Block History - Drunkard's Path
"Old quilters never die, they just go to pieces."
Greetings Quilter - The project for the weekend was to add the patches between the didamonds in my quick star quilt. This involved set in seams - after I figured out which fabric I was going to use. The fabric selection was rather interesting, and I ended up with a fabric that wasn't even in my first stack of choices. My original plan was to use a blue, probably a light blue so the star would stand out. As it turned out, the light blues did nothing for the star, and I gathered a dark purple from my stash and decided that was the one.
Now the squares are all in place, and it's time to add some more diamonds. Those are cut and ready to sew.
In the meantime, I made a quick trip to my local fabric shop and picked up some batik fabrics. In going through my stash, I discovered a kitty batik that I got a few years back. With m. mouse's 15th birthday celebration coming up later this year, I decided it would be fun to turn the fabric into a quilt. Got some great fabrics, have no idea what the design for the quilt will be - but it should be fun! Something I am pondering - I have been thinking about how to do an online class that would be kind of live. That is, everyone would be working on the same quilt, and I'm thinking it would be fun to create a project that could be completed in one or maybe two days. I'm working out the technology because I want to include video as well as written instructions plus have an opportunity to either talk (internet phone or regular telephone) or have an active discussion forum, where you could post a question and I would be live at designated times to talk online or answer the questions that have been posted. Somehow I will work out the technology, and as a first couple of questions -
I'd like to hear what you have to say in terms of those questions as well as a particular quilt preference. I have a couple in mind - a baby quilt, a photo quilt, a crazy quilt, or a quilt that uses jelly rolls. Send your ideas to me at: penny@how-to-quilt.com I'll keep you all posted. I'd like to do one next month! In the meantime, Happy Happy! And now for the rest of the news - - Happy Quilting!
Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation
Also, mark you calendar for this Sunday, April 26, when Scott Murkin joins us. The Conversation will begin at:
He is a quilt artist as well as quilt judge and physician - in his "other" life. That, too, should be a fun Conversation. More information will be coming during the week.
Pepper Cory, our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation guest in March, loves the Drunkard’s Path quilt block. So I thought it was appropriate to include some information from Pepper’s book, Happy Trails. This book is devoted exclusively to Drunkard’s Path and its variations, and contains excellent information about sewing the block, designing quilts using the block and some history. The basic block is made of a grid of squares formed with a quarter-circle and its wing-shaped remainder. Frequently the patches are made using only two colors – one dark and one light – with the placement of the light and dark changing in the patches of each block in order to create a design. Drunkard’s Path is one of those very old blocks whose history is not well recorded. And, as many quilt blocks, was known by different names in various regions of the country. To the Amish, the block was known as Solomon’s Puzzle or Old Maid’s Puzzle. In Iowa, a quilter recorded the block as Old Maid’s Dilemma. Maybe because of the curves or the name, this pattern was not popular among the Amish until they began selling their quilts to non-Amish folks. Even among non-Amish, modern quiltmakers, a Drunkard’s Path quilt carries unpleasant connotations, and stories from generation to generation continue to be passed down about how sleeping under a Drunkard’s Path quilt might bring bad luck and cause a person to develop a taste for “drink” and wander far from home. On the other hand, there are quilters who love the challenge of piecing the curves, and the intrigue of designing unique quilts using these simple squares with curves. Using Pepper’s technique for sewing these curves, you’ll be amazed how really easy they are to sew and how quickly these blocks go together. Check out the video below showing how to sew the Ghostwalk quilt block together. This, too, is a variation of Drunkard’s Path.
Postcard Quilts for the Troops July 4th Roundup Next - Deadline MAY 20!
Penny's Postcard Posse has sent more than 15,000 fabric postcards to our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and the hospital in Germany. As quilters, we know what those postcards mean to the men and women who recieve them. Some who get them receive no other mail from home. And for all of them, it's a reminder of the wonderful freedoms they are fighting for and the comforts they will enjoy when they return home. The 4th of July Roundup is in full swing - the deadline is May 20! It's not too early to start making patriotic cards for our 4th of July Roundup. This will mark our 4th Year! Check out the postcard patterns on www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com I will continue to add designs, and patterns for the fabric postcards are always free. Remember the Birthday Roundup - Diane had a great idea to send over a package of Birthday postcards that can be handed to soldiers the day of their birthday! What a great idea. So, we've set up a deadline of August 10, and there is plenty of time to get some postcards made by then. She will send over a big box and the soldier "in charge" can hand them out as birthdays arrive. I will be adding birthday-themed postcard designs to www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com, so keep on checkin' To make the 4th of July deadline, get your cards to Diane by May 20. Please send your cards to:
Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com Special Note - we are in the process of changing the Picture Gallery on the Fabric-Postcards.com site. It may take a few days, so bear with us. Not to worry - We have all of the pictures and will get everything squared away soon.
Featured Block in Video - Idaho Star Quilt Block
This Idaho Star quilt block is a simple 8 pointed star. Simple, and relatively easy. It is made using 8 diamonds that make the center star, and the sides include triangles and squares sewn as set-in seams or Y seams. Sewing set in seams really isn't that difficult. Watching the video may clear it all up for you. And, there is an article which has close up pictures of how to sew the set-in seams. Download the Idaho Star Quilt Block Pattern
April Quilt Block Patterns The April selection of free quilt block patterns includes a variety of 4 patch quilt blocks, ranging from the easy to make to some that are a little more complex. Click here to download your April FREE quilt block patterns
Click here to download your April FREE quilt block patterns |
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Block of the Month – Drunkard’s Path
