APQ 2016 July UFO

I have always loved the double wedding ring pattern.  I took a class to learn how to create the blocks.  I had not worked with curves before and I thought the class would educate me on that technique.  I did learn quite a bit in this class and I decided to make this a hand sewing project.  I decided to make the table runner with 3 rings.  I used 1930's fabrics and cut my templates from cardboard, another new technique for me.  

The class used a book by Rodale Press called "Wedding Ring Quilts".  I liked working with the ring and melon pieces and found the value of using pins - lots of pins!  This class was held over 3 sessions at the Quilter's Barn in Allentown in October and November of 2000, (I found a receipt for fabric in the book with this date on it!) another oldie but goodie.  I did not work on it on a continuous basis as it was a good mobile project that I could take on long car rides or when I could not do a machine quilting project.  It was so convenient to just take a small bag with the fabrics, some pins - lots of pins, some sewing needles, a needle threader, small pair of scissors and a spool of thread.  I worked on it here and there and got it to a point where it was ready to be finished.  That's when I added it to my APQ 2016 challenge.  

It is the smallest of any of my UFO projects but it was chosen as the July project at one of the busiest time of my year!  I did not want to rush through the finishing process just to get it done.  I wanted to finish it the way I had always intended - hand pieced, hand quilted.  I was clearly out of runway on this one! So, I decided to at least get the hand piecing completed.  I also intended to do a bias binding on the curves so I spent some time on you tube on how to make the binding and what size square I would need to cut.  That is probably a full day class in itself!  But I am ready to take that step.  

So, here are some photos of how this project has progressed over the last few multiple years:  

This is early on in the process.  You can see how many pins I used to attach the ring to the melon!  

Finally getting to the end of the hand piecing.  You can see the orignal pattern that was provided in the class.  This was for a 3 ring table runner.  A 4 ring wall hanging pattern was also provided.  I was glad I chose the table runner!   

This is the completed top.  It looks pretty good on my dining table in our mountain house! I don't think it will be used when food is on the table however!  





The project for August is a full size quilt but I think will be a lot easier to finish compared to the small table runner!  It is my first Jelly Roll Race quilt and was was started last year.  It needs borders, backing and quilting.  This will be a totally machine project, including the quilting.  I am thinking of using a flanged binding which can be attached by machine as well.  If you don't know about this type of binding, you can google flanged binding or magic binding.  

I hope to get this completed in time to use it at our cabin since it is made with all woodsy themed fabrics.  Here is where it stands right now.  The picture shows the top with the fabrics for the borders (burgandy and green) and the binding.  The pine cone fabric is the backing.  Looking forward to seeing how this one comes together!  

Stay tuned!