The Art Of Creating A Double Wedding Ring Quilt

The Double Wedding Ring quilt is a classic quilt block that is often given as a wedding present. The interlocking circles of the Double Wedding Ring quilt have been found on pottery as far back as the ancient Roman Empire. The first published Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern was published in the 1920s. The quilt is made up of arches sewn to melon shapes, which are then sewn together to form circles. The circles are then sewn into vertical columns and then sewn together to form rows. While the process is intricate, it is not impossible to master.

Pick a variety of fabrics to cover the small pieces and the C shape

Picking the fabrics for your double wedding ring quilt is an important step. The fabrics you choose will determine the overall look and feel of the quilt, so it's worth taking the time to select a variety of fabrics that work well together.

For the small pieces and the C-shape, you will need a range of light, medium, and dark fabrics. These can be coordinated to create a traditional look, or you can use a mix of solids and modern prints for a more contemporary feel. If you're using a pre-cut bundle, like a fat quarter, make sure you have a good selection of light, medium, and dark fabrics to work with.

When selecting your fabrics, consider the size and shape of the pieces you'll be cutting. You'll need to ensure that the fabrics you choose have enough variation in scale and colour to create interest and contrast. Look for fabrics with small- to medium-scale prints, as large prints may get lost or overwhelm the design. You can also use tone-on-tone fabrics, which have a subtle print that reads as a solid from a distance, to add depth and texture to your quilt.

Another option is to use a pre-printed fusible interfacing, which can be treated like a paper piecing pattern. This can be a great way to ensure your fabric placement is accurate, and it eliminates the need for cutting individual templates.

Remember to have fun with the fabric selection process and don't be afraid to experiment. Mixing and matching different fabrics and colours is a great way to make your double wedding ring quilt unique and truly yours.

Sew the blocks into vertical columns

Sewing the blocks into vertical columns is the next step after arranging the blocks into rows. This is the easiest way to assemble a double wedding ring quilt, as it avoids the need to deal with set-in seams.

To sew the blocks into vertical columns, 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, the centre blocks will not have a third side sewn to them at this time.

You will now notice that the seam that will be sewn to join the two columns together will be one gently curving seam. Sew the columns together with one long seam that goes from top to bottom in a gentle curve. Ensure that you match up the centre of each four-patch and the block centres with the pieced arc centres in the same way as the individual blocks were pieced.

This method of sewing the blocks into vertical columns first, followed by sewing the columns together, means that the quilt can be sewn in rows, rather than having to sew each block to the quilt individually.

Sew the columns together with one long seam

Now that you have sewn the blocks into vertical columns, the next step is to sew the columns together with one long seam. This seam will go from top to bottom in a gentle curve. It is important to match up the centre of each four-patch and the block centres with the pieced arc centres in the same way as the individual blocks were pieced. This will ensure that your quilt top is aligned correctly.

When sewing the long seam, it is helpful to stop often with your needle down to adjust the fabric as necessary. This will help you to maintain the gentle curve of the seam and ensure that the columns are sewn together accurately.

As you sew the columns together, you will notice that the seam that joins the two columns is a gently curving seam. This is one of the unique features of the Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern. By sewing the columns together with a long seam, you avoid dealing with set-in seams, making the assembly process much easier.

Once the columns are sewn together, your quilt top will start to take shape, and you will be one step closer to completing your Double Wedding Ring quilt!

Don't press seams again until the quilt top is finished

Pressing seams open is an important step in quilting, and it's no different when it comes to making a double wedding ring quilt. While it may be tempting to press seams as you go along, it's best to avoid pressing them again until the quilt top is finished. This is because pressing seams can create bulk and affect the overall lay of the quilt.

When making a double wedding ring quilt, you will be working with interlocking rings that represent the bond of marriage. This design involves sewing arcs of fabric to a background oval, creating a melon-shaped piece. The traditional method involves building up the quilt by adding these melon pieces to curved background diamonds. Alternatively, you can sew background corners to each melon, similar to a Drunkard's Path block.

As you construct the quilt, you will be handling multiple pieces and seams. Pressing the seams as you go can create bulk in the quilt, making it challenging to sew the pieces together neatly. It can also affect the lay of the quilt, impacting the overall appearance and drape. Therefore, it is advisable to hold off on pressing seams until all the pieces are in place and the quilt top is ready.

Once the quilt top is finished, you can then focus on pressing the seams. Press them open to reduce bulk and improve accuracy. This technique will help you achieve a neat and precise finish to your double wedding ring quilt.

Sew the pieced blocks together

Sewing the pieced blocks together is the final step in creating a Double Wedding Ring quilt. This process involves arranging the blocks into rows and then sewing them together to form vertical columns. It is important to note that only one block should have all four arcs sewn to it before joining them all together. This block will be placed at the bottom right of the quilt.

When sewing the blocks together, use a gentle curving seam that matches the centre of each four-patch and the block centres with the pieced arc centres, just like when piecing the individual blocks. Sewing the rows together will result in a curving seam that runs from top to bottom.

For the four-patch block, sew the dark-ended arcs to the top and bottom of the blocks and the light-ended arcs to the two sides of the block. This will create a four-patch block with two light and two dark squares opposite each other.

By following these steps, you can successfully sew together the pieced blocks of your Double Wedding Ring quilt, bringing your project closer to completion.

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