Free Pattern – Four Patch Log Cabin Quilt Block

Here’s another quilt block to use up those skinny strips you’ve been saving! The Four Patch Log Cabin quilt block is easy to do and finishes at 10″ square. I’m not sure why it’s called a “four patch”, looks like a sixteen patch to me! I guess it could be 4 four patches in the middle. So let’s get started! 

Fabric Requirements for a 10" Finished Four Patch Log Cabin Quilt Block:

• Assorted Prints: 16 – 1.5″ squares
• Light 1/White Print: 1 – 5.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle, and 1 – 6.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle
• Light 2/Light Green: 1 – 7.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle, and 1 – 8.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle
• Light 3/Blue: 1 – 9.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle, and 1 – 10.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle
• Dark 1/Pink: 1 – 4.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle, and 1 – 5.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle
• Dark 2/Dark Green: 1 – 6.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle, and 1 – 7.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle
• Dark 3/Black: 1 – 8.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle, and 1 – 9.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle

Sewing Directions:

Step 1:

Sixteen Patch:

Lay out the 16 Assorted Print 1.5″ squares in a 4×4 design and sew into four rows.

Press the seam allowances in top and third row in one direction and the second and bottom row in the other direction. Which you can see in the picture below.

Now you can sew the rows together and the seams should nest nicely. Here’s the sixteen patch for the center of the block.

Press the seam allowances all in one direction as shown in the picture below.

Step 5:

Constructing the Block:

Sew the Dark 1/Pink 4.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle to the bottom of the Sixteen Patch unit you just made as shown below.

Step 6:

Press the seam allowance toward the Dark 1/Pink rectangle as shown in the picture below.

Next you will sew the Dark 1/Pink 5.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle to the left side of the Sixteen Patch unit. 

And press the seam allowance toward the Dark 1/Pink rectangle.

Next you get to sew the Light 1/White Print 5.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle to the top of the Sixteen Patch unit and …

Press the seam allowance toward the Light 1/White Print rectangle as shown in the picture below.

Now sew the Light 1/White Print 6.5″ x 1.5″ rectangle to the right side of the Sixteen Patch unit. (See the pattern we’ve got going on?)

And press the seam allowance toward the Light 1/White Print rectangle.

Continue on in this manner – adding rectangles in a clockwise direction – keeping the darks on the bottom and left side of the block and the lights on the top and right side. Keep pressing the seam allowances toward the outside of the block.

Here’s the back all nicely pressed. The Four Patch Log Cabin block should finish at 10″ square. If you add another round of rectangles, the block will finish at 12″ square.

In Conclusion:

This block was fast to put together – I think I spent more time picking out and cutting the fabrics! I’ll definitely be doing this one again to use up that bag of 1.5″ strips I have.

You could also substitute a 4.5″ square for the Sixteen Patch unit in the center – fussy cut print or an embroidery/applique piece. That would look great!

I hope you've enjoyed the Four Patch Log Cabin quilt block. If you liked this post and want to see more quilting tutorials like this, simply click here to sign up for my newsletter and also receive a free PDF quilt pattern called Chained Weathervane.

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. You can find my blog post about the different ways to lay out this block in a quilt at: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/four-patch-log-cabin-quilt-layouts

P.P.S. You can find my tutorial for a normal Log Cabin quilt block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/free-pattern-log-cabin-quilt-block