest, 1⅝ yd of cocoa), plus 8¼ yd of backing. That is for 90″ × 102″ with 12″ blocks, planned on 42″ of usable fabric width with a little extra.
What size is a log cabin block?
It is drawn on a 8 × 8 grid, so it works best at 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" finished. 12" is the most common size.
Is log cabin good for beginners?
Yes. It uses only squares and rectangles, and the seams are straight.
Can I use this pattern for free?
Yes. Log cabin is a traditional block in the public domain. The diagram and yardage on this page are free; the designer lets you change colours, size and borders and see the new yardage.
Updated November 9, 2026