6.05.2012

EZ Dresden Ruler post 2 - the Snake Trail Tutorial




I love this quilt. I cut this picture out of a Garnet Hill catalog years ago and stuck it in a file so I could recreate it someday. I wasn't sure of the name of it and asked around. Elisa found out some great info on it - thanks Elisa!

Here is what she found:

There is an awesome post about variations of this type of block here. It has tons of pictures which could inspire you to come up with your own great project!

If you have EQ6 or EQ7 - you can download the Playing with Snakes project. This post will show you what it's all about.

This page from a book by Pepper Cory shows how you can change up the Snake Trail (also called a Drunkard's Trail because it is related to a Drunkard's Path).

And this post shows you how to draw your own block!


And now for my own tutorial on the Snake Trail

1. Cut a 3 inch wide strip of fabric.



2. Align your EZ Dresden Ruler so that the 1" line and the 4" line are on each edge of your strip. Cut along both  angled sides.


You will end up with a block like this


3. Flip your ruler over and line it up again with the 4" line and the 1" line on each strip edge. Line up the left edge of the ruler with the left edge of the fabric. Continue cutting along the length of the strip.


You will end up with blocks like these.


4. Once you get your blocks cut - arrange them so that you have 5 in a row. Sew them together and press.


Here is what you will have when you're done sewing. You will need 2 arcs like this for each 8.5 inch (unfinished) block.

 

5. Print a template and cut it out. (Download the template HERE). Make sure when you print it, you print it at actual size, 100%, or whatever it is that keeps the sizing correct for your printer. When you cut out the pieces, they should go all the way to the edge of an 8.5 inch wide paper. 

You will have 3 pieces (2 corners and a middle). Cut 1 of each for each 8.5" (unfinished) block. I doubled up my fabric to get 2 of each piece.


Here is what you will have.


6. Lay out your pieces like this. This is how they will be pieced. There is no need to trim your arcs into perfect curves. You can piece them as they are.


7. When piecing curves, you need to pin. I am usually not a pinner, but for curves it is a must. Start by finding the middle of each piece and pinning them right sides together.


8. Next pin the edges.

8. Next pin everything in between. You cannot have too many pins when pinning a curve.


9. Now you can sew them together. I would suggest sewing with your background piece on top since it is a more accurate curve.

10. Once you've sewn all the curves together (4 for each block), you'll have a block that looks like this. As you can see, it's a little wonky. Sewing curves will do that sometimes. I used starch and steam to try to stretch it into place, and then I trimmed it up to 8.5 inches.


And that is how you make a Snake Trail block! 

There are a few different ways to put them together ...






But I'm going to stick with my original plan. Maybe by the end of the summer I'll have an entire quilt!


Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you liked my tutorial. If you'd like to win your very own EZ Dresden Ruler please leave a comment on this post OR my other post telling me something fun you're planning to do this summer. I will pick a winner on Saturday, June 9th. 

I hope you've had a chance to check out the other posts and don't forget to check out the upcoming ones as well. All details on the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild website. Thanks so much for stopping by and have fun sewing!

87 comments:

  1. My DH and I are going on a luxury steam train tour of Scotland. We've done this trip before and I'm really looking forward to going again.

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  2. great block....we plan on going to Sight and Sound this summer in Pa.

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  3. I love the yellows, it looks so summery!

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  4. Leigh, this is such a great tutorial! I love the wavy layout you're using. And it's neat to see so many ways to use this ruler!

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  5. Ooh, I absolutely love this block! I'm planning on going camping with my whole family this summer!

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  6. Just adorable, and excellent tutorial!!! I'm always looking for something to make for kids. My summer plans are to do a lot of hiking and kayaking while I'm staying up here in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

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  7. Oh my gosh!!!!! I love that block! What am I going to do now? Another project to go on the list ;)

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  8. Wonderful tutorial.Summer is a time to get ready for the winter holiday seasons - then I can hibernate.

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  9. I am planning a trip to NYC to see daughter, SIL, and grandson. Can't wait.

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  10. Lee this is fantastic! I love this idea. This is going on my list of things I have to make. Thanks for the great tutorial. I love all the patterns that can be achieved by placing the blocks differently!

