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Double Wedding Ring Questions

If you guessed that I’m asking this question for someone else, you’d be right!  🙂

Nicole is wanting to make a Double Wedding Ring quilt for her next project. This is way over the way I think. She’s going to do it by hand. I’m thinking we need some kind of template set. Checking online, I find quite a few options. Anyone have any experience or recommendations? Templates, books, pattern??

Thanks!

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Comments

  1. I know Marti Mitchell has a set of templates. I tried to make a quilt a while back. I took 2 classes and never did feel confident enough to finish a whole quilt. Maybe Nicole will have better luck.

  2. That’s quite a project! I know that Fons & Porter have had a pre-cut kit if she wanted to go that way. They also have templates for Wedding Ring quilts, though I’ve not tried them. My husband just bought me the AccuQuilt die for the wedding ring quilt for my AccuQuilt cutter. I have asked for it for a couple of years because I want to start on one for my daughter. I haven’t started on it yet, but maybe by the time I get it done she’ll at least have a boyfriend! Best of luck to Nicole on this project. I’m sure she’ll have fun. I do like hand pieced quilts.

  3. holey, moley. That’s a lot to bite off but if she is, then by hand-pieced is the way to do it and not templates! Make it inklingo. Inklingo is the bomb for this kind of precision work. If you want templates, I’ve got about 3 different sets I’ll sell you but honestly, Inklingo is the best choice.

  5. I don’t know if Marti Michell makes that set, but do know that members of my guild have been very happy with her templates. (She even trims the corners at the different angles so you can line up the fabric exactly.)

  7. You could look at Paper Pieces. The papers for a double wedding ring quilt are on sale this week. I was thinking about picking up a small pack myself. Might be useful since your DIL does EPP anyway.

  8. It’s not hard, it is just time consuming. I used the Simplicity Studio Simpli-ez double wedding ring rulers by Darlene Zimmerman (8829419)

  9. Many years ago I made a patched ring DWR (queen size) and also an arc ring DWR lap quilt using Mary Ellen Hopkins’ book.. I was a fairly new quilter and both came out beautifully. The former was a commission piece for my dr.’s anniversary and the latter was a gift. Everyone was very happy. Hope the book might still be available.

    • I used the Mary Ellen Hopkins pattern book too and the quilt came out very well. Time consuming for sure, but all the pieces fit like they are supposed to. Sad to say it still isn’t quilted.

  10. Jo at Jo’s Country Junction has made two double wedding ring quilts. Perhaps her blog posting could help you.

  11. I machine pieced one, using the Marti Michelle templates. Tedious but not difficult. Challenging and a long term project. She might get it done for Addie’s wedding quilt!

  12. I highly recommend the Quiltsmart method of DWR; I have taught it to many peeps, always with success. I made a queen-size in less than one week using that method; none of the other methods are finished….nuff said!

    • I’m so glad to hear your endorsement. I looked around a lot before settling on Quiltsmart. I got a complete set of DWR patterns for a King. Then the couple I was making it for decided to have a different pattern. I plan on making it one day for me.

  13. There are 2 different kinds. . . . one piece arcs or many pieced arcs. ARDCO templates makes metal templates in “window” design that you trace both inside & outside so you have the cutting and piecing lines done.

    I have used their metal templates in the past & have always had good luck with them.

    While I have been doing mostly machine piecing recently I still enjoy hand piecing and hand quilting. . . which drives my friends crazy. LOL

    Good luck & if there is anything else you need to know just post it. . . . you know we will respond!

  14. Have her read Jo’s Country Junction blog she has a ton of information on making this quilt..

  15. I made a double wedding ring table runner a few years ago & must admit it wa one of the more difficult patterns I’ve done. On the other hand, mine was machine pieced. I think hand piecing would be much easier. I have the pattern & templates on templastic I would be happy to send to her. Let me know if you want it…..no strings attached!

  16. A double wedding ring was one of the first quilts I made, too, and that may be why I will never make another one. Naturally, it had to be king sized.

    I used rotary cutting templates with all of the individual arc pieces. I think any of them would work well. But, it was a daunting task. Suggest she start with a table runner or a pillow cover and see if you like doing this pattern first.

    I admire her courage!

  18. WOW! when she starts a new hobby she just JUMPS right on in. The DWR is one quilt I’ve never made. I have one that was made for me, so I didn’t need to. I’m taking a class that starts on Monday at our LQS that uses a 10 degree ruler by Phillips Fiber Art. I’ll be posting it as I make it on my DWM link-ups.

