Courthouse Stairs Quilt Block

The Courthouse Stairs pattern does a great job of allowing freedom in color choices.  It can be completed as a predefined color palette or as a wildly scrappy quilt.  I have drafted a pattern and plan to make some blocks as a part of my annual Christmas donation effort.  With any luck at all, I have the measurements correct for this pattern.  

As the graphic suggests, I would keep lighter strips on one side of the block and the darker strips opposite the light ones.  This block could be created starting with a 2.5" center, which I believe is the more traditional sizing option but I want to move through this quickly and I have upsized the center to a nice 5" square. 

This quilt will be constructed of Christmas scraps.   Remember, we bought all that fabric, let's use it up and not let is waste in a box in the back of the closet!  

I believe that for a donation quilt, making 24 blocks would be a nice snuggle size quilt.  In my community, these donation quilts go to a local nursing home or to the VFW supply drive to provide something for teenagers that are often hard to buy for.  And, as you might suspect, these are a big hit.  

Fabric requirements:

·        Various 2.5” strips from scrap or a jelly roll! Use as much or as little variety as you would like.

·         5” squares for the center

Constructing the blocks:

Start at the center using a 5” square.

Work your way around the block adding 2.5 light strips of the same color on the top and bottom

Then 2.5 strips dark on the sides.  Continue the process until you are happy with the size of your block. 

For each block

·         One 5” square

·         Two 2.5” X 5” strip light

·         Two 2.5” X 9” strip dark

·         Two 2.5” X 9” strip light

·         Two 2.5” X 13” strip dark

·         Two 2.5” X 13” strip light