Monday, March 9, 2015

How to Assemble the Double Wedding Ring Block...

How to assemble the block...the first timer way! I've been quilting for years, but I've never sewn the double wedding block. It was a learning experience, but with some researching online and some trial and error, I came up with this.

Double Wedding Ring Block...

double wedding ring block

You can cut your pieces from a template, but I used the AccuQuilt Go Big cutter from this post. The cutting was so fast and easy with their new die!

Lay out all the pieces in a specific color order or in a scrappy look. I picked scrappy.

double wedding ring block

The post is filled with lots of pictures, so come in and see the steps.



I sewed one section of the circle at a time...I'm calling these sections the "football shape".

double wedding ring block

I started sewing the top row of the football shape from the purple to the gray piece.

double wedding ring block

I'm writing these instructions with all the details, so if you are an experienced quilter, you can skip over all the parts that are second nature for you.

When I first started sewing years ago, I came up with my "thigh sewing" method. It sounds crazy, but it works for me. I'll show you in the following photos. Why on the thigh? Well, it's close by, I can keep track of the fabric and it's like a built in table for me.

On a side note, I was going to type "thigh sewer" (as in someone who sews on their thigh), but it's spelled the same ways as "thigh sewer" ( as in the sewer pipe that drains from your house), so I'm going to call it my thigh sewing method. Any who...let's move on! lol

The first step in my "thigh sewing", is to stack the pieces one on top of the other from the left to the right.


double wedding ring block

Keep stacking the entire row you are sewing.

(This works for sewing rows and rows of squares in a regular quilt too, not just this double wedding ring.)

double wedding ring block

Here's the stack and here's my thigh.

double wedding ring block

I take the first piece off to the left...

double wedding ring block

Then take the second piece and place it right sides together on top of the purple. Match the sides and notches.

Sew with a 1/4 inch seam. 

Chain piece the rest of the pairs. Chain piecing is to keep sewing without removing the fabric or cutting the threads. Just keep adding more fabric pairs as you go...a long chain of sewing.

double wedding ring block

Here the next piece taken to the left...

double wedding ring block

Then fold over the next one, right sides together.

double wedding ring block

Keep chain sewing...

double wedding ring block

then the next piece off to the left ...

double wedding ring block

and the last piece folded over, right sides together.

double wedding ring block

Chain, chain, chain...(can you hear the song in your head)...chain of fools. lol

double wedding ring block

Chain goes to the thigh.

double wedding ring block

Cut the threads between each section. This is were my thigh helps me keep track of things close by and not buried on my messing sewing table.

double wedding ring block

When sewing this block, it's good to have an iron near by. This is just an old board I made years ago...batting and some fabric glued on the back. It can go anywhere, like my dining room on a TV tray. I have to sew in there this winter, because my sewing room is freezing with no heat in there and single digit temps outside. It's even too cold for a space heater to keep up in my sewing room.

double wedding ring block

Iron each pair with seams open instead of to one side as with typical quilting. It reduces the bulk.

double wedding ring block

Now back to thigh sewing...stack second on top of first, right sides together, matching notches.

See the seam ironed opened?

double wedding ring block

Iron and sew the last set on top of the first.

double wedding ring block

Right sides together.

double wedding ring block

Iron and this section is complete.

double wedding ring block

I sewed all 8 sections. Now there are only those 8 squares left to sew on.

double wedding ring block

Four of those curved sections have to have the square sewn on each end. I could have done that when I was chain piecing them, but was on a roll when I was sewing the other sections and didn't do it.

Just add a square to each end of the curved piece.

double wedding ring block

Now to assemble all the bigger pieces...

Take one 6-piece unit and sew it to one of the white center pieces.

double wedding ring block

The center notch will match the center seam of the 6-piece unit.

double wedding ring block

Fold over the white unit, right sides together.

double wedding ring block

Pin the ends and the center. You can pin the whole side if you like.

double wedding ring block

Sew 1/4 seam, easing the fabric in as you go. It's like sewing the curve of a slice of watermelon.

double wedding ring block

but when you iron it out, it lays flat. I ironed the seam toward the white. It naturally folds that way, so I went with it.

double wedding ring block

Next, we will be sewing the white section to the unit with the squares on the end.

double wedding ring block

Match the center of the white to the center of the curved piece.

double wedding ring block

You will also be matching the notched ends of the squares to the notches of the other end pieces.

double wedding ring block

Fold fabric right sides together and pin all the way across, matching edges.

double wedding ring block

Start sewing with 1/4 inch seam on the square piece. At the area where I'm pointing, drop your needle inside that existing seam and pivot a little to continue sewing onto the white fabric.  That's hard to explain with the written word, but you'll see when you have it in hand.

double wedding ring block

Here are some arrows for you.

double wedding ring block

Iron seams towards the white middle section.

Repeat this with the other 3 sections.

double wedding ring block

Oh...by the way. This WILL happen as a newbie and your seam ripper will be your best friend.

double wedding ring block

Just pick out that sewn in crease..

double wedding ring block

Open it up to ease the fabric in again and re-sew it.

double wedding ring block

Now to sew the 4 football shapes to the center white piece.

double wedding ring block

The centers will match up ...

double wedding ring block

Place white fabric right side together with one of the football shapes. Pin center seam.

double wedding ring block

This part is crucial...

Take the end of each white center piece and mark a little dot at the 1/4 inch mark in the center of the tip.

double wedding ring block

Here it is circled.

double wedding ring block

Now pin that dot over the seam between the last 2 pieces of the football block.

Here's that spot marked below

double wedding ring block

Here it is pinned in place. Dot is lined up with the seam.

double wedding ring block

Do the same on the other end. Pin the rest of the curve and sew all the way across.

Here's what it looks like all in place.

double wedding ring block

Open up and iron seam towards the center piece. When you add the next football, the notches on the square will match.

double wedding ring block

Add the other 3 football shaped pieces and you are done!!

It's my first one, so there is a little ripple in it and it doesn't lay perfectly flat, but that's why free motion quilting was invented...to flatten out all my mistakes!!

double wedding ring block


This was my first time with this block, so if anyone wants to add any more tips and tricks to this tutorial, that would be so helpful for all my readers!! Just leave a comment below!! Thanks in advance!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Sewing!
~Karen~

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4 comments:

  1. A wonderful tutorial, I have never attempted this pattern before, too scary, now it is a definite goal. Once my WIP mountain has been worked through of course, that will give me time to find fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great tutorial want to try one of these and after watching how you did it I might at least try one block

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have used this method with great success. The Double Wedding Ring part begins at 5 minutes into the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfifwcg8IJ4

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this demonstration and Double Wedding Ring is a favorite of mine.
    I am not a quilter but love to buy the fabric and say someday I'm going to make a quilt.
    Thanks Karen.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment...I just love hearing from you!

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