Log Cabin blocks

I got up early yesterday in order to get a little sewing time in before heading out to a DAR meeting and other activities.  With coffee in hand, I headed down to work on the Log Cabin blocks that I had begun earlier in the week.

This particular sew along (Bear Creek Quilting) is using a beautiful pattern by Camilla Quilts, and it claims new techniques.  Honestly, the Log Cabin block has to be one of the easiest and quickest blocks ever.  But this "new" technique requires 2 specialty rulers.  Hmmmm . . . 

OK - I already had that Log Cabin Trim Tool Two ruler anyway, and I ordered the other one because it will supposedly make the Cactus block easier to do.  I can live with that as the centers of the Cactus blocks are pieced with a wedge.

So, the new technique also involves cutting the strips about 1/4" wider than needed and then trimming the block after each round has been added, using the markings on the ruler.  I suppose the idea here is to have very accurate blocks.  But when you cut 16 strips, and then trim 1/4" OFF that strip there is an awful lot of fabric waste in the end.  We're talking about the equivalent of a 4" strip of expensive fabric going into the trash.  Yikes!!  And that is just for the black background for these 16 blocks.  There are a lot of strips of the pink, orange, and green here that will have the same wasteful trimming.  Plus there are also 20 of the Cactus blocks, and I have NOT cut any of the strips for those yet.  

So, I have 2 of the 16 Log Cabin blocks all sewn, trimmed each step, and squares up.  That little stack of trimming is just the beginning.  Yes, they come out very accurate, but I'm not completely sold on using this "new" technique.  I'll follow the plan for this quilt because I really love the final look of this pattern, but will remain skeptical about using this method for simple Log Cabin blocks.