Jacob's Ladder: Sewing the Block

Jacob’s Ladder is a nine-patch block (remember our block drafting lesson?) that is really easy to piece and allows many layout variations when set with no sashing.

Follow these easy instructions to sew 16 blocks for a lap-size quilt (60 x 60") and play around rotating the blocks for different effects. Examples are given at the end of these instructions for 8 different layouts!

Instructions provided here are for traditional piecing of a 12" block. Two different fabrics are used in this block: a focus fabric (Fabric A) and a background fabric (Fabric B).

             

You will need two templates for this block, which you can download following the link below. (It is recommended you right-click on the link below and save to your computer before opening up the file)

Right-click here to download templates

Cutting the Pieces - Cut the following pieces:  10 pieces using Template A in Fabric A

10 pieces using Template A in Fabric B

4 pieces using Template B in Fabric A

4 pieces using Template B in Fabric B        

Piecing the Block   1. Make four squares by piecing the four pieces cut from Template B in Fabric A to the four pieces cut from Template B in Fabric B.

2. Make five squares by piecing two of the pieces cut from Template A in Fabric A with two of the pieces cut from Template A in Fabric B.

3. Make two strips by piecing two of the squares sewn in step 1 to one of the squares sewn in step 2.

4. Make one strip by piecing two of the squares sewn in step 2 to one of the squares sewn in step 1.

5. Piece the three strips together to form the finished Jacob’s Ladder block. Make sure to rotate the third strip in the right direction.