Log cabin quilts feature blocks of fabric that spiral around a central square. For instructions on making the design for the top of the quilt, see How to Make a Log Cabin Pattern. (To make a 40-inch square quilt, start with a 10 1/2-inch center square and add 5 1/2-inch-wide strips.)
The following instructions are for binding and topstitching the quilt after you've pieced together the top. Binding involves securing the layers of the quilt -- front, batting, and back -- around the edges with a strip of fabric cut on the bias. For a dash of color to match the backing and binding, the quilt is stitched in yellow along the seams, a technique called "stitching in the ditch."