Courthouse Steps Quilt Block

The courthouse steps is one of the quilt blocks on the traditional list.  It’s a great one too.

Super simple….very similar to the log cabin quilt block, this one can be sewn up pretty quick and then made into a quilt.

Because of the fabric layout, this quilt block has a lot of variety and options to it.

Courthouse Steps Quilt Block Tutorial

14 1/2″ X 14 1/2″ unfinished

Materials Needed:

dark:

2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ square-center

2- 2 1/2″ X 6 1/2″

2- 2 1/2″ X 10 1/2″

2- 2 1/2″ X 14 1/2″

light:

2- 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ square

2- 2 1/2″ X 6 1/2″

2- 2 1/2″ X 10 1/2″

Instructions for the Courthouse Steps quilt block:

1)  Sew 3 squares together, with the center square

2)  Sew the 6 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ dark strips on the top and botton of the patchwork strip

3)  Sew the light 6 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ strips to the top and bottom of the patchwork piece

4)  Continue adding the strips on either side of the block.  The light fabric will be touching the light, the dark fabric will be touching the dark.

If you look around you will see many options with layout, color with this block. It really is fun to see what kind of patterns/designs you can come up with.

The trick with this block is to have the fabric contrast from each other.  The light/dark is pretty important in getting that dramatic contrast.   If you didn’t want to go with only two fabrics, you could pick a color and find in your fabric scraps the same tone/value as that color in it’s own color way.  That will make an illusion of the same color throughout the quilt.

Ready to try other quilt blocks? Clickety click here for more quilt block tutorials.

What is your favorite way to lay the blocks out?

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