September Log Cabin and Schoolhouse Completed

For the piecing and assembly of the Log Cabin and Schoolhouse banner for September from Shabby Fabrics see my previous post dated 7/14/26. This post is about the FMQ, labeling, binding, and completion of the September banner.

Log Cabin Blocks
Since these monthly banners are not very large (31" square) they are excellent candidates for practicing my FMQ on my HQ Sweet Sixteen. I try out different options with a white board marker on vinyl sheet protectors until I am content — or get bored and want to just get on with it. I wanted each round of the log cabin to be different. All but the circles were quilted free hand. The channel of circles was made using the 1" diameter circle option from my HQ Mini Circle Templates.

Schoolhouse Blocks

I was less adventurous with the FMQ on the Schoolhouse block. For the most part, I chose echo stitching to help the door and windows stand out. I got a little more flowery with one of my go-to FMQ patterns from Angela Walters' dot-to-dot method over the floral print of the roof. When it came to the sky I wanted the printing of the fabric to remain unobscured and readable so I tried a labyrinth approach. that lined up with the direction of the lettering. Angela Walters' ruler Slim was used for the straight lines.

Sashing and Outer Border
For the inner sashings I wanted something simple but thought a straight line down the center would be too plain. I spiced it up a bit with some evenly spaced asterisks. On the outer border, I repeated the dot-to-dot pattern like on the roofs. In retrospect, it was more effort that it merited since it barely shows up on the red plaid fabric. Oh, well. The FMQ looks good on the back. Note in this photo I have added the detail of a button door knob on the door of the schoolhouse.

Labels

I machine embroider my usual grosgrain ribbon labels on my Pfaff. They are attached diagonally on the two lower corners of the banner before binding. September refers to the theme of the banner and not the month I completed it.

Completed Banner
Here is my completed September banner, front and back, displayed on its designated location on t he wall next to my sewing room door. This location is temporary just for the photo. This spot is displaying the August banner this month.

Here are my completions thus far for this series from Shabby Fabrics.

• JAN    Snowmen and Snowflakes (2/10/26)
• MAR  Shamrocks and Irish Chains (4/6/26)
• APR   Bunnies and Carrots (3/6/26)
• MAY   Roses and Pansies (9/11/25)
• JUN    Strawberries (9/6/25)
• JUL    Flags and Pinwheels (6/24/26)
• AUG    Bees and Sunflowers (9/21/25)
• SEP      Log Cabins and Schoolhouses (this post 8/5/26)

Four more to go. I am really looking forward to the October and November banners!

Community Bow Ties

Cut-Ups is a small 12-member group within the Amador Valley Quilters guild. I belong to Cut-Ups. Each month a member proposes a block that everyone makes. All these blocks are pooled and the member who proposed the block assembles them into a quilt. This becomes a community quilt that is donated to a local charity. A recent month, I proposed this block for a Bow Ties quilt. The colors were donated from another member's scrap de-stashing effort and I supplied the whites cut in fourths from a layer cake I had.  Here are the directions for an 8.5" block.

These are some sample blocks prior to trimming, shown at the meeting where the instructions were distributed.

When the blocks were turned it at the next meeting, I had 50 of them. Here they are laid out randomly on my dining room table.

With that many blocks, I could have assembled a 7 x 7 configuration but decided that a 6 x 8 layout would be more useful. The finished quilt would measure 48" wide by 64" tall. I found the perfect checkered fabric for the backing, batting was provided by the guild, and the sandwich was quilted with a loopy star pattern by a daughter-in-law of one of the members.

As a final step, I affixed a label from our guild and took photos. We Cut-Ups hope that the recipient of this quilt will be pleased and that the person will feel loved.