Stair Steps–quilt pattern tutorial

In the past couple of days I've received a lot of questions about how I made my bonus project from the Fat Quarter Shop's Fat Eighth Frenzy quilt pattern.  So I wrote up a quick tutorial to show you how I did it.  

The technique is a pretty handy one to keep in your toolbox of quilty ideas!  I remember a little over a year ago I was admiring an intricate-looking quilt top at a local shop and the woman who made it kindly explained this technique to me.  I've been itching to use it ever since.

Stair Steps quilt tutorial 

47" x 48"

You will need:

leftover triangles from the Fat Eighth Frenzy quilt pattern (at least 60 triangles)

1/3 yard for the inner border

3/4 yard for the outer border

3/8 yard for binding

3-1/4 yards backing

First of all, take all of the leftover triangles from the Fat Eighth Frenzy quilt.  Pair them together so there is good contrast between the two (i.e. light / dark or solid / print).  Sew the two triangles together and press open to make one half square triangle. 

Trim the half square triangles.  Mine were all about 8” (give or take a bit) so I trimmed them down to all be 7.5”.  My big Bloc Loc ruler makes quick work out of trimming HSTs!

You’ll need 30 trimmed HSTs for this project.  If you have fewer HSTS, you could make a smaller quilt, a table runner version or even a throw pillow. 

Next, cut each HST into three equal strips of 2.5” each.  Keep in mind that the direction of the HST will matter in the end!  Cut half of the HSTs facing in one direction and the other half facing the other direction, as shown in the diagram below. 

Now working with the strips from just one of the sliced up HSTs, leave the center strip where it is and swap the two end strips.

Using a 1/4” seam, sew them back together.  This block should measure 6.5” x 7.6”.  Repeat these steps to make all 30 blocks. 

Layout all of the blocks as you would like them.  This was one layout that I considered, but in the end I went with this one below (five blocks in each row, six rows, blocks laid horizontally with peaks and valleys matching up.)

Sew the blocks together into rows, and then sew the rows together. 

Time for borders!  Measure the length of two sides and the length through the center of the quilt.  Find the average of that number and cut two inner border strips to be 2.5” by the average length.  Sew those to the sides of the quilt top.  Next measure the top and bottom of the quilt as before, cut inner border strips to that length (and 2.5” wide) and sew to the top and bottom of the quilt top. 

Repeat to add the outer border.  The outer border should be cut at 5” x average length.  Baste, quilt and bind as desired!

If you make your own Stair Steps quilt I’d love to see it!  Tag me on Instagram (abrightcorner), shoot me an email or add your photo to the Sewing with A Bright Corner flickr group.