  19. To make a double wedding ring for my daughter’s wedding, I used the template set and instructions from Sharlene Jorgenson. The set comes with a 25 page booklet of illustrated directions, 8 templates for rotary cutting, and there are youtube directions too. You can make the melons solid, planned, or scrappy. It is an ambitious project, but you are proud when done. My MIL hand quilted it and it is beautiful in navy, blues, and yellows.
    I have a kit I bought at an auction that is precut and started, but I have not had time yet to work on it.
    Glad Nicole is interested in quilting and by hand it relaxing and fun…she can do it! 🙂

  20. Shar Jorgenson (Quilts from the Heartland) has a Youtube video on doing the DWR. Interesting to watch. Also Cheryl Philips (Philips Fiber Arts) has a book & template (Rings that Bind) that’s a quilt as you go technique. Very good, both of them. I’ve done both & weren’t hard, just time consuming.

  21. I have made two queen size Double Wedding Rings by hand. Inklingo has a print on the fabric template selection which are great to use. You can also get templates from Marti Michell I believe. I did mine quite some years ago and I used paper templates – no way would I do it that way again – I most likely now would use Inklingo as I love that method. Good luck to her – tell her to take her time – hand piecing is so relaxing..

  22. Not sure if anyone else mentioned Inklingo but that system is really great for hand piecing a double wedding ring. As long as Nicole has access to a printer and freezer paper she can use Inklingo. I’m using Inklingo right now to hand piece Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilt.

  27. I used a combination technique from Laurene Sinema, but that was a special class and we made our own templates. I know a lot of my friends have used John Flynn’s method and it has some advantages, but I don’t know how well it would work for entirely hand pieced. Good for Nicole! It’s a beautiful quilt and will provide her with a lot of peaceful hand sewing time. She’ll be glad she did it.

  28. I have no idea about how to go about this, so I am glad you asked the question as it is on my list of things I’d like to do. I keep putting it off because I am intimidated, so I bow to Nicole. I look forward to hearing what method she chooses and how it goes. Please ask her to share with us as she progresses if she is so inclined, it would be lovely to learn from her. 🙂

  29. Jo Kramer at Jo’s Country Junction has a tutorial on Double Wedding Ring. Her’s is beautiful and she just finished the top for her daughter who is getting married in March. Check out her blog.

  30. I have made several (5 or 6) Double Wedding Ring quilts and many runners of that pattern. I have used John Flynns method, Marti Michelle’s and Shar Jorgenson’s. I like Shars the best. Her book gives clear concise directions and her templates are great for cutting. They also have detailed charts for sizes, yardage and cutting. A new blade on your rotary cutter means you can cut 10-12 layers of fabric quickly and accurately. Good luck to her. I am just finishing another in golds on a cream background.

  32. I used Shar Jorgenson’s acrylic templates (Quilts from the Heartland). Had no trouble and she explained it clearly and loved the acrylic templates. Book goes w/ it

  33. Check with Jo Kramer; she just finished one by machine but she may gave some hints.

  34. Many years ago (maybe mid-90’s??), my mom and I made a double wedding ring quilt for my sister’s wedding. We used Shar Jorgenson’s templates and they worked wonderfully, and I recommend them if they are still available. (I see several other commenters also used these templates!) However, we did not hand sew it, and we also took a class that showed how to use them. The quilt went together a lot easier than I thought it would. For hand sewing, she might want to try Inklingo. The sewing and cutting lines are both printed directly onto the fabric and she would save time with all of the marking already done. I can’t wait to see what she ends up doing!

  35. I have made two DWR quilts but both by machine. If she wants to do it by hand I agree that Linda Franz’s inklingo is the beest possible way to go. It prints lines on your frabric using pdf files and is very accurate.

  36. I have made two double wedding rings and I also used Shar Jorgensons templates. Her booklet covers the process in detail. I found them to be very accurate and a great resource. If I had to do another one that is where I would turn.

  37. The one and only quilt I made was a DWR and I used the book by Mary Ellen Hopkins. I machine pieced it, and it really did come out pretty good. I regret some of the color choices I made on he fabric but not enough to do another one… The instructions in the book are easy to follow.

  38. Hi, Judy! The best person I know to ask about DWR quilts is Jo Kramer ( joscountryjunction.com ). She’s making one right now for her daughter’s wedding and she made another last year (the first daughter’s wedding). I know she used two different template sets was happier with the new set. I know Jo will be happy to help!

  39. By far the hardest but most beautiful quilt I’ve made. So long ago I do not remember but I’m sure it was a book not templates. If I was to do it again I’d go the accuiquilt method. Perfect pieces that way.

  40. Just ask JO! She has made TWO! Both of them slightly a lil bit different from each other.

  42. Yes! I am in the process of doing the Double WEdding Ring. i am using Linda Franzs’ Inklingo. It is so easy. Simply iron your fabric to freezer paper. Run it through your Inkjet printer and you have cutting and sewing lines right there for you. No templates, no tracing.. easy peasy. She even has a free collection you can download to see if yo like the process. Just google Inklingo and it will take you right to it. Hands down the best way.. and yes, I am hand piecing mine, but machine piecing would be easier using this method also.

