Creating A Wedding Ring Quilt Block: Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding ring quilts are a daunting task, even for experienced quilters, due to the challenge of sewing curves. However, with the right tools and techniques, it is possible to create a beautiful and intricate wedding ring quilt block. The process involves cutting and sewing fabric pieces into football shapes or melons, which are then attached to a centre curvy hourglass piece. While it can be time-consuming, the stunning final product is well worth the effort.

Using templates to cut pieces

Using templates to cut the pieces for your wedding ring quilt block is a great way to ensure accuracy and consistency in your quilt block. Here are some detailed instructions on how to use templates for this project:

• Choose a Template: Select a template specifically designed for creating wedding ring quilt blocks. You can find these templates online or in quilting supply stores. Some popular options include the Marti Michell double wedding ring template and the Matilda's Own template.
• Cut Out the Template Pieces: Print or draw the template pieces onto cardboard or template plastic. Carefully cut out each piece, making sure the edges are smooth and accurate.
• Fabric Selection: Choose fabrics in your desired colours and patterns for your quilt block. It is recommended to have a variety of fabrics to create a scrappy look.
• Layout and Cutting: Lay out your chosen fabrics and place the template pieces on top, ensuring they are positioned in the correct direction. Carefully cut out the fabric pieces using sharp fabric scissors or a rotary cutter.
• Marking and Notching: Transfer any important markings from the templates onto the fabric pieces, such as match points or notches. These markings will help you align and sew the pieces together accurately.
• Fabric Preparation: Once all the pieces are cut, prepare them for sewing by pressing with an iron. This will ensure your fabric pieces are flat and easy to work with.
• Sewing: Follow the instructions provided with your chosen template to sew the pieces together. Take your time and use a consistent seam allowance, such as the commonly used 1/4" seam allowance.
• Pressing Seams: As you sew the pieces together, press the seams open or to one side, whichever is recommended in the template instructions. This will help reduce bulk and create a neat finish.
• Assembly: Continue sewing and assembling the pieces according to the template instructions until you have completed your wedding ring quilt block.

Remember to take your time and follow the template instructions carefully. Using templates will help you achieve precise results, ensuring that your wedding ring quilt block comes together beautifully.

Sewing the pieces together

Firstly, decide on the order of your fabric pieces. You can opt for a specific colour order or go for a scrappy look. Once you have decided on the arrangement, stack your pieces one on top of the other, from left to right, for the row you are sewing.

Next, take the first piece from the left and place it right sides together on top of the second piece. Match the sides and notches, and sew with a 1/4-inch seam. Continue this process, known as chain piecing, for the rest of the pairs in your stack. Keep adding fabric pairs and sewing without removing the fabric or cutting the threads in between.

Once you have finished chain piecing, cut the threads between each section. Having the pieces close by on your thigh, as suggested by Karen from Sew Many Ways, can help you keep track of things and avoid burying them on your messy sewing table.

Now, it's time to iron each pair. To reduce bulk, iron the seams open instead of to one side as you would typically do in quilting. Then, stack the second pair on top of the first, right sides together, matching notches. Iron the seams open again and sew the last set on top of the first, right sides together.

After that, iron this section and repeat the process until you have sewn all the sections. At this point, you should only have the remaining squares left to sew on.

If you haven't already, now is the time to sew the squares onto the ends of the curved sections. Simply add a square to each end, sewing them right sides together.

Now, it's time to assemble the bigger pieces. Take one of your 6-piece units and sew it to one of the white centre pieces. Match the centre notch of the 6-piece unit with the centre seam of the white piece. Then, fold the white piece, right sides together, and pin the ends, centre, or the whole side, depending on your preference.

Sew a 1/4-inch seam, easing the fabric as you go. It will be similar to sewing the curve of a watermelon slice. When you iron it out, the fabric should lay flat. Iron the seam towards the white piece, as it will naturally fold that way.

Next, sew the white section to the unit with the squares on the end. Match the centre of the white piece to the centre of the curved piece, and also match the notched ends of the squares to the notches of the other end pieces. Fold the fabric, right sides together, and pin all the way across, matching the edges.

