 Drunkard's
Path Made Easy!
Try this quick method for making Drunkard's Path blocks -
four at a time - and without curved piecing!Susan Blackwood of Jamestown, North Carolina, stitched "Love
Around My Garden" (30" square) as a reminder of her state's beautiful
wildflowers. A fast and interesting technique makes it easy to stitch four blocks at
a time without curved piecing! Susan entered her version of the classic Love Ring
design in the 1997 Miniatures from the Heart Contest.
 Drop a pebble in a pond and watch the effect. That's what inspired
"Ripples" (17 3/4" x 21") by Angela Nohe of Bel Air,
Maryland. Try this special interfaced applique method below to make easy Drunkard's
Path blocks.
MATERIALS
- Square of design fabric 1/2" or larger than the diameter of the circle template,
for the inner section of the block.
- Square of background fabric in the size indicated in the pattern.
- Square of lightweight interfacing 1/2" larger than the diameter of the circle
template.
DIRECTIONS
- Trace the circle template on the square of interfacing. Lay the interfacing on the right
side of the design fabric square and pin in place.
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- Stitch completely around the circle on the drawn line. Cut out the circle 1/8"
beyond the stitching line, as shown.
- Make a small slit in the center of the interfacing. Turn the circle right sdie out
through the slit and smooth the outer edge, lightly finger pressing as you go. Press.
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- Center the circle on the background square, measuring for accuracy, and pin it in place.
- Sew the circle to the square in either of the following ways:
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- 1. Topstitch close to the edge as shown or,
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- 2. Use a blind hem stitch. Set the hem stitch at a narrow setting. Sew, keeping the
straight stitches right next to the circle on the background fabric and just catching the
circle in the zig-zag stitch as shown.
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- Cut the square in half, using a rotary cutter and ruler. Without moving the halves, cut
the square in half in the other direction.
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- Trim away the interfacing 1/8" from the stitching line on the back of each block to
reduce bulk.
- If desired, trim away the background fabric under the quarter-circle, 1/4" from the
stitching line.
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Back to Current Quilting
"How-To" Class.
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