Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts by Judy Martin, ©2013

Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts features:

15 complete and accurate patterns in multiple sizes
 beautiful pieced borders gracing every quilt

300 color diagrams

175 gorgeous photos

an in-depth discussion of color and value with lots of photographs

a way to test your seam allowance and how to then make it perfect

diagrams showing which direction to press the seam allowances

lots of tips and techniques for making Log Cabin quilts

a method for keeping track of logs of varying lengths

Each pattern has:

a big color photo of the entire quilt

a closeup photo showing fabric and quilting

a photo of an additional block made in a different color scheme and fabric

14 or more drawings of alternate settings and/or color schemes

fat quarter requirements

patch quantity requirements

quilt size, block size, and log width listed

piecing diagrams, complete with what direction to press the seams and
 what order to sew the patches

quilt construction diagrams for two sizes

ratings for ease of cutting, sewing, and planning

quilting suggestions

Owning all of Judy Martin's quilting books, I am pretty impressed with her quilting designs and instructions. When I knew this newest quilting book was becoming available, I knew I wanted to share it with other readers. For quilters of all skill levels, Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts has 15 quilts, and color throughout. Twelve of the quilt patterns are made with rectangles and three quilts add half-square triangles. Whether you have a King-sized bed or Queen-sized, Judy Martin's quilt patterns have both, and a wall hanging size. Different sets are shown for arrangement of a pattern, leaving room for your own creative choice.

Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts by Judy Martin

128 pages, soft cover

Crosley-Griffith Publishing Co.

P.O. Box 512, Grinnell, IA 50112

$27.95 retail U.S. Order at

judymartin.com, or call

1-800-642-5615

e-mail: info@judymartin.com

pinterest.com/judymartinquilt/

includes photos of quilts in Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts ~ pinterest.com/judymartinquilt/quilts-in-my-books-judy-martin/ or you can see photos of all 15 patterns by going to judymartin.com/sneak-peek.cfm. I like how she has done the borders with the strips on several patterns.

As I love ***s, Main Street Log Cabin is the quilt that especially caught my eye. In with the pattern, Judy shows a light star with a dark background and a light background with a dark star, for contrast. 

Enjoy meeting Judy in this new video interview ~ two samples are shown near the end of this video at 10:41, Honeymoon Log Cabin, hearts in a log cabin arrangement, and Door County Log Cabin, curving appearance by changing the length of the log.

Judy Martin is a quilt designer, quiltmaker and author of 21 books. She was also once a member of the Quilters Newsletter editorial team. She's best known for her scrap quilts, log cabin quilts and pieced borders and her designs are rooted in traditional patterns.

Features close-ups of both Aspen Log Cabin and Lakeshore Log Cabin ~ tips for cutting, storing, and I especially like the visual for having a perfect seam allowance.

You can find more free online videos by Judy Martin at judymartin.com/video-page.cfm

Why I like Judy Martin quilt designs:

I like the versatility of her designs. It is easy to view the pattern without getting stuck on color to choose your own selections. I like the detail of instruction. I am a scrap quilter, which I prefer. And... I love pieced borders. I like creating something new. Judy Martin walks you through every step of quilting.

So many clues I have gotten as a new quilter:

finger press BEFORE you press with the iron, and not to move the iron around

help in having a 1/4" seam allowance so your pieces meet evenly ~ like the plumbline ~ it will get further off if you don't have it right in the beginning

cutting parallel with the selvage in 18" strips to have a stronger fabric piece

In Judy Martin's diagrams there are dimensions for piecing a standard log cabin block, a parallel-logs block, a courthouse steps block, and a corner-square block. You are shown how many lengths you will need for dark, light, and accent, how to lay them out and pressing directional arrows, the piecing sequence, and step-by-step directions with colored visuals. It is suggested to make a single sample block for alignment to see how it will fit together before cutting all your fabric. Judy also shows color variations and talks about putting in substitution blocks to make a new design. Different sets of arrangement of pattern leaves room for creativity.

Judy takes you from beginning, including patch cutting dimensions for the quilt size or wall hanging, requirements and yardage, patch quantities darks/lights, cutting the patches, making and joining the blocks, making the borders; to finishing ~ backing pieces, batting, and quilt top, to the quilting ~ even hand-quilting if you'd like, and binding basics.

In the back of the book there are further charts for planning quilts ~ dimensions for various bed sizes ~ twin, long twin, full, queen, Cal. King, and Eastern King; and additional sizes for Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts in this book with name of pattern and size. There is also a useful chart for sizes/fat quarter quantities for log cabin quilts from basic blocks.

Also, invaluable is her website where she keeps updates and previous newsletters. Subscribe to her newsletter at newsletter-request@judymartin.com.

Here is a blog I wrote last year about my beginning quilting and seeing Maureen Lazenby's quilt, shown at the bottom of my blog lanehillhouse.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilting.html and I became a Judy Martin advocate! I enjoy her instructions as if you are sitting right there with her.

***Thank you to Crosley-Griffith Publishing Company/Judy Martin Books for sending me a copy of Judy Martin's new book Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts to review in my own words. No other compensation was received.***