Vintage Drunkard's Path Quilt (#65)

This Drunkard's Path quilt was really fun to make.  I used the Accuquilt large Drunkard's Path die which is like being at craft camp - who doesn't like to turn a handle and see things get cut out.  I watched & read every video on how to sew curves, only to find my own way worked fine.

Drunkard's Path Notes: 

1) Starch and iron fabric before using any Accuquilt die.

2) Since it was my first time sewing curves and I didn't know how many blocks I would mess up -  I sewed similar colors together (reds with reds, etc.) and went with 'random' as a design plan.

3) When sewing, I put the 'pie' shape on the bottom - using a pin at the beginning, middle and end to join the two shapes - and tugged with a pair of craft tweezers the bottom 'pie' shape while I sewed ... it worked great with this large block size ... but the quilt police would not give me any kudos for technique! (When I tried this method for a smaller drunkard's path block - 4.5" - the 'pie' shape worked better on top - go figure!)

4) I did not trim or iron any seams until after the layout was finished.

Do not iron seams open.  One seam is pressed towards the pie shape and the block next to it has the seams pressed towards the 'L' side. The seams will now nest.

 5) At first I was trying to make this block perfect right out of the sewing machine - WRONG - you trim and then get the perfect block. 

 Line up your template ruler at the same seam points and everything will meet to make a smooth circle after trimming & sewing. 

 I picked the 6.5" mark on the curved seam (see arrows) and trimmed the block to 7" unfinished. You can pick any point on your template ruler to trim this block smaller - just be consistent that both measurements are the same on the seam line. 

Lastly, white minky backs this pretty quilt. I used a #14 needle to quilt with Aurifil 50wt. in Veriegated Lemon Ice #3910. Straight line stitching (3.5)  on either side of the seams - and then diagonal lines through the circles - perfect every time.

Retro Child Smile Spring 2015 by Lecien
Hints of Prints by Darlene Zimmerman
Red Binding/ A Walk in the Woods by Aneela Hoey
Dimple dot minky / white
Warm & White Batting
Aurifil 50wt. white # 2024 & Veriegated Lemon Ice #3910
Accuquilt Drunkard's Path die 7" finished
Size: 57.5" x 70.5"
January 2017