A New Spin on Drunkard's Path Blog Tour (and Giveaway!)
Just when you think there's nothing new under the sun, a book comes along that knocks your socks off! That's what I thought when I first saw the quilts in John Kubiniec's book, A New Spin on Drunkard's Path. It's full of Drunkard's Path variations, tips and ideas that take a humble block to a new level of visual interest and better yet, they are deceptively easy to make!
The quilts in his book are not only quite original in concept, but they also make an old block feel very contemporary. The rest of the book is filled with lots of hints and tips, which I'm a big fan of, and I especially like the section about how to find time to quilt in a busy world! Very practical for all of us!
This is my favorite quilt in the book:
"Bowties" is a super-scrappy quilt with black accents. John uses 1930s reproduction prints in his version. I think if I were to make it I'd use a combination of bright prints and solids with a medium-dark gray as the accent. That would make a more modern version of this contemporary setting.
For this post, I decided to actually make a few blocks. I have to tell you, I'm not a curved piecer. I've tried in the past and never had much luck. I couldn't figure out how to get the concave and convex parts to fit together just right. So this time, I decided to follow the directions and see if I had better luck! The results, I'm happy to say were perfect!
John's tutorial is in-depth with step-by-step photos, very helpful for a visual learner like me! I used these templates from Marti Michell and make 6" blocks with the Corner Triangle Variation.
If you don't have the templates, John includes instructions for making your own templates, but I strongly recommend buying the pre-made ones - especially if you're going to make 100+ blocks. It really takes a lot of hassle out and you get to the sewing faster!
Here's my cut-out pieces. Using the templates, I was able to cut them perfectly, which is probably why it was so easy to piece them perfectly!
Once I had my samples made, I played around with arrangements. There are lots of possibilities with these blocks! These are my favorites:
I'm really happy I made the sample blocks. I really had no illusions that I'd be able to curve piece any better than I ever have before. But with these results coupled with all the variations John shows us, I find myself thinking about adding in Drunkard's Path blocks to future quilts!
The quilts in his book are not only quite original in concept, but they also make an old block feel very contemporary. The rest of the book is filled with lots of hints and tips, which I'm a big fan of, and I especially like the section about how to find time to quilt in a busy world! Very practical for all of us!
This is my favorite quilt in the book:
For this post, I decided to actually make a few blocks. I have to tell you, I'm not a curved piecer. I've tried in the past and never had much luck. I couldn't figure out how to get the concave and convex parts to fit together just right. So this time, I decided to follow the directions and see if I had better luck! The results, I'm happy to say were perfect!
John's tutorial is in-depth with step-by-step photos, very helpful for a visual learner like me! I used these templates from Marti Michell and make 6" blocks with the Corner Triangle Variation.
If you don't have the templates, John includes instructions for making your own templates, but I strongly recommend buying the pre-made ones - especially if you're going to make 100+ blocks. It really takes a lot of hassle out and you get to the sewing faster!
Once I had my samples made, I played around with arrangements. There are lots of possibilities with these blocks! These are my favorites:
I'm really happy I made the sample blocks. I really had no illusions that I'd be able to curve piece any better than I ever have before. But with these results coupled with all the variations John shows us, I find myself thinking about adding in Drunkard's Path blocks to future quilts!
Now for the Giveaway! C&T and John are giving away a copy of the book (an eBook if you are not in the U.S.) and a set of Drunkard's Path templates (shown above). For your chance to win, answer this question in the comments: What's your favorite color to use in a quilt? I'll be drawing for a winner on Oct. 8. Make sure to leave you email address so I can contact you if you're the winner!
Here's the line-up for the rest of the blog tour. Check in each day for more chances to win!
Here's the line-up for the rest of the blog tour. Check in each day for more chances to win!
September 26, 2016
September 27, 2016
September 28, 2016
September 29, 2016
September 30, 2016
LoveBug Studios https://lovebugstudios.com/blog/
October 2, 2016
October 3, 2016
October 4, 2016
October 5, 2016
October 6, 2016
October 7, 2016
Good Luck!
