Courthouse Steps Quilt Pattern

We oh-so-smitten with Karen Lewis’s easy-to-piece Courthouse Steps Quilt Pattern. Karen has been revealing a new quilt block for her quilt each month in Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

We’re sewing along here on team LPQ and can’t get enough of Karen’s scrap-busting quilt blocks – they’re perfect for piecing up a block or two each week to build up towards a finished quilt top. See more of Karen’s work over at karenlewistextiles.com or on instagram @karenlewistextiles

We’ve added links to where you can find the instructions for how to sew each quilt block in this post, along with everything else you need to know to make this quilt. If you’re just starting out on this project, you’ll find the fabric requirements for the finished quilt here too.

What is a Courthouse Steps Quilt Block?

Courthouse Steps blocks are traditionally a twist on traditional log cabin quilt blocks, but instead of arranging the strips around a central square, pieces of fabric are arranged to create a stepped pattern. For this quilt, Karen Lewis has expanded this idea to create a whole quilt top pattern that’s inspired by the shape of a Courthouse Steps block. This quilt includes a variety of different easy quilt blocks for you to sew to practise your patchwork skills as you build up the larger design.

What will the finished quilt look like?

You can also take a peek at what the finished quilt will look like below to get a feel for where each quilt block will fit into the bigger picture.

Quilt layout diagram

Here’s what we’ll be working towards… the finished quilt will be 66in square.

You will need… (to make the entire quilt)

Stock up your fabric supplies with our list of everything you’ll need to make this finished quilt.

• Dark blue print: 1 yd
• Green print: 1 yd
• Light blue print: ¾yd
• Yellow print: ¾yard
• Pink print: ¼yard
• Purple print: one (1) fat eighth
• White solid: 6½yards
• Batting: 70in square
• Backing fabric: 4 yards
• Binding fabric: ½ yards

Where can I find the quilt blocks to make this quilt?

Quick-click access! Download the instructions with our digital issues for Apple Newsstand or Google Play. Scroll down for a list of quilt blocks and which issue you can find them in.

Missed a month?

Here’s a list of which quilt blocks Karen has use to make this quilt, along with which issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine you can find the instructions in for each block.

Block 1: Hugs and Kisses Block

This zig-zag block was the first in our Courthouse Steps BOM. You can find out how to sew it it in issue 64.

Block 2: Parisian Block

Piece and place strips into a striking block with a log-cabin-feel. You can find out how to sew it it in issue 65.

Block 3: Wish Upon a Star

Try a spot of foundation paper piecing for the third block in Karen’s series. This starry night block is a perfect first foray into FPP. You can find out how to sew it it in issue 66.

Block 4: Flutterby Block

Ah the humble Half Square Triangle – how we love you! For the fourth in her series, Karen talks you through how to piece a Flutterby Block of half square triangles (above). It’s a quick block to piece from sweet strips from your stash. Join up a series of sweet HST units to make an easy nine-patch arrangement. You can find out how to sew it it in issue 67.

Block 5: Little Hills

Try a spot of curved appliqué stitching with Karen’s nine-patch bock with semi-circle motifs. Find out how to sew it it in issue 68.

Block 6: Balancing Geese

Piece sweet Flying Geese and stack them to create a geometric design that’s so satisfying to stitch. Find out how to sew it it in issue 69.

Block 7: Windmill Block

Twist parallelograms into a cute windmill design! Find out how to sew it it in issue 70.

Block 8: Flower Power

In issue 71 Karen’s treating us to some soothing curved piecing. We’re combining Orange Peel shapes into 4-patch petals. Find out how to sew it it in issue 71.

Block 9: North and South

Twist and join flying geese into this geometric block design. Find out how to sew it it in issue 72.

Block 10: Spinning Circle

Karen shows you how to ease into Foundation Paper Piecing with this playful hexie design. Find her instructions and the pattern in issue 73.

Block 11: Central Block

In our latest issue, Karen’s sharing the final block in the series, with the Centre Block. Grab a copy of issue 74 to find out how to stitch this design – it’s a great excuse to have a bit of fun with fussy cutting.

Zoe Williams

Zoe launched Gathered.how as editor in 2019. A keen crafter, quilter and sewist, she has worked with the UK’s best-selling craft magazines – from Today’s Quilter to Love Patchwork & Quilting, Simply Sewing and The World of Cross Stitching. With over a decade of craft publishing experience under her belt, she loves crafting with her kids and curling up on the sofa with a spot of hand patchwork. Zoe has previously written for radiotimes.com, Simply Knitting and The World of Cross Stitching and was previously Deputy Editor of Papercraft inspirations magazine. She has guest-lectured at Bath Spa University. She’s a keen quilter with 5 projects in progress at any one time and another 12 or so planned. Specialist skills include hand modelling for YouTube craft tutorials and fabric foraging (she has an inbuilt radar for local haberdasheries and community craft gatherings).

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