Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Block Variation

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Today’s quilt block is a variation of the Jacob’s Ladder block. I am working on a baby quilt and thought this would be a fun quilt block to use.

I have no idea if there is a name for this block, if you know, be sure and leave it in the comments.

Jacobs Ladder Variation quilt block 12 inch

Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Block Variation

I am using a fat quarter bundle of batiks called Graphic Gems from Island Batik. The colors are beautiful in this collection!

I decided not to use the light fat quarters, I have another quilt project that will be perfect for these.

Island Batik fabric collection for the quilt blocks

Did you know that Island Batik now has solid batiks? There are 14 different colors. I am using their white and gray batiks for my blocks.

Island Batik’s A Piece of Blog Hop is going on right now and there is a giveaway you can enter on their blog.

I took part in the ambassador Beat the Heat blog hop in August which is when I shared the Sunny Side up batik collection and my Sparkles quilt. I am so glad I finally finished the pattern for it!

I know many quilters do not like to mix batiks with regular quilting fabrics but honestly……I do it all the time and never have a problem. I am even a big fan of using muslin with my batiks. Lets face it, quilt fabrics are expensive. When I use muslin I choose a premium brand.

Normally directions for the half square triangle blocks would read: Cut 4 7/8″ squares and then cut diagonally. Personally I use my AccuQuilt GO! cutting machine and dies for 90% of my half square triangle cutting. You get accurate cuts in no time at all this way. The AccuQuilt GO! 8″ Qube set of eight dies includes a 4″ finished half square triangle die which works for this die.

AccuQuilt has a big sale going on right now also! Check it out!

Accuquilt Dynamic Promo

If I do use my rotary cutter (like I did for this block I will usually cut my blocks a little bigger – round it up to an even 5 inches.

When I have the half square triangles done I will use a ruler which has a diagonal line on it to trim my blocks to a perfect 4½” square.

Jacobs Ladder quilt block variation cutting half square triangle blocks

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Making the Jacob’s Ladder variation quilt block:

Use a ¼” seam allowance 

Step 1: Make Half Square Triangles

  • Cut 3 white 5″ squares
  • Cut 3 dark 5″ squares
  • Draw a diagonal line on the back of each white 5″ square
  • Place right sides together, layer one white square on top of a dark square and sew ¼” on each side of marked lines
  • Cut along the diagonal line
  • Press seams open to reduce bulk or to the dark fabric
  • Trim the half square triangle squares to 4½” square using a square ruler
  • Make a total of 6 half square triangle blocks

Step 2: Make 4 patch squares

  • Cut 6 white 2½” squares
  • Cut 6 gray 2½” squares
  • Place right sides together, layer one white square on top of a dark square and sew
  • Repeat this  6 times
  • Sew 2 sets of these together for 4 patch blocks
  • Make a total of 3 – 4 patch blocks

The block will measure 12½” x 12½”

Jacob's Ladder Box quilt block variation for a 12 inch block

Now I had better get back upstairs and work on the rest of the Jacob’s Ladder variation quilt blocks!

I have completed the baby quilt using the Jacob’s Ladder variation block, you’ll want to check out my new blog post about it!

Jacob’s Ladder Box quilt pattern is now available as a PDF with instructions and full color diagrams to make it in 5 different sizes!

Looking for other quilt block tutorials? Check out the ones I have, more coming all the time.

Be sure to pin this to Pinterest if you don’t have time to make it now!

Jacobs Ladder quilt block variation easy tutorial for hst blocks

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9 Comments

  1. Marie Szlachtianshyn says:

    Love the colors on the jacobs ladder variation. Gives me a future idea

  2. That’s an interesting variation. Are you going to do a quilt with them? I’d love to see the design it makes. Like you, I mix my batiks and cottons too without issues.

  3. Carla Hellwege says:

    I’m looking forward to seeing your finished quilt! Great color choices you’ve got!

  4. I really like how this block turns out, just by changing how the color is arranged. Clever! I used the “round up” method of doing HST too. It’s much more accurate when I can square them up.

  5. Pam Kramer says:

    Thank you so much for this pattern. I make small quilts very small 38X38. For Loma Linda Hospital for the NICU Redlands CA. Every baby receive one. And this pattern is great I can just add borders and get correct size. I am always looking for something new. Thank you so very much.

  6. Dorothy Kelly says:

    I loved your suggestion of making a quilted square or Log Cabin for a container

  7. Susan the Farm Quilter says:

    Interesting variation! I would love to see 4 of these blocks together to see what the secondary pattern is!!