How to Sew a Drunkard's Path Quilt Block

The Drunkard's Path quilt pattern is said to have played a significant role in the Underground Railroad. The quilts were hung on a clothesline or over a porch railing to convey hidden messages. Legend has it that the Drunkard's Path told slaves to "zigzag a path" to make tracking more difficult. There's also evidence that the pattern actually originated in the late 1920s.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern templates
• Cotton fabrics in the desired solids and patterns
• Rotary cutting tool, small
• Cutting mat
• Thread
• Needles
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Quilt batting
• Cotton fabric for the backing
• Quilt pattern template
• Marking pencil
• Marking pen, disappearing

Instructions

Cut the Quilt Pieces

1. Decide the exact layout of the quilt. Choose from several variations of the Drunkard's Path. Draw the pattern on graph paper or refer to a printed design.

2. Use a tin or acrylic template to cut the pattern pieces with a rotary cutter and mat. Calculate the number of pieces needed based on the size of the template and the desired finished quilt top.

3. Cut the light and dark fabric into 4 1/2 inch squares and arrange them in stacks of four. Cut 3 1/2 inch strips of fabric from the light and dark colors and set them aside.

4. Position the smaller template along one corner and two sides of a stack of four fabric squares. Cut along the curve of the template. Cut out the same number of light and dark pieces. Use two dark and two light pieces to make one quilt block.

5. Fold a 3-1/2 inch strip of fabric in half to get two pieces with one cut. Align the larger template along the loose ends corner of the folded fabric strip and cut along the curve. Cut the same number of light and dark pieces with the smaller template.

6. Set aside the arced pieces and the pieces from which they were cut. Re-assemble the squares and strips with arced pieces of the opposite color.

7. Fold each arced piece in half so that the straight sides are aligned. Finger crease each piece to mark the center.

Assemble the Quilt Pieces

1. Place one dark and one light fabric piece (one each of the two different sized pieces) with right sides together. Align the center crease and pin there to secure, then align the pieces along the cut edges and pin there.

2. Pin in the middle of the fabric to either side of the first straight pin. Continue pinning along the curve, placing pins in between the ones that are in place, so that the seam is secure.

3. Machine stitch along the curve. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Sew the pieces with the larger piece facing up.

4. Refer to the chosen design and create the required number of each block. Assemble the smaller blocks into larger ones.

5. Lay out the completed larger blocks. Arrange them to achieve the desired finished pattern.

6. Position the larger blocks right sides together and carefully pin the together. Take care to align the seams perfectly so that the finished quilt conveys a seamless pattern.