Courthouse Steps quilt block
A Log Cabin variant where logs are added in opposite pairs instead of rotating, so light and dark stack on opposite sides rather than splitting diagonally.
Also known as Courthouse Steps Variation.
Courthouse Steps is the Log Cabin's symmetrical sibling. Because the values stack on opposite sides rather than dividing on the diagonal, it does not produce the sweeping diagonal settings the Log Cabin is famous for — it makes a steadier, more architectural repeat instead.
Courthouse Steps cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 1⅜" × 1⅜" | 1 | finishes ⅞" × ⅞" |
| Background | Rectangle | 1⅜" × 2¼" | 2 | finishes ⅞" × 1¾" |
| Background | Rectangle | 1⅜" × 3⅛" | 1 | finishes ⅞" × 2⅝" |
| Background | Rectangle | 3⅛" × 1⅜" | 1 | finishes 2⅝" × ⅞" |
| Background | Rectangle | 4¾" × 1⅜" | 1 | finishes 4¼" × ⅞" |
| Background | Square | 1⅜" × 1⅜" | 3 | finishes ⅞" × ⅞" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1⅜" × 3⅛" | 2 | finishes ⅞" × 2⅝" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1⅜" × 4¾" | 2 | finishes ⅞" × 4¼" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1⅜" × 6½" | 2 | finishes ⅞" × 6" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 1¾" × 1¾" | 1 | finishes 1¼" × 1¼" |
| Background | Rectangle | 1¾" × 3⅛" | 2 | finishes 1¼" × 2⅝" |
| Background | Rectangle | 1¾" × 4⅜" | 1 | finishes 1¼" × 3⅞" |
| Background | Rectangle | 4⅜" × 1¾" | 1 | finishes 3⅞" × 1¼" |
| Background | Rectangle | 6⅞" × 1¾" | 1 | finishes 6⅜" × 1¼" |
| Background | Square | 1¾" × 1¾" | 3 | finishes 1¼" × 1¼" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1¾" × 4⅜" | 2 | finishes 1¼" × 3⅞" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1¾" × 6⅞" | 2 | finishes 1¼" × 6⅜" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1¾" × 9½" | 2 | finishes 1¼" × 9" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 1⅞" × 1⅞" | 1 | finishes 1⅜" × 1⅜" |
| Background | Rectangle | 1⅞" × 3⅜" | 2 | finishes 1⅜" × 2⅞" |
| Background | Rectangle | 1⅞" × 4¾" | 1 | finishes 1⅜" × 4¼" |
| Background | Rectangle | 4¾" × 1⅞" | 1 | finishes 4¼" × 1⅜" |
| Background | Rectangle | 7⅝" × 1⅞" | 1 | finishes 7⅛" × 1⅜" |
| Background | Square | 1⅞" × 1⅞" | 3 | finishes 1⅜" × 1⅜" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1⅞" × 10½" | 2 | finishes 1⅜" × 10" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1⅞" × 4¾" | 2 | finishes 1⅜" × 4¼" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 1⅞" × 7⅝" | 2 | finishes 1⅜" × 7⅛" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 2¼" × 2¼" | 1 | finishes 1¾" × 1¾" |
| Background | Rectangle | 2¼" × 3⅞" | 2 | finishes 1¾" × 3⅜" |
| Background | Rectangle | 2¼" × 5⅝" | 1 | finishes 1¾" × 5⅛" |
| Background | Rectangle | 5⅝" × 2¼" | 1 | finishes 5⅛" × 1¾" |
| Background | Rectangle | 9⅛" × 2¼" | 1 | finishes 8⅝" × 1¾" |
| Background | Square | 2¼" × 2¼" | 3 | finishes 1¾" × 1¾" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 2¼" × 12½" | 2 | finishes 1¾" × 12" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 2¼" × 5⅝" | 2 | finishes 1¾" × 5⅛" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 2¼" × 9⅛" | 2 | finishes 1¾" × 8⅝" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent | Square | 2⅝" × 2⅝" | 1 | finishes 2⅛" × 2⅛" |
| Background | Rectangle | 11¼" × 2⅝" | 1 | finishes 10¾" × 2⅛" |
| Background | Rectangle | 2⅝" × 4¾" | 2 | finishes 2⅛" × 4¼" |
| Background | Rectangle | 2⅝" × 6⅞" | 1 | finishes 2⅛" × 6⅜" |
| Background | Rectangle | 6⅞" × 2⅝" | 1 | finishes 6⅜" × 2⅛" |
| Background | Square | 2⅝" × 2⅝" | 3 | finishes 2⅛" × 2⅛" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 2⅝" × 11¼" | 2 | finishes 2⅛" × 10¾" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 2⅝" × 15½" | 2 | finishes 2⅛" × 15" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 2⅝" × 6⅞" | 2 | finishes 2⅛" × 6⅜" |
How it goes together
Add logs top and bottom, then left and right, alternating around the centre square. Every round adds four logs in two opposite pairs.
Tips
- Keep the pairs strictly opposite — this is the one thing that distinguishes it from a Log Cabin.
- Because the block is symmetrical, rotation during layout has no effect. Design with colour placement instead.
- Foundation piecing keeps long, narrow logs from bowing.
How much fabric for a Courthouse Steps quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Courthouse Steps blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background ¾ yd · Dark 1¼ yd · Accent ⅛ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 1⅞ yd · Dark 3 yd · Accent ¼ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 4⅜ yd · Dark 7⅛ yd · Accent ⅜ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Courthouse Steps questions
What is the difference between Log Cabin and Courthouse Steps?
Log Cabin adds logs rotating around the centre, creating a diagonal light-dark split. Courthouse Steps adds them in opposite pairs, so the values stack on facing sides and the block is symmetrical.