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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Semi Simple Drunkard's Path


Today I wanted to share with you a tutorial for an easier way to make a drunkard's path block. I love the drunkard's path pattern but always hate all the techniques to get to the final product. This tutorial allows you to make a machine stitched block much easier and faster then before. No more stabbing yourself with pins or dealing with curves and open bias edges. This super quick super fun process with have you making tons of drunkards in no time!

This process is completed using Dale Fleming's 6 Minute Circle. You can view a video tutorial of Dale's technique here, but in case you missed anything I'll show you step by step how its done!

*****Edit - 3/29/16*****
It has come to my attention that this technique has a name! It is called Piec-lique and was developed by Sharon Schamber. Here is a link to her daughters rendition of the tutorial.When I originally made this post way back in February of 2013, I did a ton of searching and couldn't find anything on the topic. Thank you to Lani for commenting about the technique and bringing it to my attention. And as promised credit where credit is due! :)
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This tutorial will make four 3.5" finished blocks.

You will need:

a background fabric
a contrasting fabric
fabric safe glue stick (I don't think mine is, but its all I had :)
freezer paper
scissors/rotary cutter/ruler


Ok, here we go! Please ignore my poorly manicured hands!

Step 1: Cut a piece of freezer paper into an 8.5" square. Then find the center and using a compass ,either bought or homemade, draw a 5" diameter circle. Then cut it out like this!


Step 2: Cut your background fabric into an 8.5" square. Match up your background fabric and freezer paper template, wrong side of fabric to the waxy side of template. With a dry iron, iron your template to the fabric. Using your rotary cutter, cut out the inside of the circle leaving approximately a half inch allowance around template.




Step 3: Carefully snip the fabric inside the circle so it looks like this. Be sure not to snip all the way to the edge of the circle. Leave about an 1/8 of an inch gap between snip and template.



Step 4: Run a light bead of glue on the edge of the paper template and with your fingers and iron gently press snipped edge around the template being careful not to burn yourself. You may have to reapply a little glue as you go. Make sure you pull tightly enough to form the circle shape, but not so tight as to warp fabric. Press thoroughly.




Step 5: Cut a piece of contrasting fabric large enough to cover the hole and have about a inch extra all the way around.


Step 6: Next, run another bead of glue around the folded edge of the fabric. I like to start from the center out and do dabs rather then in a circular motion so the edges don't catch.


Step 7: Position background fabric over the contrasting fabric and press in place. You'll want to press both sides to make sure you have a good hold. Then carefully remove freezer paper template and set aside to use again.




Step 8: With zipper foot attached and needle as far left as possible begin stitching in the ditch all the way around circle. When you've finished, cut away excess fabric leaving a rough quarter of an inch seam.





Step 9:  Cut block in half both vertically and horizontally. Then square up blocks to 3.5". Voila!!!

*Note: You can square up your block to 7" first then cut in half vertically and horizontally. Works both ways :)


 
Step 10: Enjoy!


P.S. This was my first time writing a tutorial so please feel free to comment or email if you have any questions!

39 comments:

  1. Wow! Thank you for sharing your great idea and your tutorial is very good! I love the drunkard's path block but haven't made - yet. Sunny wishes from Greece!

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  2. Great tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing:)
    My best
    Gosia.

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  3. Great Tutorial!!! Your blocks are perfect!! I must try this soon, thanks for sharing!

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  4. Wow, I can't wait to try this method! Drunkard's Path is on my bucket list, so, I guess, there's no time like the present. Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  5. Great tutorial!
    Thanks for sharing !

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  6. wow, never seen before drunkard`s path blocks made by the way you did. Thanks, tutorial was great.

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  7. That is the easiest drunkards path I have ever seen, I will never make another one the old fashioned way again. Your tutorial was fantastic. Your a natural. That being said, I will watch for another one to come out.

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  8. I will never make the drunkards path the old fashioned way again. Your tutorial was perfect.

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  9. I taught Home Economics for 13 years and I could not have done better. A Drunkard's Path quilt is on my quilting bucket list. I put it off because it seemed to be one that I would really have to have time to focus on but now I feel like I can tackle one. Your method seems sooooo... much easier.

