So Many Possibilities for a Wedding Ring Quilt

I'm thinking about making a Wedding Ring Quilt for me.  There are so many ways to do it!

At the Quilt Show, I watched an AccuQuilt demo by Bonnie Welch at Sew 'n Sew.   I inherited my Aunt Rosita's AccuQuilt Cutter along with the wedding ring dies.  When I finished the quilt for her grand daughter's wedding, I didn't actually have to cut any of the pieces.  She had that much finished already.

I tried it out last weekend -- now that I have a better idea of how it works.  One of the shapes is bent and comes out wonky -- I may have to buy a new set of dies.  I have the mid-size manual crank version.  I layered up 4 pieces of fabric, and it was quite an ordeal to crank it through --  I can see how the electric version would be an advantage to an aging body, but I really don't want to make a $700 investment in something like that.   Someone at my quilt guild has an industrial dye cutting machine that they have offered to guild members.  Perhaps I should make an appointment to use that one some day?  I may still have to buy the dies in the shapes I want ...

I found this video from AccuQuilt to explain it:

AccuCut Quilting Made Easy - Double Wedding Ring

I think I could even do a scrappy one with the leftovers from the Cathedral Windows Quilt.  Those were just 2-1/2 inch squares cut from my scrap pile.  And I still have a lot left!

 

 

Donna Jordan's Easy Wedding Ring Quilt

There is also Donna Jordan's method.  I did buy this set of templates a few years ago, and selected some precut fabric possibilities.  But I can't say I am looking forward to doing all that cutting.  It would be a lot easier with the die cutter.  Perhaps I'll have to do some experiments to see if they would interchangeable?  I think I like Donna Jordan's method a little better -- with the square corners.  

 

Last weekend, I did the first cuts on the arc pieces.  In less than an hour, I had all the bits cut from a layer cake.  Not a bad start.  And the thick heavy templates definitely help.  I think it won't be so bad if I take it in steps.

 

I also stumbled upon Shar Jorgensen's method and templates for wedding ring quilts.  I love that very saturated hand-dyed Starr fabrics.  I think I purchased some a while back -- if I can find it in my stash.

So many possibilities!