Knitting Needle Roll

I finally gave my dear friend, Val, her Christmas/birthday present this weekend. Late is better than never right?

I borrowed Modern Log Cabin Quilting from the library (my work!) with the intention to make the log cabin clutch. Instead I decided to use some of the log cabin blocks to make up the front of the knitting needle roll.  The quilts in this book are absolutely gorgeous, and the patterns and construction are really easy to follow.  Being a newbie quilter, I had no idea that there were so many ways to assemble a log cabin :)  Unfortunately, I had to borrow the book through our state-wide interlibrary loan system, so I don't have it in my possession anymore to do an in depth review.


This was my first real quilting project that I finished.  I started working on it in November, a month after teaching myself how to sew.  I got so overwhelmed and busy during the holidays that it got shelved until March when I finally sat down and finished it.  Val told me that her favorite colors are red, pink, and black so I decided to go with a gradient effect.

I used a very simple straight line stitch through the middle of each log for the quilting, and just about every grey, black, red, and pink fabric that I had in my stash at the time.

It's pretty huge, I think it turned out to be around 18"x24", probably overkill but I had no idea how big the log cabins were going to be when finished, I just cut strips and started sewing.

The border and the inside are made from a black twill that I got from the remnant bin at Joanns.  I figured a heavier fabric would be more durable than quilting cotton and would stand up to pokey knitting needles better.  To make the inside, I modified this tutorial at Made by Loulabelle to fit my dimensions.

All-in-all, I'm pleased with how it turned out.  Val says she has been getting so many complements on it when she goes to classes at her local knitting shop, and tells me I'd definitely be able to sell them.  With how much time I spent making it, I would have to charge like $200 for all my blood, sweat and tears, lol.  There was a lot of improvising on my part because I really had no clue what I was doing really.  I guess the best way to learn is still trial and error :)