regarding wedding quilts

 
A long time ago (more than a decade) I started quilting.  Most novice quilters latch onto the concept of miniature quilts fairly early on.  Though impractical (I mean really, who is going to be kept warm with a 13-inch quilt?), miniature quilts give quilters an opportunity to play with design, quilt a smaller area on machine or by hand (as opposed to a huge quilt), and offers a chance to practice quilt binding techniques.  But mostly, due to its size, a miniature quilt is doable. 

 
To be perfectly honest, miniature quilts no longer appeal to me.  Since my goals are usually to produce something pretty and functional, that's where I throw my time.  But eleven years ago, shortly after I got married and relatively shortly after I learned to quilt, I became fascinated with wedding ring quilts.  At the time, I did not have the skill to make a pieced wedding ring quilt, so I opted to try a miniature one, with the rings fused onto the quilt using fusible interfacing (my first time working with that too).  I found the pattern in an old issue of Miniature Quilts Magazine (no longer published--print run 1990-2000/2001) that I picked up at a yard sale somewhere in Maine (where I was living at the time).  In any case, the mini-quilt top got "lost" which, is pretty understandable considering it was, basically, a 13-inch square of fabric.  I found it during our move and decided to finish it, because, well, it was a quilt eleven years in the making.

 
It's a miniature quilt, not terribly useful, but there you are. 

 
Speaking of wedding ring quilts, I am in the process of making a wedding quilt for Little Sir's teacher from pre-school.  She got married last month and, not surprisingly, I am running a little behind.  While I now have the skill to make a wedding ring quilt (at least I think I do...), honestly, I lack the patience for it.  I designed something more modern but the project has become the bane of my existence lately, but I need to cross it off the slate and move on, so you'll likely see that sooner rather than later.  No really, I am basting the quilt tonight...so that's something, right?

Comments

[Vicki]

I've a soft spot for those... my grandmother's double wedding ring quilt was on my bed when I was little. Perfect. I used to wear her soft, old cotton housedresses as nightgowns, too. Sadly... all gone. (My mother loved... still loves... chlorine bleach in the wash a little too much.)

[Minty]

If you're already basting you're in the home stretch! I am still piecing the top I'm sewing for my cousin's wedding. (Which was two weeks ago. But I have a year!)

[Jacey]

The wedding ring quilt you made is really interesting. I still enjoy mini quilts as I learn different techniques, but I know what you mean about functionality. I am still filling some wall space, so I can use a couple.

[Mandy]

I made a miniquilt from Jerry's baby clothes. A garbage bag full of baby clothes is gone, and I have a neat little quilt in its place. Yay! I love the wedding wing (mean: ring, but that's a funny typo) motif.

[kingshearte]

My sister has become fond of making quilts for babies. They're small and manageable, but still useful.

[carolyn]

ooooo I really love that pile of fabrics in that last pic. lucky girl! ;)

[andigal]

The pile you have going on there will make one incredible quilt!

[davek]

My mom does alot of quilting. She taught by her mom and know I have to many quilts in my home. I guess you can't have to many. lol

[Mulberry Alexa]

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