Drunkard's Path Challenge
- Pitchers Boutique
- Apr 25
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 26
This months Lumin Fabrics (previously known as Island Batik) challenge was to create a quilt inspired by the drunkard's path block. This is typically a 2 piece block with a curve going from corner to corner. I have made a few of these blocks and quilts before and have always found that the larger size blocks are a lot easier to sew than the smaller ones. So, if you have never made a drunkard's path block before, I would recommend, starting with a larger block than what you are thinking of. My favorite go to size would probably be a 6-8 inch block, as those sew so smoothly.

I have an amazing husband who loves to 3D print things, and so I found that you can 3D print the drunkards path templates. I asked if he could print a few sizes for me and he had them printed in less than a day! I had from a 1.5 inch block to a 6.5 inch block. This made it a lot easier to cut out the blocks, especially with the idea I had in mind.


If you would like to also 3D print them heres the link: 3D Print File for Drunkard's Path Templates.
When I was trying to come up with an idea of what I wanted to design with this block, I remembered that April is the month of Military Child. Its typically called "Purple Up" and you will see a lot of purple used with the design of a dandelion. "The dandelion, with its ability to thrive in diverse environments and its tenacity to grow despite adversity, has become a symbol of resilience for military children. Like dandelions, they are often uprooted from familiar surroundings due to frequent moves dictated by their parents' military service." (Quote from Operation Red Wings Foundation).
I love the Purple Up artwork that I have seen over the last 17 years that I have been a military spouse. Each year a new design comes around and somewhere on base you typically see a poster or two and usually some artwork at the schools. Its always so inspiring. One design you see often, in one way or another, is a child blowing a dandelion as the smaller pieces blow away in the wind. Its just a beautiful symbol of how military children fly so far away from home and set roots somewhere new to grow again.
I wanted to use the drunkard's path block to create the dandelions and then have a silhouette of a child blowing the dandelion. It was a brilliant idea but how do I get a drunkards path block to look like a dandelion. That was my next challenge.
I started by pulling some bright colored strips sets:

Okay, but first can we appreciate the names of these collections and just how perfect they fit in with my ideas. Just Dandy (because you will see one of the designs is a dandelion) and the Winged Things (also so fitting because the flower blows in the wind and flys but also butterflys do a lot of changing as well.) I loved the bright rainbow like colors because military children are always a basket full of diversity.

I pulled this blender, Marble Leprechaun to use for my flower stems. Again, I love that this fabric has such movement that feels like its being pushed in the wind. (You will see this is a theme).

I used the solid white batik as my background, as I wanted to do some quilting and had an idea to make it pop on the white fabric, but we will come back to that in a few.
Now, after doing some doodling on my ipad, and then in adobe, I finally had an idea of what I wanted to do.

I loved the idea of using the drunkards path block to create some type of layering effect. I wanted to have color then some lighter color then color again as the petals, but how would I do that with a curved block. This was the challenge I had to figure out. I started taking some of the 2.5 inch strips, separated them into colors, and cut them in half.

I then sewed them in different sizes, like 1.5 or 2 or 2.5 inch pieces to each other. I sewed one color to a white then to another color, repeated. I then took those pieces, and staggered them and sewed them together. I did not line up any of the pieces. I wanted the colors to move up and down, just like the dandelion pieces.


Once I built up a decent amount of the strips of colors, I then used my templates to arrange where I wanted the curves to be.


I sewed a ton of different sized strips of fabrics for each block size and then used the reminisce to cut out the 2.5 and the 1.5 inch drunkards blocks curves. I then used the 3D printed templates to cut out all my white pieces to complete the drunkards path blocks. I carefully sewed them together, trying not to stretch or pull the many scraps of fabric. I starched everything and ironed them with my Oliso iron, and then trimmed them into perfect squares.

The drunkard's path blocks were finally coming together and looking amazing! I was getting so excited to put this quilt top together.
Next I needed to make the stems. I made these using a template I created, which I printed out and glued onto a comic book board and then cut them out again.

Once I had the pieces all cut out for the stems I took my time and sewed those up. Now, these can be a bit trickier as they have that thinner last curve. This quick video shows you how I did that:
I squared the stems up and set everything out to see how it looked.

