I recently attended an EQ5 Class and the first lesson was the Twisted Log Cabin. My son saw the computer drawing and really liked it. I want to make it for him but am having some problems. I am trying to use foundation piecing but it is not going together well. Has anyone ever made this pattern and did you use foundation piecing or templates and piece? For some reason it seems that the cutting sheet measurements are not giving me the 1/4" seem allowance. Help I have $$$$ invest in batiks for this project and I can't afford to mess them up. Right now I am trying to make up a sample with bits and pieces to see if the pattern works. Advice and help would be appreicated. Melody

Melody, are you paper piecing this pattern? If so I believe you just follow the sewing lines on the pattern and just make sure you allow enough fabric to cover those areas. Hope this helps.
Cathy

Cathy, I am using the paper piecing. The only thing I can figure out is the cutting guide printed out is finished measurements. I think I will recut tomorrow and add a 1/2 inch to see if that will give me the 1/4" for seam allowance. I don't know, I will have to bring it up again tomorrow, I wonder if it is the cutting guide for the 6" block instead of the 10" that I designed. Anyway tomorrow is another day and I will sleep on it and tackle the problem when I am fresh. I know it should work. Thank you for your input and help, it is greatly appreciated. Melody

Melody, does it look something like this? http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3298_1443282,00.html

I haven't played with my EQ yet, but if something is paper pieced, you cut your fabric at least 1/2" bigger than the area to be covered, as Cathy said. Try a block with other fabrics first, before cutting into your batiks. It's a good rule for anyone to follow if they find a block/quilt they want to make with a new-to-them technique. These sample blocks can be put away later, then taken out and made into small projects or save enough for a large scrappy quilt!

Gerda
Love isn't what you say, it's what you do.

Melody that is very possible.
On mine I have to change the pattern size every time I go to print the block. And I agree with what Gigi said to make sure your fabric is a bit larger than the areas you are covering.

I have EQ5 and it will automatically print out 6" with a .25" seam allowance if I don't change the 6' to a 10" for example and I don't change the .25" seam allowance because it allows for all 4 sides.

Have fun and maybe try a sample block first with scrap fabric on your foundation paper. Some angles will require more fabric than other straight areas.

Melody
Wow really love this pattern and I agree with everyone. I'am a real fan of pp and always make sure there is plenty of room of error.
I havent seen this pattern and would love to have it. Need to use up some scraps i have.
Where did you get it.
Julia

Hello Ladies, First I would like to thank everyone for your support. I think I may have figured out how to solve the problem, with your advice.

First of all I went back in to the pattern and increased the seam allowance to .50. Also I reduced the rounding off of the triangles from a 16th to an 8th. This seems to have given me the amount of excess I need. I am currently putting together a sample to make sure before I start cutting up the batiks.

For those interested I made the design using EQ5's first lesson, "Drawing a Twisted Log Cabin". I discovered the lesson in a class I took at our local quilt store here. I also found the lesson on the EQ website under Fun Stuff/Lessons. I have found the lesson well written and fun to work with. I still have a lot to learn about the program. I hope they will keep the EQ5 support up as they start creating programs to support EQ6. I know I could up to EQ6, but I just purchased my program before they issued the new one. There is so much on EQ5 to learn it just doesn't make sense to me to upgrade. For those who have ask about the Twisted Star used on Simply Quilts; I have looked at it and it is even more complicated that this one. I think the is rather straight forward in comparision. Anyway, thank you for all your help, I can't tell you how much it has help. Melody