Steps to the Altar is the twelfth -- and final -- quilt block pattern for the First Anniversary Sampler. Like a few other blocks in the quilt, it has several pieces, but strip-piecing helps us get it together quite easily.
I chose the block because it can be made orderly or very scrappy, and I think its tree-like appearance is a perfect choice for our on-point quilt.
This traditional quilt block sometimes has slightly different components, and there are other blocks that use the same name or similar names, even though they have a completely different appearance. That's common in the world of quilting, where we tend to change designs to suit our own needs.
The quilt block finishes at 12-inches square.
Steps to the Altar Quilt Block
These instructions assume you will use the same green fabric and gold fabric for all of the small squares.
Dark Green Print
- One 2-1/2" x 16" strip
- Three 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
Gold Print
- One 2-1/2" x 16" strip
- Cut two 4-1/8" x 4-1/8" squares; cut each in half twice diagonally to create eight quarter-square triangles (two will not be used)
Dark Brown Print
- One 4-7/8"" x 4-7/8" square, cut in half once diagonally to create two half-square triangles
Neutral Background
- One 4-7/8"" x 4-7/8" square, cut in half once diagonally (one resulting triangle will not be used)
- Two 4-1/2" x 9" strips
Alternate Cutting from a Scrappy Assortment of Fabrics
- Cut nine green 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
- Cut six gold 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
- Cut two 4-1/8" x 4-1/8" squares; cut each in half twice diagonally
