piecedgoods

This quilt has been on my list of quilts to make. Curvy pieces everywhere!
The Darlene Zimmerman EZ Quilting templates made cutting much simpler.

I missed the deadline to link up my quilt to the challenge with the NYC Modern Quilt Guild’s EZ Double Wedding Ring Quilting Challenge (Gah! December 1st!) but other bloggers’ posts lead me to the EZ Double Wedding Ring Templates by Darlene Zimmerman + the Single Arc template.

Click on the icon to the left if you want to see more about the challenge.  You can see the double wedding ring quilts that made the deadline clicking under the three categories (Small, Traditional, and Modern).

My quilt is not bound yet.  That’s what I’ll be tackling later this week.  I’m trying to decide what to bind the quilt with.  Probably one of the greens prints? White?  A completely different color?

I want to mention that though the templates made cutting out the fabric way easier, that the instructions for both piecing and cutting that went with them were not great.   I posted a review on Amazon.com to that effect.  This is not a beginning quilter’s quilt by any means, even taking the simpler way out like I did, and using the simplified arc for the rings vs. the little pieced bits that come with the main double wedding ring quilt template set.

A few tips on cutting:

1. Use a fresh rotary cutting blade.  A sharp blade makes a smoother cut.

2.  Be careful.  I think this bears saying even though it feels like a ‘duh’. The templates are curved.  Your blade is razor sharp.  If you’re at all worried or know you have problems in this regard, quilting and sewing stores sell gloves you can wear to protect your fingers.

3.  For the single arcs,  I was able to cut four layers of fabric at one time.  Since it takes four single arcs to make a circle, that was convenient.  Fold 44/45″ wide fabric selvage to selvage, and then fold the folded part to the selvage edge. The single arc template just fits unless the selvage edge is especially wide or the fabric is a bit narrow.

4. For the melon shaped pieces, cut strips of fabric 2-1/2″ wide and fold in half. (I pressed it in half) Then cut lengths 7-1/4″ long. Cut out the arc by lining up the black line on the folded edge.

5. For the little squares, I lined up my long ruler against the square lines on the template and cut strips that I subsequently cut into squares. Using the template alone was unwieldy for me. (Maybe because I’m left handed?)  Either way I think it’s easier this way.

The squares are a tiny bit bigger than 2-1/2″ square.  To do it right, use the template as a guide for your long ruler.

6. For the big pieces, cut squares out and then align the larger inside arc template along the edge of the square. Again, I was able to cut through 4 layers at once.

I’ll post more later on how I sewed things together. Many instructions on the web have the arcs bristling with pins.  I don’t like to pin that much.  If you’re like me, stay tuned for more.