My favorite color to use in a quilt, outside of white is green. I think it makes the other colors pop!
ReplyDeleteBlue is my go to color. I like that it can go from almost black to almost white, so it can be used alongside every other color.
ReplyDeleteI'm a scrappy quilter. But if I need a constant in a quilt, dark green is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI am trying a black background on my current quilt that has lots of bright colors. Thanks for giveaway, I do want to try a drunkards path because of all the possibilities.
ReplyDeletedjcutting2 at gmail dot com
I used green a lot - my favorite color.
ReplyDeleteThat quilt with the black accents is so interesting!! The Marti Michell templates are always great. Any quilt with some version of red appeals to me - from pinks to true red and through to magenta.
ReplyDeleteBlue or aqua
ReplyDeletemari@hafenstein.net
Red is my favorite color. So many shades and tints. The more the better.
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt you chose. Thanks for the giveaway.
REDs or black! Just a little of one or the other adds so much.
ReplyDeleteI love Drunkard's Path quilts. So much variation can from this block. My favorite color is probably the cool color range. In particular greens. Mostly I like to work with analogous colors.
ReplyDeleteI recently finished making my first Drunkard's Path quilt, and really happy with the variety of combinations one can come up with. My favorite color to quilt with lately, has been a variety of grays! Thanks for the opportunity to win what looks like a great book! wensnyder@gmail.com
ReplyDeletefavorite color(s) in a quilt is orange and aqua.
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to like orange and find I use it more in my quilts. Norma tombenz@charter.net
ReplyDeleteBlue is my favorite, but purple is close, so I often use them together!
ReplyDeleteCORK@PA.RR.COM
Red! Well, actually red, black, and white.
ReplyDeleteI love to use a golden yellow.
ReplyDeleteI find myself using more grey in my quilts with teal blue a close second. L_mourning@sccoast.net
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of red and all colors that go with it... even some that don't... Judybuzby@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteBlue and purple are my favorite colors to use in quilts.
ReplyDeleteI love using purple, teal and black together! mumbird3@gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI've been using a lot of gray lately.
ReplyDeleteI love using purple, teal and black together! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI'm using a lot of red-orange in my quilts these days.
ReplyDeleteLooking at my stash I would say blue. Drhodes9@cox.net
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color to use in a quilt is blue. Any shade, any tone. I have never met a blue I didn't like! melissagerber93@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy favourite colour is ORANGE!!! Looks like a great book.
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of Blue in quilts. Thanks for a chance to win. sandi1100@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI like using red in my quilts, especially with black and white.
ReplyDeleteI am a scrap quilter so I use them all. However, I do have a red work quilt in my UFOs and am now working on a graduation gift for a granddaughter at the University of Alabama that is red and white with some black houndstooth. So I could say red.
ReplyDeleteI love aqua/teal/turquoise types of colors. I make a lot of scrappy quilts, but my favorite quilts have those colors in them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is probably peach or blue although it depends on the theme I'm working on. Thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome book! cookem@tas.edu.tw (international - I'm in Taipei, Taiwan)
ReplyDeleteTangerine is my favorite color to use in a quilt. I like most shades of orange and particularly like it with blues in the mix.
ReplyDeleteanother book to add to my I want list, have not tried drunkard`s path no excuse as I do have the template! Green is top of my list for color to work with
ReplyDeleteMost of my quilts use LOTS of colors, but some shade of blue shows up in just about all of them.
ReplyDeletejklmengland at windstream dot net
When I look at all the quilts I've made, I see an awful lot of burgundy. I never would have guessed! aevrard(at)rcn.com
ReplyDeleteOf all the difficult questions ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like to use different colour combinations every time. From black with muted colours, cream with scraps, modern brights or cosy country colours. As long as it has colour I suppose, though I am considering a black and white one at the moment!
I love blue, so that tends to creep into most of my quilts. lewisnancy54@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love scrap quilts but I make sure I have red in them and placed in the right place so that the eye will move all over the quilt. Nancy P.
ReplyDeleteI love to use orange in quilts - a little or a lot! Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteTurquoise is my absolute favorite color...
