Rhonda Dort

Unless you are a quilt historian, take all the things you think know about the Double Wedding Ring (DWR) and put them out of mind. It would be hard to find two that are identical, they were generally made with scraps of many fabrics, their size varies as does the outer edges of this type of quilt. They are steeped in tradition(s), they were typically a wedding gift to the bride and groom and because of their sweet meaning to the wedding, they were either used until they fell apart at the seams or stored away as a keepsake to be treasured.

No matter your thoughts about a DWR quilt, they have stood the test of time so I think it’s “time” we got busy making one or two or three of our own in Class #4. Are you ready to set your fears about curved seams aside? Trust me, you laugh at yourself once you learn that a curved seam is just not that difficult at all!

I’m going to fill this blog with pictures and links so you can get your homework finished well before we begin our DWR quilt class instruction on January 1, 2022.

Grab a beverage, find a comfy chair and get ready to see both traditional and modern versions of this amazing quilt pattern!

http://www.womenfolk.com/quilt_pattern_history/wedring.htm

https://www.whyquiltsmatter.org/welcome/news/a-most-romantic-quilt/

https://quiltdom.com/double-wedding-ring-quilt/

This excellent quilters reference book by Jinny Breyer shows several different blocks as DWR’s:

The idea that there are hard and fast rules needs to be forgotten, a DWR has so many beautiful variations it could make your head spin.

And speaking of variations, there are no hard and fast rules about color placements. See the quilt below from the web site: https://theplaidportico.com/2016/06/21/stitch-modern-2016-part-1/double-wedding-ring-quilt-by-tara-faughnan/

How about the very specific arc color placement on this quilt:

But what if you want to begin your DWR journey with fewer pieces? How about this quilt I’m currently quilting? All of the arcs are cut whole from different fabrics.

I had never tackled a DWR until a few weeks ago. Yes I was nervous but I must tell you, once you get the technique down, the piecing was very straightforward! In a few days I am planning to start a new quilt that will have the traditional pieces arcs.

I bought this book for a few dollars on eBay several weeks ago, a wealth of info and pictures:

You can make a DWR with the arcs set horizontal and vertical:

Or your arcs can be placed at a 45° angle as below:

But what about the amazing quilter Victoria Findlay Wolfe and her book: Double Wedding Ring Quilts, Traditions Made Modern.

But how are we going to work vintage linens into our DWR? The possibilities are endless! You can see in in my quilt top picture way up above, I cut out circles of vintage linens and with my sewing machine I attached them to the DWR block centers. Same idea as my DWR rescue quilt below:

What if the DWR centers were cut from a vintage tablecloth, either a solid color or a lovely print? What if the melon pieces in between the arcs were cut from vintage lace laid atop a solid white or ivory fabric?

I’m challenging you right now to do your own internet search for different examples of the Double Wedding Ring quilt. Think about how you could use vintage linens in the making of one of your own. Think about color(s), design variations, quilt size, intimate use (wall hanging, table topper, show piece and/or utility quilt). You can see from just these few examples that you can be as creative or as traditional as your heart desires!

For those of you not already part of the Facebook quilting classes I’ve been teaching, you can find the group by searching:

1914 Boehm House Vintage Linens Classes

We began in January of this year as a way to circumvent the social distancing etc etc that Covid created. Classes 1-3 remain on this Facebook group page and Class 4 is set to begin January 1st, 2022. I will release a general supply list on October 15th. Stay tuned and join this group if you’d like to participate! In fact, tell your friends to join, it’s so much fun to share and to work with fun loving quilters!

Happy quilting and blessings to all,

Rhonda