How to Sew a Courthouse Steps Quilt Block

Hello, fellow quilters and craft enthusiasts! Today, I'm excited to walk you through the charming and straightforward process of creating the Courthouse Steps quilt block. This block, a delightful variation of the classic Log Cabin, is not only easier and faster to assemble but also wonderfully versatile, allowing for both scrappy and planned designs.

Whether you're a beginner looking to dip your toes into quilting or a seasoned pro seeking a quick and satisfying project, the Courthouse Steps block offers a perfect blend of simplicity and creative potential. Let’s grab our fabrics and get ready to step into a world of colorful patterns and cozy textures!

Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Courthouse Steps Quilt Block:

• Lights: 2 - 2" x 6.5" rectangles, 2 - 2" x 9.5" rectangles, and 2 - 2" x 12.5" rectangles,
• Darks: 1 - 3.5" square, 2 - 2" x 3.5" rectangles, 2 - 2" x 6.5" rectangles, and 2 - 2" x 9.5" rectangles

Sewing Directions:

Round 1:

Step 1:

I found it helpful to layout all the fabric pieces so I didn't get messed up on the order of sewing. 

Step 2:

Sew the two Dark 2" x 3.5" rectangles to the top and bottom sides of the Dark 3.5" square as shown in the picture below.

Step 3:

Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block. FYI - All the seam allowances will be pressed away from the center.

Step 4:

Sew the two Light 2" x 6.5" rectangles to the left and right sides of the Step 3 unit as shown below. At this point your unit should measure 6.5" square. Mine was a tad off so I switched to a thinner thread and everything worked out after that.

Step 5:

Round 2:

Step 6:

Step 7:

And press the seam allowances. (I'm beginning to sound like a broken record!)

Step 8:

Step 9:

Round 3 (Last Round):

Step 10:

Step 11:

Step 12:

Step 13:

Layout Ideas:

Here's the basic 4 x 4 layout with similar colors to the tutorial. It gives the illusion of a Chinese lantern block.

In this example every other block is rotated 90 degrees. This reminds me of spools.

For this version, I switched the placement of the Lights and Darks. Makes for a completely different look.

And this is an example of using both of the Light and Dark layout options.

This layout is an example of using just three colors for the entire quilt - light, dark, and the center square.

And here one using both block layouts plus sashing and cornerstones.

This is an on-point layout example. What a difference!

Instead of using light and dark, this example uses two contrasting colors (purple and peach) for the rectangles, and another contrasting color for the center square plus the setting triangles.

In Conclusion:

This Courthouse Steps block was quick and fun to put together! You could make it even scrappier by having a different color for each of the rectangles. I have a lot of light scraps in my stash - this would use up quite a few.

You can keep adding strips until you get the size block you want. You could also start with a 1.5" square for the center and adjust rectangle lengths accordingly. Lots of options with this block!

If you like this tutorial and want to see more as they come out, simply click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. Want to see more easy blocks? Check out these:  https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/tutorials_beginning-blocks

P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406