How to Sew a Drunkard’s Path Block

March 19, 2025

Hi!

I don’t know about you, but I love the look of curved pieced blocks, and I know they are sometimes seen as ‘too hard’ or a ‘bit tricky’, and really, nothing could be further from the truth. Today, I wanted to show you how to sew a Drunkard’s Path block, and with a couple of quick tips, you’ll see just how much fun they can be!

How to Sew a Drunkard’s Path Block

The Drunkard’s Path block is a classic pieced block, with two main pieces – the curved quarter circle, which is inset into a squared off background block.

The size of the block can be large or small, and the size of the curved inset can take a large proportion of the block like this, or it can be a much smaller area, like this one below.

Either way, the technique to piece them is exactly the same, and if you google “Drunkard’s Path quilts”, you’ll see just how many different variations there are for how to put these fun curved blocks together.

To start, you will need a pair of templates – for the curved insert, and the square background.

Your templates will look something like this (These show the seam allowance too).

Cut on the outer lines to make your templates.  If you’re cutting a few blocks, you’ll find that a heavy cardboard will make a great template, or if you want to fussy cut, (or keep a more permanent set of templates), then template plastic is great too.  Just use a pencil to mark the finished size of the block on each piece, then you’ll be able to make more next time too!

Trace your shapes onto the back of your fabric with a lead pencil, like we did for these smaller size blocks, or cut straight around the template if you’d prefer.

You will find that you can ‘back to back’ these pieces too, to save on fabric.

NOTE – You can trace and cut exactly around the template shapes, or, make the outer edges of the templates slightly larger.

Cut the inner and outer curves using the templates, but if you extend the fabric slightly either side of the curve, and around the outer edge of the templates this can help make the curved piecing easier, and more accurate when you trim your pieced blocks at the end. If you extend, then you need to do this for BOTH halves too.  It can be approximate, but don’t just extend from one template.

It’s worth extending slightly for smaller blocks, and you’ll find you don’t need to so much for larger Drunkard’s Path blocks.

When they’re cut, you will have two pieces like this for each block.

 

So, How to Sew a Drunkard’s Path Block?

 

It’s easy! With right sides together, line up the top edges as pictured above, and so that the raw edges line up on the curves at the top.

I know some people prefer to pin the centres together, and even pin all the way around the curve, but I find that seems to lead to more trouble, with puckers and pleats if you’re not very careful.

It is honestly soooooo much easier to just start at the edge, and take your time and sew them like this:

Use a ¼ inch foot to help you sew these accurately.

Sew a few stitches, then leave the needle in, lift the presser foot and pivot the top fabric slightly to line up the curved raw edges again.

Be careful to not stretch the fabric when you do this. (Starching your pieces first does help a lot, if you’re worried about stretching.)

Sew a few more (3-4) stitches, then stop, lift, pivot, foot down and sew the next few stitches.

Work your way around the curve in this way, sewing a few stitches at a time, and lining up your raw edges along the curve with your ¼ inch foot. Don’t push or pull, just sew a few stitches, leave the needle down, then ease the top curve to line up with the edge of the bottom piece for a few more stitches, and so on, until you reach the end.

Your finished seam. This is a small block, and the fabric appears more bunched up. Larger blocks will sit flatter at this point.

Your pieced block. Note that the pieces don’t meet perfectly at the sides – this is fine, and you’ll trim them shortly.

Press. The square half will naturally press toward the curve.

Press from the back, and then from the front.

Trimming is where the magic happens!

We wanted to end up with 3 ½ inch square blocks, but the most important measurement is the points at either end of the curve.

As you can see in the photo, we lined up our ruler so that the 2 1/8 inch points sit on either end of the curve.
Do this first and trim up the right hand side and across the top, then if you cut your square pieces slightly larger, turn the block around and measure the 3½ inches and trim the other sides to square it up.

Your finished 3 ½ inch square block.

Make sure to trim all of your blocks in exactly the same way, with the same measurements either side of the curve. This will means that your pieces will all match together perfectly.

And there you have it – how to sew a Drunkard’s Path block successfully!

Make a bunch, and put them together to make something lovely today.

I’ve been sewing lots of these blocks this past week, and I’ve fallen in love with them all over again.

There’s a new Drunkard’s path block quilt on it’s way for release in the Premium Online Quilt Magazine in a few months, so do check it out. Remember, it’s Only $2.95USD per issue, and each issue is filled with new release and exclusive patterns, as well as tips and tutorials like this. Subscribe today at www.OnlineQuiltMagazine.com and check it out (and then you’ll be first to try our “Primavera” Drunkard’s Path Medallion style quilt when it’s released! 🙂 )

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to sew these Drunkard’s Path Blocks.

Enjoy your week!

 

 

 

 

One response to “How to Sew a Drunkard’s Path Block”

1. Elizabeth J. Brown says:

   March 20, 2025 at 10:14 am

   I have completed a Drunkard’s Path Quilt some time ago and really enjoyed sewing it… Enjoyed reading of your kind suggestions.
   Regards, Elizabeth.

   Reply