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  11. Christmas sewing starts this summer. That and going to Alaska in a couple of weeks are my summer plans. :)

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  12. Sweet! This pattern is in the latest Denyse Schmidt book and I really want to make it but was dreading the templates. Now I can just use a ruler!

    Oh , and only a quilter would decide that sewing curves is something fun she'll be doing this summer!

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  13. Love your clever use of the wedge ruler! My main summer fun was a vacation last week to several National Parks. Now I'm ready to sew!

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  14. How cool!!! I'd love this ruler :) We are going to see Mount Rushmore this year!!

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  15. I love this quilt! I really like the idea of doing something unique (not round) with the ruler. As for fun...I plan on quilting and reading....I don't think I can handle much more than that this summer!

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  16. Leigh, this is a fantastic tutorial! I giggled at Chelsea's comment that only a quilter would decide that sewing curves is something fun to do this summer... I love it! Thanks for sharing your template so we can play too, plus your layouts showing the versatility of this fun block. Who knew that you could get such a great variety of uses from this dresden wedge ruler? Nicely done. Please exclude me from the drawing - I have a ruler, just had to comment.

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  17. Oooooh, I NEED a dresden ruler! I just found a quilt I want to make the other day that uses it plus now I REALLY want to make this quilt. :)
    So fun stuff this summer, one I plan on sewing more this summer! Yay sewing! I plan on camping with my family, going to Disneyland, an just doing fun lazy things such as swimming, picnics with the kids, crafts, and lots of movie watching. :)

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  18. I love this pattern! I didn't know it was called Snake Trail though! Thanks for a great tutorial - I'd love to win a ruler so I could have a go at this!
    This summer we're off to Ireland!

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  19. This summer I will be making a quilt for my son! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial.

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  20. We're planning to take our 4 kids on a road trip from our home (in So. Cal) to a week-long bible school in Oregon! It will be an adventure to say the least :) Thanks for the tutorial - those blocks are gorgeous!

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  21. Love that you did this tutorial Leigh! I've been wanting to do something like this. Adding it to the list!

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  22. I am losing my fear of making this quilt! The lessons are very informative.

    it is my Uncles 90th birthday, so we turned the event into a large party reunion by renting a house on the Gulf Shore! Can't wait"

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  23. great tute! will put this on my to-do list and make it my project for this summer!

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  24. We are spending a week in the woods with our daughter and two grandkids. It will be so much fun. I love this quilt, and thanks for a chance to win.

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  25. I plan to have fun sewing and quilting.

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  26. I'm planning to accompany my hubby on a business trip to Amelia Island. Will be meeting up with a dear friend of our there. It'll be great just to spen time with friends

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  27. Something fun #1..we knocked down a wall to create a great room and finally have space for a dining table. Now we get to paint, replace the carpet, shop for furniture etc. Something fun #2..winning your give away!

    mheldmyer(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  28. We hope to be without kid sitting during the summer so can work on a few quilt projects. I want to make a baby quilt. I'm going to call this quilt citrus curls - and it's pretty. Thanks for the opportunity to win an ez dresden ruler.

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  29. Love the tutorial. Never knew there was so much you could do with the dresden designs. i would love a ruler to play with........

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  30. Lots of trips to the park and the library with the two kiddos that I nanny :) Thanks for the chance to win! I love your snake trail quilt. Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to try out those curves!

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  31. Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial. If I ever get one of these rulers I'm making this!

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  32. Going to pick berries and peaches at a you-pick place. Cute Quilt!!

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  33. Kristen SandersonJune 5, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    We are planning a sailing trip in the Strait of Georgia. And I am also planning to get some sewing time in as well. Thanks for the chance. ksanderson@hotmail.ca

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  34. Such a great tutorial and not to terribly complicated. Add another project to my ever growing list! We just got back from Lake Powell which was the biggest plan for the summer, but we will probably head down south to St. George to see my family as well.

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  35. Very cool tutorial! I am amazed that this is created with the Dresden ruler. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  36. Love the way your layout photos can be stacked to make a very interesting quilt in itself. Super cool!

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  37. What a great looking tutorial. How fun.
    We're sticking close to home this summer other than for sure doing a weekend away. We're celbrating our 10th wedding anniversary this summer so we will take off somewhere fun.

