The courthouse steps quilt pattern is a very common traditional quilt block and a variation of the log cabin block. It is perfect for beginners using only squares and rectangles. There are no tricky seams or bias (stretchy) edges, just straight seams. The quilt block is worked from the center square out. Strips of fabric are sewn to both sides until the block is your desired finished size.
Considered a classic quilt block, the courthouse step block is very versatile. Switch up the fabric choices and placements for very different looks in your finished quilt. This is a simple block and perfect for beginner quilters.
Here is our courthouse steps quilt block tutorial:
How to Make the Courthouse Steps Quilt Block
The courthouse steps quilt block is a traditional quilt pattern found in vintage quilts, and popular with modern quilts.
Materials
- 1/4 yard each of two fabrics
- Center square cut 1-1/2 inches by 1-1/2 inches, this is referred to as the center piece
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
- Rotary cutter
- Quilters ruler
- Cutting mat
Instructions
- Start by cutting your fabric strips. In this tutorial my finished quilt block size is 7-inches. It is worked in five rounds around a center square. Cut your fabrics as follows:
Center (I used a dark teal): 1-1/2 inch square
Color 1 (I used a yellow):
- Two (2) 1-1/2 inch squares
- Two (2) 1-1/2 inch by 3-1/2 inch strips
- Two (2) 1-1/2 inch by 5-1/2 inch strips
Color 2 (I used a red)
- Two (2) 1-1/2 inch by 3-1/2 inch strips
- Two (2) 1-1/2 inch by 5-1/2 inch strips
- Two (2) 1-1/2 inch by 7-1/2 inch strips
Here are all of the fabrics for one courthouse steps quilt block all cut out and ready to be sewn together.
- The courthouse steps block is put together from the center out. Start with the center square and add one of the adjacent squares for the beginning of the first round. I cut enough to make four (4) quilt blocks. I'm sewing them together in what is referred to as chain sewing, sewing each step at a time for all four (4) blocks. Place right sides together and sew all of the seams with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
- Turn and sew the second square on the opposite side of the center square.
- Take the time to press the seams to your preference. For more information check out our article on pressing seams for quilting.
Next take the first strip in your second color and sew to one of the long sides of the strip you just made from three squares.
- Turn and sew the second strip in the second round.
- Press seams to your preference before beginning the third round.
- Take the strips for the next round and begin sewing to the opposite sides from the last round.
- Turn and sew the second strip in the third round.
- Press seams to your preference before beginning the fourth round. Read our article about pressing seams.
- Turn and sew the second strip in the fourth round.
- Press seams to your preference before beginning the fifth round. The courthouse steps are beginning to take shape!
Just like previous rounds, sew the first strip to one side.
- Turn and sew the second strip for round five to the opposite side.
- Press to your preference. Now you are ready for the final strips to be sewn on this courthouse steps block!
- Sew both sides, press and you have a finished courthouse steps quilt block!
Notes
Courthouse steps quilt blocks can be made in any size.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.
The key is to start with a center square or rectangle and just add the same width strips all around until your quilt block is the size you'd like.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
OHOCO Wool Pressing Mat for Quilting - 17" x 24" Extra Large Felt Ironing Pad 1/2" Thick, 100% New Zealand Wool for Ironing, Sewing, Cutting on Ironing Board, Tabletop, Dryer, Countertop -
Panasonic 360º Freestyle Advanced Ceramic Cordless Iron, Pest Repeller v.57, Teal -
Omnigrid Non-Slip quilter's Ruler, 6" x 24", Neon Green -
OLFA 24" x 36" Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat -
45mm Rotary Cutter
Courthouse steps quilt pattern lends itself to being made time and again. There are so many different layout options.
The key is to try to keep each of the fabrics at a different value to show the design. Try prints, or four different fabrics for the strips around the center. In my tutorial, I used a dark fabric (dark blue), a light fabric (yellow) and a medium-value fabric (red).
If you choose to use a print, use small prints also referred to as low volume fabrics or blender fabrics.
Here is a variation on the courthouse steps where I started with a rectangle and added different color strips with each round. For this one, I used all of the same width strips. You can change it up with different widths of strips.
How is the Courthouse Steps different than the Log Cabin quilt pattern?
Both the courthouse steps and the log cabin quilt blocks start with a center square or rectangle, and then strips of fabric are sewn around forming the finished quilt block.
The difference is with the log cabin the block is turned 90 degrees each time to add a new strip. With the courthouse steps quilt block, the strips are sewn on opposites sides, building up the same fabrics on each side, looking like steps.
Can I use a jelly roll to make a courthouse steps quilt?
Yes! In the tutorial above I started with a 1-1/2 inch square. If you are using a jelly roll, start with a 2-1/2 inch square, since the jelly roll is 2-1/2 inches wide. Then begin adding strips to both sides of the center square as we did above.
Another great way to get started with courthouse steps is to purchase a fat quarter pack of coordinating fabrics.
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy. This quilt block is featured in our article which highlights popular quilt patterns.
