Projects
The Latest Old Thing
One thing that happened when I was in Nashville for Nash Yarn Fest was that I started to experience severe FOMO about our beloved yarn, Jane. The big Wall of Jane at MDK World HQ, plus all the knitters trying on our sample of Norah Gaughan’s Jacobs Cardigan and getting help choosing colors, added up to a powerful urge to cast on some Jane.
What does a person cast on when operating at peak social, emotional, and organizational engagement, with nary a brain cell to spare?
There’s always log cabin, thank goodness. Just grab the nearest few colors of a yarn you love, cast on, and let the waves of relaxation wash over you.
It’s been a while since my last sojourn in the land o’ logs, and I jumped into my copy of MDK Field Guide No. 4: Log Cabin like the arms of an old friend who was glad to see me.
I’ll admit that part of my motivation was a secret thing we’ve got brewing. But secret thing or no secret thing, log cabin is all I want to do right now, a happy coincidence.
After a week of solid knitting, with brief breaks to cry my eyes out for and with Mark Rylance’s brilliant Thomas Cromwell in The Mirror and the Light, I’ve amassed twelve cheery, springy Log Cabin Cloths.
I made the whole set of six cloths—twice! One set is in the six warm colors of Jane’s subtly heathered palette; the other set is in the five cooler shades.
And look at all the leftover balls!
I started with eleven full skeins. One thing I was curious about: how many log cabin cloths can be gotten out of eleven skeins of Jane?
The answer is: 23, or nearly four complete sets! A set of six weighs between 140 and 150 grams. Eleven skeins of Jane weigh 550 grams.
I’ve done the math, and now I’ll do the knitting. Next up: mixing up leftover balls of Jane into more log cabin cloths, mixing warm and cool colors together.
Not for nothing, but log cabin cloths are the perfect project for our MedKNITation virtual workshop with Suzan Colón, coming up on Friday—that’s tomorrow, and I can’t wait.
Log cabins will also be great companions for this weekend’s trip to Nebraska to see my Most Moisturized Mom and the world-famous Sandhill Cranes (in order of importance).
And then, what am I going to do with all these log cabin cloths?
That would be telling.
Stay tuned.
Is it a hint that not all your blocks are Log Cabin? I see Nine Patch and at least one other….
The Log Cabin Cloths set teaches a few additional techniques—mitering, seaming, etc.— that help when designing and finishing a log cabin project, and there is a little log cabin moment at the start of each ninepatch.
Kay, thanks for this. I love log cabinning, and I already have far too many dishrags and washcloths. So: wool log cabins… Quilt? Wrap? Skirt? Tent? I’m sorely tempted to start some woolly log cabins without even knowing their fate. And by the way: your warm and cool colored log cabins are absolutely beautiful!
I love how beautifully the Shades of Jane play together. It’s an amazing yarn…
Love the suspense!
Kay, your log cabin project is divine, of course. Jane, so beautiful. Mark Rylance as Cromwell, gaah, so good, I share your heartbreak. Reading the second book, Bring Up the Bodies now as well as watching the new series.
Best to you and everyone at MDK! Keep knitting and making : )
Hope that MMM also loves the Sandhills. We have a small family here and they are perfect. But to see many, all in one place! That’s almost as wonderfully calming as log cabining.
Great project for airplane flights! I can’t wait to see what the squares become! Jane looks wonderful!
Log cabin has been my go-to social knitting since I opened the 1st MDK book! 20 years ago? Ask my son’s soccer team parents about the blanket that grew with each game. From log cabin cloths to full size blankets they are all over my house. Conquer your pickup stitches phobia, play with those colors at hand and use up leftovers. For me: BO + turn + pickup = log cabin. I’m obviously not a quilter. Thank you Kay and Ann!
Ahh. Log cabins. I am currently snuggled under a knitted log cabin blanket on my couch and have a quilted one on my bed. Enjoy the cranes. I have witnessed them both in Nebraska and in their wintering spot in southern Arizona. There is nothing like that sound. And when thousands lift off at once. Oh my.
Best wishes to you, your MMM and the SC. Double treat!
May your journey be safe whatever mode you take.
Wonder if there were much knitting on the wagon trains and stagecoaches in the log cabin days of the 1800’s.
