Row 6 Courthouse Steps - Log Cabin variation
This week I wanted to make a quick apology. I'm so sorry I haven't made a video for this row. This is really a straight forward and fairly easy row compared to the rest, but the main reason is because my family and I are taking a little holiday and I just ran out of time to make a video. I promise I'll make it up to you next fortnight when we make my favourite row of all!
If you'd like to print out the tutorial, just click here to download the printable PDF, or read on for the tutorial.
Week 1: Slow and Steady Quilt Along by Paula Storm
Courthouse Steps Variation
I really wanted to include a super easy block to the quilt along for a few reasons, one it gives you a bit of a break from all the tricky blocks and two because you need to make 10 of them this week I didn’t want it to be too hard. I really love the look of this log cabin variation. It gives a bit of ‘wonk’ to an otherwise super traditional block.
Finished Size: 6” Square
Unfinished Size: 6 ½” Square
Requirements:
Scraps of all of the fabrics used so far
Cutting Instructions per block:
Start by giving your fabrics a really good press before cutting, I also like to use spray starch when pressing. You’ll get a much neater finish if you spray your fabric with starch before you cut it.
Like we did with the clamshells, I like to add in a round of my background fabric every now and then to help tie all the blocks and rows together
Fabric 1:
1 ½” square for centre of block
Fabric 2:
Cut 2 – 1 ½” x 1” strips
Cut 2 – 2 ½” x 1” strips
Fabric 3:
Cut 2 – 2 ½” x 1” strips
Cut 2 – 3 ½” x 1” strips
Fabric 4:
Cut 1 – 3 ½” x 1” strip
Cut 1 – 3 ½” x 2” strip
Cut 1 – 5 ½” x 1” strip
Cut 1 – 5 ½” x 1” strip
Fabric 5:
Cut 2 – 5 ½” x 1” strip
Cut 2 – 6 ½” x 1” strip
Constructing the block:
1. Take your (Fabric 1) 1 1/2” centre square and add a (Fabric 2) 1 ½” x 1” strip to either side of the centre square. Be sure to use a scant ¼” seam allowance. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 2 ½” x 1 ½”.
2. Take your (Fabric 2) 2 ½” x 1” strips and add them to either side of the piece. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 2 ½” square.
3. Take your (Fabric 3) 2 ½” x 1” strips and add them to either side of the piece. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 2 ½” x 3 ½”.
4. Take your (Fabric 3) 3 ½” x 1” strips and add them to either side of the piece. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 3 ½” x 3 ½”.
5. Take your (Fabric 4) 3 ½” x 1” strip and add to one side of the piece. Take your (Fabric 4) 3 ½” x 2” strip and add it to the opposite side. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 5 ½” x 3 ½”.
6. Take your (Fabric 4) 5 ½” x 1” strip and add to one side of the piece. Take your (Fabric 4) 5 ½” x 2” strip and add it to the opposite side. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.
7. Take your (Fabric 5) 5 ½” x 1” strips and add them to either side of the piece. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 5 ½” x 6 ½”.
8. Take your (Fabric 5) 6 ½” x 1” strips and add them to either side of the piece. When you have pressed your seams your piece should look like this and measure 6 ½” x 6 ½”.
Finishing your row.
Continue making your courthouse steps blocks until you have a total of 10 blocks. Join them into a row making sure to rotate each one like in this diagram so that the row looks more interesting.
Hang your row on your design wall to admire until next fortnight when we make our very last row!
Joining your rows
Don’t join your rows yet if you want to make your quilt a Quilt As You Go project.
If you do want to join the two rows, join a 1.25” strip of the background fabric between the first two rows. You will need to cut 2 x Width of Fabric strips, but you will only need one and a half of the strips, set the remaining half strip aside for next time.
See you next fortnight!
Happy Stitching
Hugs Paula xxx