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  10. Very interesting' I usually don't enjoy shortcuts, but this is worth trying! Great tutorial!

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  11. Looks easy enough....good tutorial. I must give this a try.

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  12. Just made a sample, it is so easy Thank you so much! I'm always learning something new. I'm 82 years young!i am making a baby quilt.

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  13. You have a great idea and did a wonderful job on the tutorial. Noone would have know it was your first effort.

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  14. fantastic tutorial. You made it seem easy! Gotta try it now.

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  15. I have seen a similar method but topstitched...your method is fabulous! I don't like the look of shortcuts and yours isn't. Cudos!!

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  16. I really enjoyed your tutorial -- I'll have to try it -- thanks again!!

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  17. Another easy Dunkard would be to cut your squares, cut your circles the size you want, along with the circle cut out some fusing or iron light weight interfacing same size as your circle, put the circles together iron on sticky part inside circle, sew around circle, cut small slit in the middle and turn circle wrong side out, place the circle in middle and iron down, then sew around circle, cut into 4ths.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, I don't understand this at all. Please give more detail. Thanks.

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  18. what a great tutorial - I must try it - thanks for sharing :)

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  19. Oh my goodness, brilliant!! I'm still very much a newbie at quilting, but my sister and I have this favorite quilt my grandma owns (but didn't make) and we'd like one ourselves and it's this exact design! I figured it would be complicated to do those difficult curves, but now I can recreate our grandma's quilt someday using this clever trick - thank you so much! This is a blessing! :)

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  20. I did this using the old method of cutting and sewing them together one by one. This would do another quilt using this method.

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  21. That is more than perfect. Thank you very much for sharing!!

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  22. Haven't tried it out yet.......BUT it looks a lot easier than the way I did it first time around. Will definately try that way. Great tutorial.

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  23. Thank you for posting your wonderful circle's. I just finished my first sample and I love it! Thanks again you did a great job explaining the process:)

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  24. THIS IS GENIUS thank you

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  25. Muchas gracias por compartir este tutorial. Saludos desde España.

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  26. Wow Nicole,it is a great tutorial,thanks for share it !

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  27. Excellent, thanks

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  28. You did a very good job with your first tutorial. Love that it had a lot of pictures. I am a visual learner so the picture really help. Thank you.

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  29. Wow! A fantastic idea and a super tutorial!!! Thank you!
    Greetings from Germany,
    Rike

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  30. This has been on my bucket list too. Great tutorial. I plan to give it a try. Thanks.

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  31. Great clear tutorial - and I would add my variation on Dale Fleming's method: no need remove the freezer paper template BEFORE stitching; several benefits come to mind - no risk of glued fabrics coming apart prematurely, the piece moves easily around under the machine foot, stabilised by FP template, and clear line to follow when stitching - the edge of the paper. No need for zipper foot, 1/4" seam allowances work perfectly with no further trimming and fussy cutting easier to manage precisely. You just ease the 'frame' layer apart from the FP as you sew, pulling it off completely only after circle is complete - ready for whatever you plan to do next :-) I've used a 3-sheet FP template over 50 times on the same project and it's still going strong!

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  32. This is exactly the technique called Piec-lique developed by Sharon Schamber, master quilter.

    Here's a tut on her daughters blog too!https://purpledaisiesquilting.com/blogs/sewmuchlikemom/35883843-piec-lique-circles-drunkards-path-tutorial

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  33. great tutorial, will certainly give this one a go... seems easier than the normal method..

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  34. The only thing about any of these methods is that after you cut the completed circle into fourths and re-sew them into a block you no longer have a perfect circle as you have lost 1/4 inch off of each qtr circle. Drunkards Path probably not noticeable, but a completed circle...yes.

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  35. neat, easy enough, even for ambitious beginners. Perfect. Thank you.

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  36. I've always wanted to try a Drunkard's Path quilt, but circles intimidate me too much! This makes me want to give it a shot, though! I wonder how it would look if I topstitch instead of sewing on the inner seam?

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