Block #5 - Celebrating Loretta Pettway and Gloria Hoppins
I’m switching things up a bit this month, by drawing inspiration from two Gee’s Bend quilters - Loretta Pettway and Gloria Hoppins. Loretta created a Courthouse Steps quilt (circa 1974) from a single block, made of dark and light blue denim. I wanted to use the block design, known locally as Bricklayer, but was looking for a different colour scheme. For that, I turned to a quilt by Gloria Hoppins, a sunny log cabin creation, circa 1975. Our courthouse steps block combines yellow and low volume fabrics with a tiny pop of orange. The block finishes at 14 inches square.
Fabric requirements
Assorted scraps -
Orange (small amount)
Yellow (solids, tone on tone, or small scale prints that read yellow)
Low volume
Cutting
From the orange scrap
1 - 2.5”x2.5”
From the yellow scraps
2 - 2.5”x6.5”
2 - 2.5”x10.5”
2 - 2.5”x14.5”
From the low volume scraps
2 - 2.5”x2.5”
2 - 2.5”x6.5”
2 - 2.5”x10.5”
To make the block:
Use a scant ¼” seam throughout.
1. Sew a 2.5" low volume square to each side of the 2.5" orange square. Press seams away from the centre.
2. Sew a 6.5"x2.5" yellow strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.
3. Sew a 6.5"x2.5" low volume strip to each side of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.
4. Sew a 10.5"x2.5" yellow strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.
5. Sew a 10.5"x2.5" low volume strip to each side of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.
6. Sew a 14.5"x2.5" low volume strip to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press seams away from the centre.
You are done! The block should measure 14.5” square.