Start sewing with a 1/4-inch seam on the square piece. When you reach the area where the square and curved pieces meet, drop your needle inside the existing seam and pivot slightly to continue sewing onto the white fabric. This step may be tricky to visualise, so refer to the arrows in the Sew Many Ways tutorial for guidance.

Iron the seams towards the white middle section and repeat this process for the other sections. Don't be discouraged if your seams don't line up perfectly; simply use your seam ripper to correct any mistakes and ease the fabric in again before re-sewing.

Finally, sew the four football shapes to the centre white piece. Match the centres and pin the seam. To ensure precise alignment, mark a small dot at the 1/4-inch mark in the centre of the tip of each end of the white centre piece and pin it over the seam between the last two pieces of the football block. Sew the pieces together and open up the seam, ironing it towards the centre.

And there you have it! You've sewn together the pieces for your wedding ring quilt block. Remember to take your time, especially when piecing the rows together, as this part can be challenging.

Pressing seams open

Before you start pressing, it is important to "set" your seams. To do this, lay the quilt block on your ironing board, right sides together, exactly as it came out of the sewing machine. Press your iron straight down on the seam. Then, open up the block and press as desired. This helps to relax the fibres in the fabric and makes them more pliable, resulting in flatter seams and less distortion.

Now, to press the seams open, lay the right side of your block against your ironing board. Use the tip of your iron to gently separate the two sides of your seam allowance. Press straight down. For longer seams, lift the iron slightly before moving it forward to separate the next part of the seam allowance. Continue until you have pressed the entire seam. If desired, turn the block over and press again from the right side.

When pressing seams open, it is important to press straight down and avoid any side-to-side pressure that might distort your fabric. Your goal is to achieve flat, undistorted fabric, a square block, and seams that lay flat.

Additionally, if you are working with a quilt pattern that has curves, intricate piecing, or lots of bias sewing, it is recommended to spray some starch on the fabric first before pressing. This will help to ensure that your seams lay nice and flat.

Sewing the blocks into rows

To sew the blocks into rows, start by sewing a third arc section to each of the block centres located at the edges of the quilt. If your quilt has three blocks in each row, for example, the centre blocks would not have a third side sewn to them at this time. Sew the blocks into vertical columns, ensuring that the seam joining the two columns is a gently curving seam.

Next, sew the columns together using one long seam that goes from top to bottom in a gentle curve. Make sure to match up the centres of each four-patch and the block centres with the pieced arc centres, just as you did when piecing the individual blocks.

It is also important to note that when sewing the rows together, you will need to match the notched ends of the squares to the notches of the other end pieces. Start sewing with a 1/4-inch seam on the square piece and then drop your needle inside the existing seam, pivoting slightly to continue sewing onto the white fabric. Iron seams towards the white middle section and repeat this process for the other rows.

Sewing the rows together

• Arrange the blocks: Place the blocks with light-coloured arcs on the right side of the first row and on the left side of the second row. This will create a mirror image of the arcs in the adjacent rows.
• Sew the remaining sides: Sew the remaining two sides of one block, which will become the bottom block on the right side of the quilt. This is the only block that will have all four arcs sewn before joining them together.
• Sew the third arc section: Start sewing a third arc section to each of the block centres located at the edges of the quilt. If your quilt has multiple blocks in each row, the centre blocks may not have a third side sewn to them yet.
• Sew the blocks into vertical columns: Notice that the seam joining the two columns will be a gently curving seam. This method avoids dealing with set-in seams.
• Sew the columns together: Sew the columns together with one long seam from top to bottom, following the gentle curve. Ensure that you match up the centres of each four-patch and the block centres with the pieced arc centres, just as you did when piecing the individual blocks.
• Press the seams: Press the seams in the direction that allows them to lie flat and cause the least amount of bulk. You may need to experiment with pressing them towards the darker fabric or the lighter fabric to achieve the best results.
• Address any issues: If you encounter any problems while sewing the rows together, such as seams not matching up perfectly, don't be discouraged. Small imperfections can be fixed with your seam ripper, and the fabric can be eased in again for a smoother finish.

Remember to take your time and enjoy the process of creating your wedding ring quilt. It is a challenging pattern, but with patience and attention to detail, you will be able to sew the rows together successfully.

Frequently asked questions