Re: Focus on Design: Double Wedding Ring (long)
- From: "Cats" <catsatararat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:57:56 +1100
The DWR is a pattern that I have always admired but never
felt any real desire to make myself. I was a bit embarassed
when I was asked to teach it last year to a small group of
friends, and more than a little daunted by the their
assumption that I would find an easy way to make this
pattern.
This led to me looking at a range of methods - both
traditional and more recent innovative methods - to see
which would suit the wide range of sewing skills represented
in the "class" (quilting experience from 2 months to 20+
years). I should explain at this point that I no longer
teach professionally, and that this "class" was a gathering
of friends once a week. Those who made the DWRs decided
that they liked the weekly get togethers so much that one
week (while I was out of the room - LOL) they took a vote
and decided that they would keep coming every week. This is
the origin of our weekly Tuesday sit'n'sews, which continue
to this day.
While I had never made a DWR I knew the sewing methods that
were necessary to make a pieced version. I had already
determined that the newer applique-style methods would not
suit this group. So I finally settled on a combination of
methods. I had a two sets of templates that produced a very
nice round ring (I am not generally fond of the squarish
rings that are sometimes used) and I used one of these to
produce a template for a single arc but with the seam lines
for segments marked. By cutting this template very slightly
smaller than the design requirement (to allow for tracing)
and punching small holes where the seams were I had a
template that could be traced onto a foundation, and the
holes marked the segment placement. This made drawing
dozens of foundations very quick and easy.
It took a little testing, but this eventually produced a
perfect fit. The arc template was used to trace onto light
weight interfacing foundation. The advantage of this is
that the foundation does not have to be removed. The 1/4"
seam line is exactly marked and trimmed to, and the pieced
arcs are less likely to be distorted by handling/pressing.
Fabric for the segmants could then be rotary cut into
squares roughly the right size to cover each segment. Most
of the sewing was done by chain piecing.
I had everyone make at least six practise arcs in homespun,
and sew these together to a calico background fabric. I
used these fabrics partly because they are inexpensive
(compared to "real" quilting fabrics) and partly because the
plain colours are very unforgiving. If you make a mistake
it is very evident, and I find it easier to spot where
someone is going wrong and show them on the plain colours.
I had about five rings sewn together before the first
"class" and everyone had to take turns to add to the sample
to be sure their work was accurate. The point where the
rings join required a particular seaming method, but
everyone got to practise and see why they had to do things
this particular way, so no real problems there.
By the second week they were happily piecing rings and
chattering away, completely confident that everything would
fit together. And they did. We finished with six king
sized DWRs about two months later. Well, actually we had
five KS quilts and one that is about QS at the moment and
about to be added to - LOL.
In addition, one girl chose to make a Diamond variation
instead, but she used the same methods in place of the paper
pieced foundations that came with her pattern - and this was
only her second quilt! She had the Judy Neimeyer Diamond
pattern, but chose not to put the star effect at the ring
intersections because it was a little too complex for her to
feel confident about on only her second quilt.
So while most of them have their acrylic template sets (R.
had a JM pattern and foundations) they only used the centre
"square" and "melon slice" pieces for cutting fabric - and
even then, a couple preferred to trace and cut with serrated
scissors as they were not happy with the rotary cut curves.
The segment templates were only used to create their arc
templates for tracing foundations. Having the foundation
behind the arcs did not distort the quilts because we used
very light interfacing. It made virtually no difference to
the weight and drape of the quilts.
One Pickle Dish version was quilted (and appliqued) in time
for our last show,
http://community.webshots.com/photo/487859446/1487877341075796722FEQRru
and I am still begging everyone to finish the rest so we can
hang them all in a row at the next show. The black prints
on calico made by K is particularly stunning up close, but
from a distance the rings lose detail and tend to look like
black fabric.
Three new DWRs are under construction now, but one has been
put on hold by the arrival of a first grand child - baby
quilts have taken priority. One is pinks and mauve rings on
a cream background, one is multi-coloured bright Pickle Dish
spikes on black, and the third is green rings on a very pale
green background (the one on hold). A fourth lady has all
her foundations drawn up and her fabric chosen, but she has
just been appointed to so many committees she doesn't think
it will get made this year.
I have tried MH's block method for DWR and I found it easier
to sew but I did not like the single seam across the middle
of the ring. This is just a personal thing, and nothing
against the method. If I have to have seams in the ring I
would probably prefer to have the area quartered evenly and
make a scrappy pieced background effect (eg. all
cream/beige/neutral prints). And her methods work for
quarter rings/centres, so . . . . .
I have not seen JF's strip pieced method, and cannot quite
picture it. I have a query in to his company on the cost
for shipping to Australia, and if it is not too staggeringly
high I might buy the book/templates just to see how it is
done.
http://www.phillipsfiberart.com/
I just bought this arc tool and book, and I think it would
be a very quick and easy method for making a quilt. But the
choice of fabric would make a big difference to the finished
effect of all the ring seams being parallel. I think I
might prefer the look of the more traditional angled
segments.
I love the DWR (and variations) as a design to play with in
EQ. I can happily waste an entire afternoon testing colour
placement. And I have helped a couple of people design
layouts for special quilts (eg. 40 rings for a 40th
anniversary quilt - 7 rings by 7 rings with 3 by 3 removed
from the middle of the quilt, with entwined initials quilted
in the blank middle).
And after all this work with DWR last year will I ever make
one? Probably not - LOL. I am still happy to just admire
them.
Thanks for the topic posting Pat - it is always interesting
to see what others do with the "classics".
--
Cats >^;;^< >^;;^< >^;;^<
( U ) ( U ) ( U )
Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau
"Pat in Virginia" wrote in message
....
: Let's talk about our experiences, likes and
: dislikes.
snip
:
: Marcia Hahn shows an unusual construction
: method in her free pattern site:
: http://tinyurl.com/flnpg
:
: John Flynn also has a unique method, using
: strips, but this is not a free pattern:
: http://tinyurl.com/jk3l5
:
: There are also several durable template sets
: on the market too. Some are acrylic, some are
: metal. These are a bit pricey, but assure
: accuracy. DWR has come a long way since the
: days of cutting scraps with cardboard patterns!
:
: What do you have to add to this topic??
.
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