Double Wedding Ring Quilt Along

It’s that time of the week again.  Time to check in for the Double Wedding Ring Quilt Along.

I’ve continued to do some pinning and sewing and am still ahead of you all but you’re catching up quickly.  I need to be sure to commit some time this week to sewing on this to stay ahead.

Today we start adding the melons onto the background.  I know…looking at it like this you’re likely thinking…”but how?”  I’ll show you.

Start out by finding the middle of two sides of the center background piece.  I don’t have holes in my template so didn’t mark them.  I just fold in half and insert a pin.  That works just fine.  All of the work you do on this should be with the center background piece on top-with right sides together.

Line up the center pin of the background piece with the center of the wedge.

After that pin is in place move to the corner where the wedges are connected.  Line up the corner with the intersection of the wedge pieces.  Fold the seams back.

Notice that the top blue background piece overlaps 1/4″.  Put two other pins between the corner pin and the center pin.

Now move to the other corner.  Again, fold both of the seams back.

Notice how I pinned this in place.  The top of where the pin goes in is marking the place I need to stop sewing.  The bottom of where the pin is going in is hold back the seam.

Then finish pinning.  (Sorry this picture is funky)

Now I start sewing.  I start at the intersection of the wedges.  I line up the needle 1/4″ in from the edge of the center background piece right where my pin is.  I stitch about two stitches forward and one back stitch.

I leave the pins in as I go.  I am sewing so slowly that if the needle would “hit” a pin, it won’t do any damage.  It’s important not to force the edge to line up on the 1/4″ line.  It’s better if it drifts to the left then as you get close to the needle, make sure then it is at the 1/4″ mark.

I watch carefully.  Often times my fingers move right up near the needle to smooth out the fabric as it goes under the needle.  Like this….

I stop 1/4″ from the edge.  Again, I back stitch.  Then out come the pins…..

…and I have this.  This is unpressed and me, I don’t press yet.  That’s why it looks a little wonky.  It’s actually all good. Feel free to try it pressing if you like.  However you feel good about it is fine but I prefer no pressing yet.

….now just do this a whole bunch more times….WHOLE BUNCH.

Next week we’ll stitch down the other melon.

Now off to your sewing machines….