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  38. What a great use for this ruler!
    We are planning to stay around home this summer and hang out at the pool :-)
    Amanda

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  39. This is AWESOME Leigh! A job well done on figuring out the pattern. I want to make this. Maybe it should be our next charity block with scraps.

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  40. Great tutorial! I plan to go to the outdoor theatre this summer. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  41. That is so great! Really good instructions, too. Well done my dear.

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  42. We are going to the Gideon Film Festival in Ashville, NC.

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  43. Hope to get to Denver in September for Broncos, aspens and Quilt-A-Fair! Enjoyed your post!

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  44. I had no idea there were so many options with this block. I've always been really intimidated by it, but I might just give it a go. Thanks for the tutorial. I'm going to McGrath Days in Alberta this summer. I get to watch the fam do lawnmower racing. Woohoo!

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  45. great tutorial. I'm staying home this summer and caring for my Dh and doing lots of quilting

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  46. Great tutorial & thanks for the chart in last post.I would be happy to win this ruler.

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  47. That was an amazing tutorial! I wish I could see it in person at the quilting group! Maybe one day we can fit it into our budget to fly me home. Fun this summer, I've got my first guests coming to visit this weekend, so I'm planning on going to Florence, Venice, and Ravenna over the next few days to do the tourist thing. The other exciting thing around here is that we've had several major earthquakes. Luckily where we live hasn't had major damage.

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  48. I plan on sewing, of course. And spending time with my kids.

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  49. I will be picking cherries with my grandson this summer. That will be quite an experience as just about everything is an experinece with my grandson. Thanks for the opportunity to win a Dresden ruler as I need one to get started on my Dresden project.

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  50. Love the tutorial. Thank you so much. The only fun thing I have planned so far for this summer is going to my friend's house for a "quilt retreat." She lives in another city and we get together for fabric/quilt related outings.

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  51. love all the dresden inspiration!! hope to get a camping trailer and decorate it just a bit....then go camping local here in the most beautiful NW xo

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  52. love all the dresden inspiration!! hope to get a camping trailer and decorate it just a bit....then go camping local here in the most beautiful NW xo

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  53. love the snake...never really thought about how it would be made as I'm still new to all the techniques. summer plans? Hubby and I be going to a hotel in the next town over...with our 3 kids 4yrs. and under. :) yeah, keepin' it simple this year.

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  54. This is so cute! This summer I am headed to Phoenix for the first time--I'm excited!

    Thanks for the chance to win :)

    Ellen

    ehystead (at) gmail (dot) com

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  55. Leigh, I think these are my favorite! Elliot's quilt and these sqaures are tied for first in my mind.

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  56. Love the snake. I didn't realise it used the Dresden. Thanks. Fun this summer-our five day family reunion. We camp, all the grandkids play all day and find things to entertain themselves. We gather for meals (all 125 or so or us) visit, play horseshoes, one morning is spent on work projects to improve the property, hike, talent show, campfire/spiritual night, fireside sings, and have a marvelous, relaxing time. Can't wait.
    One problem - we only have generators so the sewing machine has to stay home. Thanks.

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  57. I LOVE this Leigh! It's so so great! And I love that there are so many different variations just by rearranging your blocks. So cool. This summer I really hope we move. While that doesn't sound like the most fun thing in the world, actually being moved to a new place will be AMAZING!

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  58. I love your tutorial! The only plans I have this summer is to enjoy life and appreciate nature. THnaks for the chance to win.

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  59. What a great quilt the Snake Trail is. I love that there are so many options with so many looks! Thanks for your tutorial. I'm new to your site and saw your chart on your Part 1 post. How nice of you to fgure it all out and then post. Thanks! This summer is hard as my son, who is in the USMC is deployed and in Afghanistan. I will get to see and spend time with my grandson which is a Blessing. When I'm not babysitting I have embroidery, two BOM's, applique, hand piecing and some volunteer sewing to do.

    Thank you for a super giveaway and a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  60. Love the quilt and the tutorial is great! Deynse Schmidt has a snake trail in her new book and I was lucky enough to see it in person at a book signing. This quilt would be a great way of using up a lot of scraps! I plan on making a lot of quilts this summer and I may have to add this one to the list!