  43. I cut one out with my Accu Quilt. Went together just fine with machine sewing. Have also cut a few others for customers.

  44. If she is open to looking at options, check out the gorgeous paper pieced pattern by Judy Neimeyer at http://www.quiltworx.com and also the Quick Curver Ruler from Sew Kind of Wonderful at http://sewkindofwonderful.blogspot.com/2013/05/metrohere-we-come.html that is a modern version using strip sets to piece the pattern.

    I am sure there are many pre-cut fabric sets out there in various color ways that may be a good option rather than cutting all the pieces and tryng to find all the various fabrics she might like to include.

    Otherwise, Accucut for the shapes.

  45. Hi Judy! Have you checked out Judy Martin’s Monet’s Wedding Ring? It’s all squares and rectangles, yet looks like curves once assembled, and goes together like a dream! The pattern is in her book “Scraps.” Go to her website judymartin.com, under Photos, then Viewer Photos, scroll down to pictures from the book. Lots of beautiful pictures and inspiration!

  48. Inklingo is the method I am using for a DWR that I’m currently making. It’s not just for hand piecers – as the perfect templates and sewing lines make it easy for machine piecers too and there’s a fabulous pressing guide as well.
    Plus, with the Inklingo DWR collection, you have a choice of how many pieces in the arc.

  49. Another idea to explore. Cheryl Phillips did a method where the quilt was completely finished at the end of the process. It was called “Rings That Bind” and has been out of print, but saw that it was being re-published. She demonstrated the technique on the Kaye Wood show and the episode is on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfifwcg8IJ4 .

  51. I have John Flynn’s DWR book and templates and his metbod is wonderful, easy and the only templates used are for the melons and the background. The double wedding rings are strip pieced and the section go together perfectly. Easy-peasey.

  52. Joscountryjunction.com is just finishing her second wedding ring quilt. She may be able to help

  53. I made a DWR quilt, 108″ x 108″. I used INKLINGO and machine pieced. It took a few years of off and on but the end result is stunning. Inklingo is so much easier than templates or any other method! And the precision is amazing.

  54. John Flynn has a book in which he simplifies,he says, making the double wedding ring. He sews the squares together, in order, then resews the same seam with a “tilt”. I have the book and making the quilt is on my “bucket list.” I also once used his portable frame for quilting. Worked very well, but I usually make larger quilts than are comfortable with that frame so my daughter now has it. Good luck Nicole!

  55. I just recently completed a DWR for my daughter. I sued “Rings that Bind” by Cheryl Phillips. It is a QAYG so once you are finished, you are DONE! I loved that aspect of it. The book includes acrylic templates as well as a pattern for the quilting that goes inside the circle that you complete on your domestic sewing machine. When I presented it to my daughter and her husband-to-be at their wedding rehearsal dinner, she cried. Evidently, it was a hit. I highly recommend this method!!

  56. OOPS, it should have been USED, not sued on my previous comment!! Sorry…and, I sent a picture to Cheryl Phillips. She plans to use it in one of her blogs.

  57. Inklingo! There are so many ways to do the DWR, but she will be so disappointed if she doesn’t look at the Inklingo website before she starts. And Inklingo offers many many more patterns than just the DWR. For hand piecing it is the only way I can sew anymore.

  58. I have funny story of my first DWR using templates. You should read it to see what I, as a new quilter, experienced. It is on my page at: http://www.glyncor.com/stories.html
    By the way, I have started a new DWR, but this time I am using Inklingo with the lines all printed for me – no templates to cut around this time. :o)

  59. I have made three DWR quilts using John Flynns method. It is easy to piece because it is very accurate. However, I don’t think it would be appropriate for handwork because of having to resew the seams om the arcs. Betty Boynik is another strip pieced method that does not require resewing the seams. You stitch varying widths of strips,together, cut out the wedge shape and continue on piecing the block. I love this quilt.

  60. I used the templates and book which, judging by the comments, must have been by Shar Jorgensen. I am happy to send them to Nicole if you and she decide that is the best route. I love the way mine turned out but I am not planning to make another one!

  61. Linda Franz has the most amazing way to make a DWR by printing the stitching lines on the back of the fabric. Look into Inklingo as a very accurate way to “git ‘er done” at inklingo.com.

  62. I have bought a Bali Wedding Star paper piece foundatation pattern from Quiltwork.com . I hope to start it in the spring Judy Niemeyer Quilting is listed on the label. It is beautiful.

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