Double Wedding Ring Quilt

I just realized I never finished my blog posts about the double wedding ring bed runner I was making.  I did finish it, and think that the machine quilted feathers really set off the design well.

The original posts were New Way to Paper Piece and Update on Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Even with paper piecing, this was not an easy quilt to make, but I enjoyed making it, and the finished quilt was worth all the effort.

This bed runner was a hostess gift for my aunt and uncle, I hope they enjoy it.  And I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Mary

Paper Piecing WIP - Great Balls of Fire!

This paper pieced quilt top isn't finished, but I wanted to share it.  I haven't done paper piecing in a while, and really enjoy it, even though it's "messy" -- lots of little pieces of paper and fabric!

The Great Balls of Fire quilt pattern was featured in Quiltmaker Magazine issue #129 way back in 2009, but I found the free block patterns online, and then ended up getting the old issue to get all of the instructions. The design has a subtle circular pattern that I really liked.  Can you see it in the blue?

The quit in the pattern is green red, tan and orange, but I wanted to do more "beach" colors, so I used shades of green, blue and tan.  OOPS!  I didn't realize that the blues and greens were too much the same value until I had made several blocks, and didn't want to stop and start over!

So I got creative!  I used fabric paint to shade some of the blue pieces darker (I may add some more dark blue like the center).  To bring out the circular blue design, I plan to use thread painting and quilting. The green border was pieced, don't know why that wasn't paper pieced also, but worked out..

The quilt is about 50" x 50", and I'm thinking of adding a border to make it larger.  I thought maybe it would help the blue design show up more.

What do you think of the blue fabric on the left as a border?  Too blue?

I'll definitely post more when I get this one done!

Mary

Happy 4th of July!

Surprisingly, I have very few red, white and blue quilts, but thought I'd share this one.

This queen sized quilt is a combination of patchwork, paper piecing, embroidery and applique. It is machine quilted. I made a pillow to match.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Mary

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Update on Double Wedding Ring Bed Runner

I've finished the top of the Double Wedding Ring quilt!  I'm  making a king size bed runner out of it, to put at the end of the bed. that's why it's so long and narrow. This was certainly a learning experience, I haven't done much with curved seams before.

 I figured out an easy way to paper piece with a lot less wasted paper (see my blog New Way to Paper Piece). 

Then, I figured a trick to ease those curved seams.  I don't use a lot of pins, so this was a big help.When sewing the curved seams, I put the "larger" colored piece on the bottom, and the "smaller" white piece on the top. Then, I gathered the outside edge of the bottom colored piece (edge away from the needle) with my fingers, and the curves fit together much easier, with fewer problems!

The quilt used up a lot of scraps, which is always good, and I really like the bright pastels.  My quilting machine is at the shop, hopefully it'll be back this week, and I can start quilting.

Mary

New Way to Paper Piece

Did you know you can paper piece without all the tearing and cutting of paper -- AND you can reuse the paper templates?  This technique has worked so well for me on my Double Wedding Ring quilt that I had to share it!

This is a really simple explanation, not a paper piecing tutorial, because I want to hurry and get back to piecing!  Let me know if it doesn't make sense.

Steps  1-4

1. Copy or draw your pattern onto the non-slick side of freezer paper and cut it out. (you can also use regular paper, and a glue stick).

2. Press Piece 1 fabric lightly onto the slick side of the freezer paper, being careful to stay inside of the lines. Pressing from the paper side helps.

3. Place Piece 1 and Piece 2 together, lining up the edges right sides together, BUT, before you sew, fold back the paper on the seam line.
.

4. Sew the seam, being careful to sew next to the paper fold, without sewing the paper.  If your pressure foot wants to stick, put a scrap of paper over the freezer paper.

Steps 5-6

5. Press lightly, carefully pressing Piece 2  to the shiny (sticky) side of the freezer paper. Again, stay inside the lines of piece 2.  Press from the paper side, and you can see your pattern. (If you use regular paper, use a dab of glue stick to hold the fabric to the paper, or pin).

6. Fold at the next line, trim your seams, and sew your next seam (Piece 2 to Piece 3).

7. Continue until you have finished your piece.  When you are finished, trim around the outside, and carefully pull off the freezer paper and re-use!


 -- it's just that easy!

Mary

Double Wedding Ring Quilt - Here Goes!

A Double Wedding Ring quilt has been on my list of quilt patterns I'd like to try for a long time.  Spring seemed like a perfect time to use my new fabrics, too!

I'm in a bright pastel phase, as you can see, love these fabrics, a combination of Joann's, Connecting Threads and Fat Quarter Shop.

So, off I went -- first I went to my scrap stash, and pulled out everything I could use -- I got tough, and if it was too small for this quilt pattern, it got thrown out.

The pattern I used came from Quilt Inspiration Blog - Wedding Ring Quilts Part 1, I love the River City Quilt Guild's quilt, but it will have to wait until I master the technique. Part 2 has some beautiful quilts too!

I'm doing the Double Wedding Ring Quilt by Marsha Evans Moore at Free Spirit Fabric for a collection by Jennifer Paganelli at Sis Boom.  Click on the link for a free pattern.

So  away I went!  I like paper piecing for this pattern, it's more precise for me.

One of my goals with quilting is to enjoy the process, and to SLOW DOWN!  This quilt is definitely going to be a process :)  Here's what I have so far.

I can't decide between making a bed runner or quilt, we'll see how it goes.  Now I better get off this blog and get quilting!

Mary