Tips & Tricks

5 Tips for Drunkard’s Path Blocks

If you’ve mastered straight lines, squares, triangles, etc., and are looking to level up, the drunkard’s path is a great place to start. It is a little more complicated than sewing straight lines but it is NOT terribly difficult. If I can do it, so can you.  These five tips will start you on your way, and there are several great tutorials out there in Internet-land if you need a more in-depth explanation.

My pattern Rock N' Roll All Night includes several drunkard’s path blocks but not TOO many, if you know what I mean. It’s a great pattern for learning this fun, challenging technique. The rest of the quilt comes together super-fast, so you don’t need to be intimidated. This one is not destined for your UFO pile. In my experience, you can finish it in a weekend.

  • Mark center of both pieces and pin those together first. Then pin from outer edge to center and repeat for other side.
  • Pin and sew with the convex side (curved outward–the outside of the circle) on top.
  • Remember you are sewing a bowl, not a plate. Gently bend the fabric upwards as you pin. Your sewing line should lie flat but the outer part will curve up a bit.
  • If you have extra fullness, pin the crap out of it until the pieces lie snug together.
  • If you don’t usually use leaders and enders, now is a good time to start. (Google it. It’s a good thing!)