- Background (muslin)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 23 · nine-patch
Jacob's Ladder Quilt Block
Also known as Stepping Stones, Wagon Tracks, Tail of Benjamin's Kite
Part of: Nine Patch Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For Beginners
Jacob's Ladder combines four-patches and triangles into a diagonal path. Names such as Stepping Stones and Wagon Tracks appear among its traditional relatives and regional naming variations.
- Level
- Confident Beginner
- Grid
- 6 × 6
- Pieces
- 28
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
6 × 6 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 10 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 10 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 2 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
| Dark | Square | 10 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 10 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 2 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the small squares and large HST parents from the chart.
Step 2: Sew ten dark/background square pairs, then join pairs into five four-patches with dark squares diagonally opposite. Trim each to 4 1/2".
Step 3: Make four dark/background HSTs from the large triangle parents; trim each to 4 1/2".
Step 4: Alternate four-patches and HSTs in three rows, keeping the four-patch chains aligned along the diagonal shown. Sew rows and join.
Step 5: Join the sections with a consistent 1/4-inch seam, pressing between seams. Check that the unfinished block measures 12 1/2" square.