How to Make the "Road to the White House" Quilt Block Tutorial

Again this year, for the quilt guild I am apart of, I am providing instructions for how to make a different quilt block each month. For the month of March, we learned about the Road to Washington Quilt Block. 

Road to the White House Quilt Block (Jacobs Ladder)

This is a fun block that I put together using half square triangles and squares. It is a lot like a Jacob's Ladder Quilt Block.

For a 12 inch finished block (12.5 inch unfinished), you will need to cut the following: 

Background (White)

Cut 2 squares  5 by 5 inches

Light

Cut 2 squares  4 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches

Cut 2 squares  5 by 5 inches

Cut 6 squares  2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches

Dark

Cut 6 squares  2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches

 

Sew:

Start by making the half square triangles.

On the back of the light 5 inch squares, draw a diagonal line, corner to corner.  Pin the dark 5 inch square to the light square, right sides together.  Stitch on both sides of the drawn line, a scant 1/4 inch away. Cut on the drawn line, and press to the dark side.

Half Square Triangle

Trim to be 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.

Blue and White Half Square Triangle

 Using the 2 1/2 inch light and dark squares, make the 4 patch blocks. Sew each light square to a dark square. Press to the dark side. Sew each light/dark set to another light/dark set alternating the lights and darks.

Four Patch Square with Light and Dark Blues

Lay out the remaining squares, the half square triangles, and the four patch blocks to match the diagram.

Finally, sew the squares together to create the final block. Press.

Road to the White House Quilt Block in White and Blue

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below! 

Check back each month for a new How-To of quilt blocks! To see the other blocks, just search my blog for Quilt Guild Block of the Month.

If you would like a PDF version of these instructions, please check out Group #3 of the How-To Block of the Month Downloads.

This is classic block that has been designed and created by many people. As I have mentioned before, these block designs come from the book 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone. (c) 2003 but these instructions are written by me.) 

Have fun quilting!


6 comments

  • Hey Roberta!
    Thanks for asking about a 9.5 inch block. Just think, the block can be divided equally into 3 sections. So your 9inch finished size block will be divided by 3. So each of the HST and 4 patch blocks will need to be 3 inch finished size.
    Good luck!

    Becky
  • I want to make a 9.5 block how do I adjust for that size block road to whitehouse

    Roberta Chezik
  • Hi Thelma!
    There is not a pattern to make a whole quilt out of this block, just the block for this How-To block of the month.
    This blog post has the instructions to make this quilt block. If you would like to have a PDF version, you can go to the link at the bottom of the blog post.
    Thanks for asking!

    Becky Smith
  • I would like to make your quilt not sure where to fine the pattern
    The road home to White House
    Please let me know

    Thelma edwards
  • Hi Rita!
    This is kind-of a BOM. Every month for quilt guild I demonstrate how to make a block. At the end I will probably all throw them into a quilt, but it is not set up in a final quilt yet. You are welcome to follow along! Just do a search at the top for “Quilt Guild Block Of the Month” and all of the block should pop up. Thanks for asking!
    Becky

    Becky Smith

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