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  61. OK now I am thinking of making one of these while I am at Lake Powell. It is adorable. I have hosted rainbow swaps in the past and this would be a perfect to use up all of my 4" squares.

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  62. Oh my goodness........I plan to make a snake trail quilt this summer! Great tutorial! Thanks!
    Beth in AL

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  63. LOVE the snake! I've seen something similar done with double-wedding ring blocks. My BFF and I are headed to North Lake Tahoe for 5 days of quilting and sunshine in July. It's our 22nd annual trip without kids and hubbies - they get to stay home and explore the Santa Cruz beach area for 5 days. Bwahahahaha! (we love our men and our children, but it sure is nice to spend 5 days with just my best friend every once in awhile).

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  64. I really like the snake trail quilt. I'm going to go and have fun in small town usa - for the 4th of july celebration. Will be traveling from AZ - MN woo hoo

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  65. Oh, this is fabulous! Thanks for the tutorial. Now I really want a ruler so I can dive into my scraps and make a snake trail quilt. Inspiring!

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  66. This is such a great block. However... I would TOTALLY have to change the name of it. S....... (shudder...)

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  67. My summer fun plans include putting in a new patio. While some may not find this fun, I have lived 15 years in my wonderful house with a 3ft by 3ft patio in back. I celebrate my 40th birthday in July and I want to host a BBQ for friends and family on my new patio!

    Thanks for the great pattern. I love it. I am so new to sewing and quilting that I have only once sewn a curved line. This is so fun looking, and the options are so endless, that I may have to try it.

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  68. I love racing as in triathalons and running during the summer. So much fun. Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  69. I love racing as in triathalons and running during the summer. So much fun. Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  70. That is a great quilt pattern!!! It would be a fun use of scraps. I hope to enjoy sewing with the grands this summer.

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  71. I enjoyed your ideas for something other than a 'plate' to make witht he template! Summer fun -- trip to D.C. with my youngest.

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  72. I never knew you could do other things with a dresden template, other than make the pointed dresden plates. I'm loving your quilt design and all the different ways you can put blogs together to make different snake quilts!
    It's winter down here in Australia, but what I WOULD do if it WERE summer.... would be to take the steam train up to the lake in Emerald (as green as it sounds!) and have a picnic by the water with my man, and listen to the cockatoos.

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  73. What a great design! Would make a great game quilt for the lake trips. We plan to have many trips there this summer (very local) as we teach our 4 yr old how to swim.

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  74. We plan on visiting relatives in Pensacola. Thanks for the great tutorial and the give away chance!

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  75. Always wanted to make this quilt! With this ruler it seems like very easy and fast to cut.
    Great tutorial!
    Greetings from the Netherlands
    Marina Fluit

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  76. Awesome quilt block. Seems a bit more modern but reminds me of my grandmothers double wedding ring quilts. Love it! I'll be staycationing this summer and hopefully doing lots of quilting.

    Lisa

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  77. What a great pattern to do so many things with! Thanks for a fantastic tutorial

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  78. I've always loved this pattern and the thought of having a ruler instead of paper templates to make it is so appealing. Thanks for the share.

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  79. I love your quilt tutorial and your idea for a different take on the Dresden ruler! And my plans for this summer are as much sewing as I can get in, some canning (peaches, apricots), some cardmaking, and traveling. Thanks for the idea!!

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  80. Love your tute - thank you!
    I'm looking forward to a week in sunny Spain with my family. It really feels like Winter here in the UK at the moment!

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  81. I love this!!! I'm adding it to my own list of quilts to make. :)

    I'm quilting some blankets for the local children's hospital and have so many ideas!!! Maybe this will be one of them?

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  82. Leigh, I just cannot get this block out of my head. I've got to wait quite a while, but I'm SO EXCITED to make one of these! I love how versatile it is with all of the different layouts. I'm so glad you shared this. It is on my to-do list for sure.

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  83. This is a greta post with all the links. Makes me really want to make one of these.

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  84. Just wandered past this post love the snake trails.

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  85. I remember that Garnet Hill quilt too, how many times I wished I had bought it. I was just thinking of it this morning! Thanks for this pattern deconstruction!

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