One method of piecing the Log Cabin is to cut each strip of fabric to the correct size and sew the pieces together in sequence. Without a sewing machine, it is difficult to make long straight lines of sewing. To solve this problem, hand quilters often use the foundation piecing technique. They sew the strips to a foundation fabric with seam lines marked in pencil. To do this, the quilter must place and hold the strips on the front side while sewing form the wrong side. 

The foundation stabilizes the piecing from stretching or skewing. Straight lines of stitches are easier to achieve by following pencil lines on the foundation fabric. The larger piece is also easier to hold. 

There is little quilting done on Log Cabin quilts because the top is already secured to the foundation. Sewing through the extra layer is more difficult for the hand sewer. Often there is no batting layer because the foundation adds enough warmth by itself, and another layer might make the quilt too heavy for the local climate.