Modern Double Wedding Ring Class for RQU

I created this idea more than 25 years ago and called it "Shotgun Wedding Ring." Crazy, huh? But it's just a quick and easy version of the REALLY tedious traditional Double Wedding Ring. What I did was simplify the pieced arc of patches into a single unit. Here are four pieced units (I paper pieced them, of course).

Four pieced units on their way to a Double Wedding Ring quilt - we are NOT making these!!

I took that wedge and made it into one unit. I cut out the center melon (which I can use for another project). Here are a bunch ready for action! They have fusible webbing adhered BEFORE we cut them out (ie, Wonder Under, Heat 'n Bond Lite, etc).

Wedges ready for my workshop sample

I used the Benartex collection called Sgafitto to make this quilt. I appliquéd the fusible backed wedges with a sewing machine stitch. This does NOT use hand appliqué. This project will be the focus of the class. This is a sewing machine workshop.

Modern Double Wedding Ring: 36" x 36"

I made it again for Windham Fabrics using their Pop Dots collection. Yes, now you can see the extra center cutaway melons, which in this quilt I will use!

Getting started on my next Modern DWR

I added a few of the small melons

The class will include a well-illustrated, color, multi-page pattern with lots of steps. You must also have the set of 2 acrylic templates in order to make your cutting quick and easy (included in the pattern fee). What do they look like?

Acrylic Double Wedding Ring templates (part of the pattern fee)

Let's look at the first quilt I made using this concept. No acrylic templates - just paper! And I did piece those curves! But, that's where I got the idea to use raw edge appliqué.

Here's my first attempt in our magazine in early 2000!

Then for my first book I had a friend use my new concept and make this quilt. Those are all appliquéd to black background squares! Made in 2002.

Shotgun Wedding Ring by Susan Fisher: 51" x 69". 8" units

I've made runners. This first one I still own:

Table runner using both melons and cutaways

I also made my original design with a 3rd fabric underneath the center cutaway. I no longer own this but will have samples for the class:

Mambo fabrics

And I'll show how you can use the small template to create other projects! This is a traditional Pumpkin Seeds pattern.

Pumpkin Seeds: 34" x 42"

And a way to use these smaller melons to surround an awesome print. I no longer own this, but you get the idea.

Lakehouse bloom

This next mini quilt was published in Modern Patchwork Magazine. I still have this. Notice the ric rac captured in the center circle for some additional bling.

These green mini quilts show an alternate arrangement of the patches. There are 4 black/green background squares in the center with the melons carefully placed and appliquéd. I bring this sample. It is unquilted so you can see my stitches - all by machine.

Green and black unquilted top

And one last mini. This was a workshop sample for my Machine Quilting Class:

Four of the DWR wedges

OK. That's it. I hope you'll consider joining me for the RQU class on May 2. Contact Lois Sovey for more info (lasewvy@msn.com) or if you have questions, you can email me: kratovil@his.com.