ReplyDeleteI love all colors in a quilt and work on mainly on scrap quilts, but I always make sure to scatter a bit of red through out the quilt for eye movement. And I seem to end up with a skinny border of red on a lot of my scrap quilts
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of grey
ReplyDeletesharongalli@gmail.com
My favourite colour is burgundy. It seems to go with all of my decore.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is a toss up between red & purple...couldn't choose just one...actually, I LOVE all colors! Guess that's why I love scrap quilts sooo much!
ReplyDeleteWhite is my new favorite color. Thanks for a chance to win. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is green.
ReplyDeleteLooking at my stash - it is clear that blue is the winner - in all its shades
ReplyDeletemy fav color has always been green - st paddy's green! [st pat day is my b-day!}
ReplyDeleteI like green but as a quilter I use a lot of all colours for scrappy quilts. This is an interesting variation on the drunkard's path block - well worth considering. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteRed is my favorite go-to color, which is probably why I have more red in my stash than any other color.
ReplyDeleteRed is my favorite go-to color, which is probably why I have more red in my
ReplyDeletestash than any other color.
I love blue in a quilt.
ReplyDeleteHi from Down Under. My favourite colour for quilts is magenta - goes well with greys and black.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is red, but with lots of other colors included.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my favorite color is green it seems in my quilting life I use red the most. Thanks for the chance to win
DeleteNice description of the book. My favorite color to use in a quilt is lime green as an accent and to brighten the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI seem to use a raspberry plum color...if that's even a color? But I like it a lot!
ReplyDeleteAqua,teal,turquoise! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteAlmost every quilt I make these days has either black or yellow or both in them. I am constantly having to buy more! cotten.gloria@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLooking at my current projects I'd say I'm in my blue period.
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying this hop and the photos of this book! Love the DP block! I like to use some shade of gray in my projects. It seems most other colors look good up next to gray without either of them overpowering each other.
ReplyDeleteShades of blue, red, or purple. Thanks! sillynil@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSo hard to pick a color, but I guess brown. I love the warm richness it gives to a quilt, I love so many colors though, it's so hard to list one. rogineering@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised at how often orange sneaks into my quilts. Not my favorite color, but it works.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great book! My favourite color to use in a quilt varies, but is currently purple!
ReplyDeleteRed is my favorite color for quilt making. I would love to win and make one of the quilts. Thank you
ReplyDeleteKaren C.
fkmsc@comcast.net
Congrats Karen! You're the winner! I'll send an email with the details!
DeleteMy favorite colors are blue and green.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is teal
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color changes frequently. Currently it's grey!
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I have a favorite color that I consistently use except for Mist which goes with everything. Each quilt I make the colors depend on who it is being made for.
ReplyDeleteBright lime green - I call it my mid-life crisis green!!!
ReplyDeleteI like red the best.
ReplyDeleteLove the book my favourite colour is red
ReplyDeleteAnna
Love Orange!
ReplyDeleteI love orange! It really pops in a quilt!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is purple all shades; so they go with all other colors and styles.
ReplyDeleteI like yellow or orange. It really adds a nice pop of color
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color to use in a quilt is yellow. I love bright quilts.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color to use in quilts purple or red.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color for quilts is purple. Any purple but especially that deep rich purple.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the season. For Fall I love orange.
ReplyDeleteaggar2017@gmail.com
It seems that red appears the most often.
ReplyDeleteBlue is my favorite color so I use it in most of my quilts. I will use all shades and hues but especially bright blue. janinebaldwin@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteBlue is my go to colour!
ReplyDeletepurple! thanks for a chance to win this amazing book. i love drunkard's path and his quilts are stunning.
ReplyDeletei forgot to include my email address; but now it won't let me post as madhappycrafter - probably it's too late anyway! (this keeps showing as anonymous but here goes)
Deletesalim3796 at yahoo dot com
Red or orange. Or red AND orange. :)
ReplyDeleteI love bright jewel tones on a black background but if I have to choose just one color, I'd probably have to save that BLUE is my favorite color!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color to use would have to be RED! But I really like the aqua, purple & blue combination also.
