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Friday 5 September 2014

Double Wedding Ring Quilt Finished

So a month and a bit after it was supposed to be completed, I finally finished the quilt I was making for my brother and his then fiance, now wife.


Whether out of audacity, ignorance, or stupidity, I thought that a double wedding quilt would be the perfect project for me. In all honesty, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The idea of curves terrified me at first until I did about three of them and then I got the hang of it and didn't even need to use pins.


The idea for this quilt came from Victoria Findlay Wolfe's quilt. I loved the idea of a modern take of a double wedding quilt and couldn't wait to try and replicate it.

If you want to know more about how the quilt was actually constructed you can see here.


I decided to quilt the thing using some traditional motifs, and some radiating lines to keep a more contemporary aspect to it. I did a horrible job at basting and as a result had some issues (see here).

BUT I am getting better at free motion quilting. Sort of moronic that I keep waiting until I do a large complex wedding quilt to actually do any sort of free motion quilting, but so far it's worked out okay. I kept the backing a simple Amy Butler print because I had so many seams already happening on the front. The thought of having to quilt through more was daunting (and honestly after the front I was pretty much done piecing anything).


And then after I had quilted the thing and was squaring it up, I noticed I forgot to piece a whole corner of the quilt. So the corner became a quilt as you go part of the quilt as I added a top corner piece to it. 


The binding was actually the thing that went together with little fuss and difficulty (and that's saying a lot when you consider my aversion to bindings in general).


In fact, the hardest part of the quilt was taking some dang pictures of it. It got hauled all over in search of a great photo opportunity, which never materialized. Needlessly to say, it needs a wash- especially after getting stuck and dragged through a bike wheel on route to a potential photo shot.

Added to this was the lack of general enthusiasm and cooperation I get when photographing a quilt. I think I need to give my family members a course on how to hold a quilt. Like hold it straight (okay confession, I can't take a straight picture to save my life, but the problem is compounded when the quilt is crooked in the first place). AND don't step on it and for heavens sake refrain from the very audible sighs and complaints.


I'm looking forward to giving this quilt to my brother and his wife this Sunday. It was fun to design and make, despite it being a pain in the butt (sort of like my brother sometimes too, so fitting I guess).


This is also a finish on my Q3 FAL list. Yay!!! I finished one!

Linking up my fab finish with Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF.







26 comments:

  1. Ugh! Getting stuck in a bicycle wheel!? I can relate to your quilt photo taking travails... I need a professional quilt holder, too. I've resorted to using painter's tape to tape quilts up.... works fairly well! Lovely finish, and I love the modern take on the double wedding ring!

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  2. It sounds like our quilt holders came out of the same training school.
    "Quit poking your head out!"
    "I wanna be in he picture."
    "Put your arms forward," I say to the boy who's practically folding it like a taco around his body.
    "It's too heavy."
    "Hold both your arms up," says Mom to the boy who is now making her seasick with all the quilt motion.
    "It's too big," he says of the 36" quilt.

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  3. visiting from crazy mum quilts. I love this. it is so modern looking and amazing curves.

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    1. Thanks very much! I'm glad I got over my fear of curves. I see many more curves in my future now!

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  4. Nice! I am also terrified of curves, well still am. Sounds like I just need to dive in, that method worked out so well for you! Your brother and SIL are going to love it too!

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  5. It's amazing - they will be so pleased!

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  6. Beautiful quilt. Congratulations!!! I hope your brother and his wife love it and know how much love, time, and care went into its creation for them.

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  7. This is gorgeous! I really love the way you took Victoria's design and made it your own.

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  8. Your quilt is unique and I am sure it will be loved.
    Jane in KS

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  9. I don't like traditional quilts for the most part, but I love your modern take on this pattern! Gorgeous!!!

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    1. Thanks Liz! I am more of a modern girl myself so this was a great way of using the pattern in a way I could enjoy it.

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  10. Spectacular! And the pictures are great!

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  11. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quilt!!!! Amazing! Great job your brother and his wife are very lucky!!

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  12. OMG that is amazing! You DID piece all that in the middle!!! I'm going to have to put this one on my list, but using the quick curve ruler I think...

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  13. What a fun interpretation of a double wedding ring!

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  14. I love this quilt pattern, this is the first time I have seen a modern take on the traditional double wedding ring and it works brilliantly. I have never made anything larger than a lap quilt and I struggle with taking photo's, so I can imagine how frustrating it all was.

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  15. Really lovely! Congrats on the finish, its wonderful. :)

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  16. This is by far one of my all time favorite DWR quilts! It is absolutely stunning Jehn! I love everything about it!

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  17. Congratulations! The quilt is amazing.

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  18. Looks great! I like your quilting and the whole thing :) So what did they say? Loved it, right?

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  19. It came out gorgeous! Love your quilting.

    My husband is a useless quilt holder. I think I'm better off having a scarecrow in the yard to hold quilts or something :)

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  20. It looks amazing, and a month and a bit is good going for a complex quilt. I always thought your deadline was ambitious!
    Bike wheel? Yikes?
    I rarely ask my husband for photo help. I know if I do I have a 30-second window before he starts to complain. I try to rush and nothing works.

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  21. Wonderful finish, I love the addition of black it makes the quilt really striking.

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  22. It's fabulous, love the colourful scrappy patches. Congrats on the finish!

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  23. Way to go! Looks great! ;-) Fun to see others popping up!

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