Jacob's Ladder is from a dream that Jacob had in Genesis, Chapter
28. In the dream a ladder was set up on earth and the top of it reached
to heaven. The ladder was filled with angles. The lord spoke
to Jacob in the dream, promising that his seed would be like the dust of
the earth; that his descendents would be spread all over the Earth
and be blessed.
The version of the nine patch does indeed resemble
a ladder. Your can divide this block into nine small squares; five
of which are then divided into 4 small squares contain two triangles each.
The over all pattern takes on the appearance of steps of a ladder when
the contrasting four patch squares are connected corner to corner.
Color A = light
Color B = medium
Color C = 1st dark
Color D = 2nd dark
cut 24"x 2 1/2"of each your Color A (light)
and Color C (dark) fabric.
Sew them together as shown above. Cut into
2 1/2" strips as shown with the white lines above.
These pieces will make your 4 patches. You
will need 5 completed 5 patch units.
Each 4-patch unit will look like this and
should measure 4 1/2" when completed.
for accuracy it is good to square up each
of these pieces. (as with any block).
cut 1- 10" x 5" piece of Color B (medium)
cut 1- 10" x 5" piece of Color D (2nd dark)
With fronts together measure in 5" and draw
a line as shown. Make two other lines on each
side of the center line diagonally. Stitch 1/4" to
both sides of the diagonal lines. Cut apart on
all 3 straight lines. This will make your 4 1/2"
half square triangles. Press and square up
these units to 4 1/2".
Sewing Instructions:
the assembly of this block is fairly easy and by laying all your pieces out as shown in the diagram at the top of the completed block shows just how easily these pieces come together. I only wish I was better at giving instructions... (working on it all the time). When sewing the units together. sewing by rows works the best... sewing the first and second rows together across in one direction, then adding the third row in the same direction, then turning the block and sew the two seams going the other direction completes the blocks.
the finished block measures 12 1/2"