Joining quilted log cabin blocks without sashing

Log cabin blocks can't be sashed if you want to make a traditional pattern. I choose the straight furrows pattern for this one.

Here's the finished block-

I added a free motion maple leaf in the center of the block, and used my walking foot to stitch-in-the-ditch around the logs. 

IMPORTANT TIP--- don't trim the backing and batting yet. You will need a little extra for the joins since there is no sashing.

Step one-  Put the 2 blocks front sides together. On the top block, fold back the backing and batting, and pin.

Turn the blocks over. On the bottom side, only pin back the backing. This is the Georgia Bonesteel method of joining QAYG blocks.

Step 2- Join the blocks with a 1/4 inch seam, using a walking foot. Use lots of pins to keep the seam even.

When the seam is sewn it should look like this from the front,

and this from the back-

Step 3-    Take out the pins, front and back, and open up the blocks so the backing is facing you. 

Lay the batting that wasn't sewn in over the seam. Smooth down.

Smooth one side of the backing down over the batting join. 

Fold over the other side and pin. Put the pins in along the topstitch line, and hide the tips of the pins so you don't  keep sticking yourself. You will be able to feel the seam to help keep pinning evenly. 

Leave an inch at the top and bottom to be able to fold back the back and batting for joining the rows. Make sure to mark it with a crosswise pin to remind yourself.

Topstitch closed  between the crosswise pins using a stitch that is the same size as your quilting.

I forgot to take a picture of that first block, but here are 2 blocks sewn together already pinned to another row. I will have a tutorial on joining the rows together in my next post.

Here's a picture of the back of the quilt with the blocks joined.

This is the top of the quilt showing the straight furrows design. My cat Gus is supervising.

Next post I will do a tutorial on how to join the rows.

See you then!

This is my first blog ever. I just got a smartphone for Christmas, and now a blog. This '50's girl is moving into the now!

Why do I need a blog?  I want to post a tutorial. I discovered Pinterest this year while surfing for ideas for quilts, and it opened up a new world to me.  I started pinning my own quilts, and saving ideas from other quilters on my boards.

I have a degenerative neuromuscular disease, so I can't struggle with a full size quilt for free motion quilting.  I did a large baby quilt this week with simple walking foot quilting, and it trashed me for 3 days. I will not do that again. Back to blocks no larger than 18".

I have googled QAYG, Quilt-as-you-go, fun and done in every version on every site I can find. For hours. People have shared on Youtube and blogs, and I thank them all.
Living on just Social Security, there's no way I can afford to pay to have my quilts quilted by someone else on a long arm. Besides, I like to quilt my own quilts.
I started using various one-block at a time methods, then tried the different joining methods.
The joining strip method is pretty easy, but doesn't work when it disrupts the pattern,
My own method joins front and back with no sashing.
The fun and done method uses joining the backings, and then hemming in front. See my Tula Pink blocks quilt below for that type of sashing.