ReplyDeleteCindy QuiltedDrummer at gmail dot com
I love mustard yellow, it blends well with others. Thanks for the giveaway, would love a book. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteOrange is my favourite, but gold is a close second!
ReplyDeletePurple
ReplyDeleteI'm a colorful person! I like scrappy and I love batik! I like color combos like purple/ red, turquoise/ green or purple.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely blue.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
Teal! It seems to pop against the other colors while still being one of the cool ocean colors I love. Lisa at blhoblit@msn.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color to use in a quilt is black.
ReplyDeleteI used to do everything in blue.. now I am trying to follow Bonnies inspiration and use scraps. I need to work with green more though...
ReplyDeletePurple! It's everywhere ... my quilts, stash, closet, shoes! Thanks for the opportunity to win! Candy
ReplyDeleteBlue!
ReplyDeleteMost days I would choose red/orange/yellow - the hotter the better. But occasionally mellow down with green/blue.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great book. I would love to win!
Blue is my favorite color.
ReplyDeleteI really like to get a bit of purple in. But I have to admit green and a white or cream are in almost every quilt I make! Those colors play so well with others.
ReplyDeleteUsually I use a bit of red. I love the color red and it makes things so happy and bright. tljeo(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHands down - it's purple!
ReplyDeleteMy current favorite colors seem to be teal, peach, and cream with some rusty orange thrown in.
ReplyDeletecathylouwilson@gmail.com
Purple, any hue is my favorite color for anything.
ReplyDeleteRed!!
ReplyDeleteTeal blue is my first pick for quilts.
ReplyDeleteLove using greens! Love this whole new idea for Drunkard's Path! Sooooo different..looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! :)
i like all colors in a quilt ,but if i needed to pick it would orange because of fall season you always see orange colors in fall
ReplyDeleteColor? Mostly blue or turquoise. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite colour in a quilt is light green. But the colour I put most often in a quilt would be beige or light neutrals.
ReplyDeleteSo many different designs to be made! I usually like to use greens in my quilts. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAwe Man! Only one favorite!? Can't do it. Love neutrals and I love jewel tones. Can't say that I always choose the same shades. Thanks for sharing tips in creating these drunken curves. rpsandbag at gmail .com
ReplyDeleteLove to include Blue, my son's favorite color:)
ReplyDeletelstangl482 at aol dot com
Lilac, it has to be lilac!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is yellow, but lately I seem to be favoring turquoise.
ReplyDeleteRosemary
That is a hard question and it depends on the day of the week and what I had for breakfast! I guess green always seems to make it into my quilts - goes with everything.
ReplyDeleteanything bright, to narrow it down a bit - Red Thanks for the give away 33mm33griffiths@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYellow. I love to work it in whenever I can.
ReplyDeleteI have a thing for all shades of red.
ReplyDeleteI don't have one favorite color--I LOVE color, period! My grand daughter's favorite color is blue to blue-green & my grand son's favorite color is red, so I do a lot of sewing with blues, blue greens & reds! I also am very partial to the complementary color combo of yellow-green with red-violet.
ReplyDeleteBlue is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteBlue!
ReplyDeletefav color is BLUE! love it. mdmn08 at gmail . com
ReplyDeleteAnything in the purple colour range will do for me
ReplyDeleteI'm obsessed with purple though I know I need to branch out!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color to use is green. Thank you for the chance. (I love that quilt!)
ReplyDeleteAs I look around my house I'd have to say shades of green are every where!
ReplyDeletecarolynrss0 at gmail dot com
My color that seems to find it's way into my quilts is green. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI favor Blues in a quilt.
ReplyDeleteI think navy is my very favorite color to use in a quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love teals - from blue to green incl. turquoise.
ReplyDeleteI thought I already entered this one, but can't find my comment,so I'm commenting now (or again). I love all colors, so it's hard to choose one, but today, I'll choose blue!
ReplyDeleteI love purple and black, not always together!
ReplyDelete