Friday, September 26, 2014

Courthouse Steps Quilt ~ A Quilt in Progress

Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts

Here is what I have been up to this week. Piecing, piecing, piecing. And truly this is my favorite way to work; playing with color as well as low volume fabrics, and sewing blocks with small strips of fabric. It has been a good week. Busy. But good.

Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts
Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts
Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts

This quilt is my interpretation of my new(ish) IKEA rug (and yes I did have to vacuum the rug before taking this photo because I don't have any doubt that you would already know that it is usually decorated with threads). This quilt and the rug both say much about me. Although I LOVE color and I love working with color, my home furnishings and my clothing preference is much more reserved. Instead I add pops of color with my quilts and pillows, and in Winter a colorful knitted shawl drapes permanently around my neck.

Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts

This quilt is made up of traditional Courthouse Steps block. It is a simple block and is pieced from the center out, starting with the small - red with white polka dot - square and adding strips to both sides of that square, alternating color (light/dark) as you go. It was time consuming but I soon found my sewing rhythm. This quilt and layout also required some fabric/color planning as each Courthouse Step block is made up of two adjoining fabrics.

Courthouse Steps Block - Tutorial | Red Pepper Quilts

Here is what each block looks like. My block measures 7.5" x 7.5" which includes the seam allowances, and the fabric pieces are cut as follows - starting with the center square:

A 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches (red fabric with white polka dots)
B 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches
C 1.5 inches x 3.5 inches (square up block to measure 3.5" x 3.5")
D 1.5 inches x 3.5 inches
E 1.5 inches x 5.5 inches  (square up block to measure 5.5" x 5.5")
F 1.5 inches x 5.5 inches
G 1.5 inches x 7.5 inches (square up block to measure 7.5" x 7.5")

B D and F are low volume fabrics (low contrast fabrics with a light/white background).
C E and G are printed/color fabrics. I have chosen small scale designs for stronger contrast and color blocking.

I prefer to piece by slightly over-sizing units and trimming back. For example, I cut my strips 1/8th of an inch wider than the 1.5 inch requirement for units C - G and then trimmed back the block at intervals as noted above.

Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts
Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts

My quilt top isn't yet finished. I'd like to add another two rows each of 8 blocks. So it is back to the sewing machine for me.

Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts
Courthouse Steps Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Courthouse Steps Quilt in Progress II
Courthouse Steps Quilt ~ A Finished Quilt

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34 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this. I may just have to put this on my list of projects to do!

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  2. Every time you post a new quilt I want to make it. Can you slow down a bit? I'm falling behind ; )
    Love this

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  3. Great quilt! I love the colors and the way you interpreted this pattern. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. This is so you. All neatly pieced and trimmed and beautifully put together!

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  5. Great idea.
    I love to find inspiration for quilts in other things.
    Hugs Olga from Germany

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  6. Rita, this is another amazing quilt....love it.

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  7. Beautiful! And thank you for the details!

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  8. Love it .... Thank you for the tutorial, you are ROCK !!!

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  9. This is beautiful Rita! Courthouse Steps is one of my all-time favorite quilt blocks. Yours inspires me to want to make another :)
    Amanda

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  10. I just cannot believe how prolific you are! Seriously - you do all that cutting and piecing by yourself? No assistants? You are amazing. This is another beauty. I so love your style - so very different from mine. It tells me your life and your mind is beautifully ordered - unlike mine - which a outrageously colorful and chaotic. Would really love to make it to your presentation in --- yikes where was it? Ohio?? Bad timing for me.
    Ellie

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  11. Hey, hey, hey! We're rug sisters! I like how your/my rug looks with quilts on it too. Always makes an interesting background. Your quilt gives the courthouse steps a fresh look for me =)

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  12. I love what Carla said above....my feelings exactly! Want to make one of everything you post.

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  13. So how did you figure out the coloring of the blocks? Intentional row by row sewing? Does that make sense?

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  14. Oh log cabin block....ye are soooooo versatile!!

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  15. Who ever thought going to court could be so much fun!!!

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  16. thanks for sharing, I'm thinking this is on my to do list

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  17. Beautiful. You are without compare when it comes to scrappy fabric choices.

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  18. Absolutely gorgeous! Your quilts never cease to amaze me.

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  19. Wow,absolutely beautiful.Thanks for the tips!

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  20. You are amazing and such a wonderful source of inspiration. This quilt in progress is simply sweet!

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  21. A wonderful source of inspiration, yes I agree! Your blog is visited every day by me! I try to read through your posts from earlier years, too.

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  22. Thanks for all that info! I've seen the block before but never together in a quilt song never envisioned it would make a granny square like shape. Your version is very beautiful!

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  23. Oh my, I can just get lost in a closer look at all your LV prints! Gloriously enviable!! :)

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  24. I've got tons of 1.5 inch strips. Need to do this! Thanks!

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  25. aaw, the rug is so beautiful too .. thank you for the tutorial :)

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  26. thank you very much for your help very beatiful

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