My concept was coming together, slowly but surely.
I now needed to work on the silhouette. I reverted back to my typical method and made an FPP (foundation paper piecing pattern). This made it a lot easier for me to piece in the large dandelion (which you will see later). When I designed the FPP, I knew where I needed certain sections to land because I knew I wanted to add in the large dandelion near the stem.

I was loving the idea of using a purple batik for the silhouette and the same green batik for the stem. I went through all my purple batiks and it came down to two different ones, but I ended up going with the Amethyst solid batik. As I had an idea, that the solid batik, was a better option for.

Once I had all the FPP pieces sewn, I began to lay out the design.

Now, if you look at the FPP you can see I purposely placed that section at the eyes/forehead, to allow me to add the top of the dandelion block. I also added a section in the hand where I could add in the dandelion block from the top and also the left side. You can see I pieced a few pieces near the hand and below the last dandelion block to add to that section of the hand. Once I had everything measured and marked I began to add the rest of the blocks into the quilt.

The top looked amazing! I was so excited to see it coming together. I mean look at those dandelions, it looks so real and just perfect.
I then needed to decide on a backing. I again pulled all my purple fabric and just started cutting large blocks. I wanted the back to show the range of purple fabrics, just like our diverse military kids.

Once I had the back all pieced, I moved on to getting this beast of a quilt sandwiched and ready for quilting. I decided to use my Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton Batting. This is one of my favorites to use for free motion quilting as it doesn't add a bunch of bulk and its perfect for Spring time because its both warm and cool.


Now the hard part, picking the thread I want to use for the quilting. I had the idea to quilt the wind she is blowing around the white areas of the quilt. My idea was to use a purple thread.

I pulled some purple Aurifil thread and ended up going with the medium colored thread #2520. I started sewing and ended up hating it. It just was too dark and was showing EVERY mistake.

So, jack the ripper came to visit and I began to remove all of the thread. Once I had a clean canvas again, I decided to go with Aurifil #2515 and this thread was perfect. It was light enough it didnt jump out at you but bright enough that you still felt the movement of the wind.


I did end up using the 2520 thread on the silhouette and added some dandelion free motion quilting.

Once I had all the quilting done (which took several days). I was excited to get that binding on.


It was done! or was it.
I still wanted to add something but wasn't sure about my time frame (as you will see soon) so I finished the quilt, and then added this last bit after, when I knew I had more time.
One thing about military kids is they are always amazing, brave, joyful, resilient, strong and determined. They thrive in moments where most of us wouldn't. I wanted to add words to the silhouette to give that pop of color but also remind those who see this quilt how our military children can be all those things.
I spent several days, hand sewing the worlds on to the quilt.


Now it felt complete. Just in time for my youngest sons Purple Up school picnic. I joined his class and school for a picnic outside on a beautiful day here in England and had a little photo shoot with his class.
I am so thankful that these kids are our future as they are a blessing to us all. Each child who held onto the edge of this quilt has a story and they are all unique, empowering and someday I hope they know that they inspire me. Thank you to my sons teacher Ms. Sciucco who helped me collect a few hands to hold this quilt.

Now heres a few more up close photos of the entire quilt.













I was able to get a little video put together of the quilt as well.
I want to thank Oliso for the amazing irons that helped me with this project. I want to thank Hobbs batting for the perfect batting to free motion quilt on. I also want to thank Aurifil for the many purple threads (as well as a green and white) that I used to quilt with.
Thank you Lumin Fabrics for allowing me to show off two perfect collections for a beautiful quilt.
This quilt will be donated to the intermediate school here on our base and I hope it will hang somewhere in the school to show how much those kids mean to us all.
Happy Sewing!
Oh wow, how creative and unique! Your design is beautiful, and I love all these little hands holding the quilt!
Love how this turned out, Sarah!
I have 4 grandchildren that are,
or have been military children. This quilt touches my heart.
WOW and more WOW
You are such a talented person Sarah!!!!😍
This is so incredibly beautiful. You made me cry! We are not a military family, but we live right next to Camp LeJeune, so many of the kids at my son's school are. What a powerful statement. Love it.