April – Drunkard’s Path

Apr 1, 2020 | 2020 Block of the Month, Tutorial

By Anne Deister
This month’s BOM uses two different Drunkard’s Path blocks (as described in the Skill Builder tutorial) to create a modern, asymmetrical layout. The layout challenges you to match curves when aligning blocks and to have some curves come right to the edge of the block while others have negative space around them and float within the space.

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Using Templates 1 and 2 provided in the Drunkard’s Path skill builder tutorial, cut the following pieces.

Fabric A – dark blue/violet

Cut (2) 6.5″ squares
Cut (4) from template 1B
Cut (3) from template 2B

Fabric B – yellow

Cut (2) from template 1A
Cut (1) from template 2A

Fabric C – orange

Cut (1) from template 1A
Cut (1) from template 2A

Fabric D – pink/purple

Cut (1) from template 1A
Cut (1) from template 2A

BLOCK INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1 – Sew quarter circle units

Using the Drunkard’s Path Skill Builder tutorial, sew the quarter circle units together.

Step 2 – Layout Block

Layout the quarter circle units and the full squares as shown below.

Step 3 – Block Assembly

Sew the quarter circle units together into rows.
Sew the rows together into the block.
Trim block to 18.5″

QUILT LAYOUT

This block could be made in multiples to make a modern quilt. The illustration below demonstrates one possible quilt layout. The blocks are all identical. They are simply rotated to create a playful arrangement that produces a feeling of movement and interesting negative spaces.

There are so many things you can do with Drunkard’s path blocks. I hope you will explore more ideas on your own. I have a Quilt Along on my blog that uses the Drunkard’s Path block. Those posts can be found here.  Look for number 5 on piecing for another basic tutorial on making the Drunkard’s Path block.

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Rebecca Greco
Author: Rebecca Greco