QM Scrap Squad: Linkin’ Logs by Linda Ferguson

Today is the first post revealing one of the QM Scrap Squad quilts from the latest Quiltmaker (Sept/Oct ’11, No. 141).

From one pattern in each issue, each of the eight QM Scrap Squad members makes her own scrappy version of the quilt.

Linkin' Logs designed and sewn by June Dudley. Quilted by Kim Waite. Fabric: Gallery Basics from Robert Kaufman.

The Scrap Squad pattern this time around is Linkin’ Logs, designed by QM’s Editor-in-Chief June Dudley for her nephew’s high school graduation gift. It’s a perfect “guy quilt” sized to fit a dorm bed. We called it a long twin at 76″ x 92″. I love the cut-off corners, which would be better in a dorm setting than corners tickling the floor.

The quilt’s name is a play on words with the vintage toysets called Lincoln Logs. (Later this week I’ll post the interesting facts I learned about Lincoln Logs.)

Today’s quilt is by Linda Ferguson from San Jose, California. Here’s what Linda had to share:

I had a lot of fun makin’ Linkin’ Logs! It is a very cute pattern and went together perfectly.  My only advice is that a design wall is very, very helpful.

(This photo shows a different project on the design wall.)

I use a fold-away design wall. I hang it in front of my closet and then fold it back when it is not needed.

Background fabric from Windham Fabrics

I want to thank Windham Fabrics for providing me with my background print! This new 108″-wide print is sold as quilt backing. Gorgeous—thank you, Windham!

Linda’s quilt can teach us a lesson about value. Value is the lightness or darkness of a fabric relative to the fabrics around it. This backing has a lot going on and it was somewhat darker than I thought it was going to be. Linda compensated beautifully by using plenty of strong darks so the logs didn’t get lost.

It’s interesting that when you see the quilt, you think “pink” even though the pinks range from very light to almost black. Linda used value to full advantage.

My eye keeps moving around this quilt because it’s very interesting. The very lightest pinks balance nicely with the very darkest.

(I just had to show you this uncropped image. Isn't the setting beautiful?)

Try to imagine this quilt if only light and medium pinks had been used.

You can see that it’s not as effective. It’s not as interesting. A tried-and-true recipe for a scrap quilt is to use everything from very lights to very darks in a quilt. Boring quilts can result from using too many medium-value fabrics.

Look closely and you’ll see the Linda made the quilt her own with these tweaks:
• She “closed” each ring of logs around the quilt’s edges
• She made the colored border wider
• She pieced the colored border
• She made square corners instead of diagonal corners

Watch for more exciting Linkin’ Logs quilts in the days to come from QM’s dynamic Scrap Squad. You’ll love all the variations!