At some point in the mid- to late 1870s, a variation of the basic Log Cabin design known as the Windmill Blades, or Pineapple, pattern became popular among American quiltmakers. In this version of the Log Cabin design, the darker fabrics are usually arranged to form “blades,” or “pineapples,” that radiate from the center squares. The ends of all the strips are clipped at an angle to create the illusion of motion, or to suggest the spiky leaves of a pineapple. Assembling this pattern is often more complex than for the other Log Cabin designs and requires great precision in the piecing.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Log Cabin Quilt, Windmill Blades Variation," exhibition label for QUILTS: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2010.