Ahhh… there’s nothing like log cabin knitting!! I’ve spotted/heard migrating cranes already this spring. Hope MMM is doing well.
Yes! Mark Rylance as Cromwell. Brilliant isn’t a big enough accolade.
The entire production is marvelous.
Enjoy your visit with MMM – something to truly treasure.
I cannot wait to watch this!
Currently working on the two-color heart in Skill Set. Log Cabin knitting is next on my list. Time to face my fear of picking up stitches and work on new skills…what else is retirement for?
Picking up stitches gets very easy and natural with all the practice you get making log cabin squares! And there’s a different log cabin technique that doesn’t involve binding off and picking up at all, you just leave stitches on holders while you work the other patches, and then they are ready to knit again when you come back around to them. Both ways are good, I like binding off and picking up for the portability of the squares; I like holding on stitch holders for the ultra smooth fabric that creates.
Swatching in Jane at the moment. I love it. I love Log Cabinning! (Double N, right?)
There’s a new baby arriving soon so it’s time for a big old car blanket. Something to throw on the ground to play on or snuggle up under on a chilly day. I’m doing a classic log cabin blanket in Sugar’n Cream in 19 different colors. It’s sturdy, it gets softer and softer the more you use it, and you can throw it in the washer and dryer without a second thought. Perfect!
The classic blankie of many colors!
Any update on orange kid silk haze afghan?
That’s Ann’s—when I saw it in Nashville two weeks ago it had a whole new section of deep burgundy Kidsilk Haze.
Hello, Do you the patterns for ‘Leffties? Also different color chart.
Lovely to hear from such a wholesome soul.
Pattern
Link is in the post.
I always get excited when you or Ann hint at something new coming up. It certainly motivates me to knit more and try to clear the decks! Thanks, Kay! I hope your visit with your mom goes well, and enjoy the cranes!
Looking forward to see all the news
Do you back the reverse side I have never tried this before
Love book 4 used up my leftover statch to make a scrappy blanket
Great article!
Please please be a blanket!!! I NEED an easy and cozy blanket pattern!
I should always read the MDK post first. It’s best to begin the day with a smile.
I’ve always wanted to travel to Nebraska to see the cranes! So many cranes! Have fun, and please post pix!
I must admit that I am horribly behind on my reading, writing/emails, etc. How wonderful to return on a log cabin day! ❤
This takes me back 🙂 Have a wonderful trip and visit with MMM. Sandhill cranes… still on my wishlist!
I recently picked up a log cabin blanket WIP half done 10 years ago and am loving it. So make a dark border on each square and sew them together for a blanket.
What would we do without the comfort our grandmothers taught us.nothing complicated just perfect!! Down home. Thanks
Kay are you using size 7 needles for the Jane since it is DK and not aran weight?
Oh I luv luv luv your pages of warmth, humor and inspiration. And yes, the MDK homepage is a total rabbit hole (but lots of fun)! BTW loved Nash Yarn Fest! If only I could’ve afforded to buy all the pretties I saw there. Can’t wait until next year. MAYBE I’ll have some of my projects done by then…hahaha!
Wow! What a great idea. I would like to create these log cabin squares for a throw blanket. Can’t wait ti start. I’m going to go thru My stash of yarn.
Amazing work.
Enjoy your Mom and the cranes. To my Nebraska mind, the cranes are spectacular and something special.
When the first MDK book came out, lo these many years ago, I was immediately hooked on the log cabin blankets you had created. I made several Modern Log Cabin blankets, and then I made many, many blankets with log cabin squares. Noro works really well – you don’t have to change colors if you don’t want to. My favorite log cabin blanket, I think, was one that I made out of handspun. I gifted it to the dyer. This post has me wanting to make another one. Thanks for this well loved project! PS I have such fond memories of you two coming to Yarn Expressions on your book promotion tour. That was a fun day.
Might almost say great minds work alike. Trying to get just this from our residents for refugee blankets.
So curious to know about your log cabin blocks!!!
I, too, have been log cabining my behind off, while binge-watching ER (still holds up!) to help me deal with Everything That Has Been Going On. (Clue: I work in higher education, although not for a university but for an organization that funds college scholarships for low-income, largely students of color, many in mixed status families.) I’m working on a blanket for Hats and More for Refugees Worldwide https://www.ravelry.com/groups/hats-and-more-for-refugees-worldwide.