Double Wedding Ring

Wedding season has started. A handmade quilt is a thoughtful gift a newlywed couple would be sure to treasure for many years.

Many people start quilting when friends or family are getting married. The Double Wedding Ring is a classic design that is sure to be a welcomed gift. While this quilt pattern is traditionally made with scraps and a white background, the colors can easily be adapted to match the couple's wedding colors. For an interesting twist on tradition, make the background a darker color with lighter "rings."

From the collection of Sandra L. Hatch

The melon shapes create large circles of color and give this wonderful old quilt from the 1930s a soft, appealing look.

Project Note
The quilt shown uses white background prints to match the solid colors used in the pieced units. For example, the pink solid units used a white-with-pink print. We refer to these prints as white prints to match the solids. Purchase 1/2 yard of each fabric, if using five different prints.

Project Specifications

Skill Level: Experienced
Quilt Size: Approximately 80" x 96"

Materials

3/4 yard each yellow, green, purple, pink and blue solids
2 1/2 yards total white prints to match solids
6 1/2 yards white solid
Backing 85" x 101"
Batting 85" x 101"
13 yards self-made or purchased pink bias binding
All-purpose thread to match fabrics
White hand-quilting thread
Basic sewing tools and supplies

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Instructions

Step 1. Prepare templates using pattern pieces given; cut as directed on each piece.
Step 2. Join seven pink solid and seven white print A pieces to make an A unit as shown in Figure 1; repeat for 18 pink, 17 yellow, 19 green and 22 each purple and blue A units.

Step 3. Join two each white print and white solid D squares to make a Four-Patch unit as shown in Figure 2; repeat for 98 Four-Patch units.
Step 4. Center and sew a pink A unit to one side of B as shown in Figure 3, clipping curves; press seam toward B.
Step 5. Sew a Four-Patch unit to each end of a purple A unit as shown in Figure 4.

Step 6. Sew the Four-Patch/A unit to the remaining side of the A-B unit to complete one horizontal pink/purple melon unit as shown in Figure 5. Repeat to make 24 horizontal melon units and 25 vertical melon units, again referring to Figure 5 for placement of A unit colors and positioning of Four-Patch units.
Step 7. Join five vertical melon units with four C pieces referring to Figure 6 for color placement of melon units. Clip seam allowance curves as shown in Figure 7; repeat for five C rows.

Step 8. Arrange four horizontal melon units in a row referring to Figure 8 for color placement; repeat for six melon rows.
Step 9. Set the melon rows into the C rows beginning and ending with a melon row and referring to the Placement Diagram for positioning of rows.
Step 10. Set an E piece into the intersection of two melon units as shown in Figure 9; repeat with three E pieces each on the top and bottom and four E pieces each on opposite sides to complete the top.
Step 11. Layer, quilt and bind using your preferred method. Note: This quilt was hand-quilted in the center of each C piece using the quilting designs given, through the center of each A piece, in a 3/4" crosshatch pattern on B and E pieces and in the ditch of seams using white hand-quilting thread.