Monday, August 30, 2010

DRUNKARD'S PATH......the easy way

Here is a drunkard's path flemsy. Alot of people find the curve pieces of this quilt to be daunting. I find it to be easy and just thought I would share what I have learned. If you have a different way, great! Maybe you can share with us too.



I put the "L" shaped piece on top of the quarter pie and pin in the middle where the die has it marked with a small triangle (that is one thing wonderful about this Go cutter die).



Match the two ends...(notice the unmanacured finger nails)....hummm



Then I just sew a few stitches....stop...then I pull the fabrics to the left, ....this little pull just makes the two fabrics snap into place and line up. I just keep it to the left but guide it though the machine.



I stop at the pin...



do another little pull to the left...presto....a curve piece done. I forgot to take a picture of the finished curve but it turns out wonderfully every time and is just a SNAP!




You should see my toenails....hummmmm better yet....if you had a full view of me today, you would say "Girl....get yourself to the beauty shop!"

29 comments:

free indeed said...

A drunkard's path is on my someday list. I saw a beauty in pink and cream many years ago and that is what I want to make...someday. I want to try curves sometime...I might do it sooner than later if I had a die cut machine too. Not anxious to have to cut templates....:(

Twisted Quilts said...

Thanks for the tips. I am so scared to try curves. I run from them! But your suggestions might make me change my mind. I love the flimsy.

Crispy said...

You make that look so easy!! I like sewing curves too, but by hand :0).

I'm always a mess, but it's nice to be at the age where I don't really care either LOL.

Crispy

Betsy said...

It looks great Barb. Thank you for the tutorial. I always struggle with those curves.

Chartreuse Moose said...

Thank you for sharing your drunkards path tips...looks easy enough now for us naysayers to attempt! :-))))

Donna said...

Lovely. I am keeping a journal of tutorials & descriptions of things I want to make once I learn the basics! This is duely recorded. Have a nice day!

Yvette said...

Fantastic that there is a die to cut these for you. I made a Drunkards path and had to cut all those curves.

Needled Mom said...

Curves have always been daunting to me. You make it look easy.

Carin said...

Oh Barb you are so funny! You are always beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your technique for doing the curves :O)

Pat said...

Way to "GO" girl.
Happy Quilting!

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

I thought the drunkards path led you to the pokie!!!

When I made mine I got so comfortable that I did not even pin my pieces. I was timid at first but then after doing several it really does become very easy....getting comfortable is the key.

Great inspiration here....as usual.

Smiles,
The Next Door Neighbor Wanna'be
Kelly

Joanna said...

I don't care for the name of that block but it looks great finished. You have pretty, juicy colors.

Sharlee said...

Great tutorial Barb, I just received my Drunkard's Path Die and now I am anxious to try it, thanks for sharing...

Joanne said...

Barb, Seeing your instructions makes me drool for a GO!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

That block really scares me, thank you for the tutorial, I now can give it a try!!

Mary L. said...

Great job! Curves really aren't hard if you take your time and it sounds like the Go marks them just perferctly for you!

Vivian said...

I sew my blocks together just as you do, with the larger piece on top. Somebody (Fons and Porter?) called it the "pie crust" going on top of the "pie filling" (the smaller, pointy part).
Doing it this way, my drunkard's path blocks go together smoothly. Other people prefer the flip version, with the smaller piece on top, but that's never worked for me.
Pretty fabrics!

Gene Black said...

Thanks Barb. I may have to give it a second try. There are still a few quilting words that scare me a little. Like: curves, applique....but I am willing to keep trying!

Betty said...

Thanks for showing us. Really great.

Willow

QuiltSue said...

Thanks for that Barb. I have one question. When you say you pull to the left, do you pull both layers, or just the top or the bottom one?

I'm hoping that Father Christmas might bring me the Drunkards Path or the Winding Ways dies for Christmas, so I will have to tackle curves then!

QuiltSue said...

Well, I just posted a comment and Blogger decided to ignore me, so I'll try again.

Thanks for the tutorial Barb. I have a question, if that's OK? When you say you pull the fabric to the left, do you pull both fabrics together or just the top or the bottom ones?

I'm hoping Father Christmas might bring me either the Drunkard's Path or the Winding Ways die, so then I'll have to do curves.

Unknown said...

I guess for now I'll stick to the curves on my mountain roads. lol

Kristy Armstrong said...

Thanks for your insights. I usually don't find curves too difficult, but it's been awhile since I've done them in a quilt. This makes me want to make a curvy quilt again!

Kim D. said...

Thanks for sharing, I've been planning to make a Drunkards path quilt. I'll bookmark this for later.

Wacky Woman said...

Thank you Barb. I need to work on one of these one day.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Thanks for the little tutorial. I think the Drunkard's Path die needs to go on my wish list.

Linda said...

Thanks for the tips...I'll try them on my next drunkards path. I have tried it before and I really struggle, maybe these will be just what I needed. Thanks for sharing. All of your little quilts look great!

Susan Entwistle said...

I was catching up on the F&P shows I DVR and they had a little hint for those without the GO!. Fold your drunkard's path pieces in half and take a tiny little bite out of the fabric across the fold on each one. Then you can easily line them up to sew.

Jean said...

I would love to have the go cutter for this block. I hate cutting from templates! lol