Light-and-Dark
Visually Dramatic

There are several different ways to piece basic Log Cabin blocks. By far the most common and versatile version of the block is the Light-and-Dark, or spiral, construction.

Starting with a small center square, the block is constructed by adding a strip, then piecing each succeeding strip so it is perpendicular to the preceding strip, working around the center square in a circular fashion until the square reaches the desired size.

Typically, Light-and-Dark designs are divided into 2 triangular sections; one half in dark fabrics and the half in light fabrics. Dramatic and startlingly different visual effects can be achieved by manipulating the final placement of the individual blocks.

In the Barn Raising pattern, diamonds of dark and light fabric seem to radiate from a central diamond shape. Amish and Mennonite Barn Raising quilts from the the late 1800s and early 1900s exhibit a sophisticated, though subtle, color progression in their designs.

By arranging the colors to form diagonals, the Straight Furrows pattern, another Amish favorite, is formed. Through careful planning and placement of colors, there is a constant shift from dark to light as the viewer's eye is drawn up along the path of the furrows.

Sunshine and Shadow is an Amish variation that produces an interplay of light and dark.

Other variations are Windmills and Streak of Lightning.

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Light-and-DarkVisually Dramatic

Light-and-Dark
Visually Dramatic