Question on using templates
 

I am going to start on a DWR quilt.... I am pretty nervous as this is a big project for me. I bought the DWR templates by Sharlene Jorgenson because I like watching her videos to help me walk through the process.

My question is about cutting the material. I am going to do a scrappy DWR. I am particularly wondering about cutting the A and B pieces.

Since its going to be a scrappy quilt do you think I could cut a bunch of the A and B pieces ahead of time? I am thinking I could cut a bunch of them and put the As and Bs in separate bags. Then I could mix them all up good to help me distribute the fabrics throughout the quilt a little better.

In my head I don't think it will be a problem, but I have never made a quilt using templates before and this will be a lot of pieces

What do you guys think?

As long as they're all cut properly that will work fine. Just make sure not to exceed the number of layers for which your rotary cutter is rated. I've also found that with those littler pieces that I need to be extra careful when cutting as it is a bit easier to slip. I would strongly recommend putting those little sandpaper dots on each of your templates before starting.

Not really clear on what your concern is -- accuracy of the cut blocks, distribution of the scrappy fabrics evenly throughout the design, keeping track of the numbers required?

It's generally a good idea to do a sample block just to be sure that you aren't cutting all that fabric with some mis-read of the pattern or directions -- easier to correct something before you have all elventy-billion pieces cut.

As for the scrappy aspect, I go for the random with rules approach -- so I put all the pieces mixed up together in a pizza box (which I prefer to a baggie as it allows me to keep them flat and organized) and I pretty much pull whichever piece is next, except there will be rules specific to the project, so for example I will say -- no two pieces the same color and no repetion of the same pattern from a different colorway within the same quadrant of the ring-- just for an example.

Then when I have about 80 % of my blocks pieced, I put them up on the design wall and arrange them until I'm happy with the balance of color -- at this point I can tell if I need to be careful to do the remaining blocks with any special considerations -- needs more blue, or need to have a block which will work in that one awkward spot, and I piece my remaining blocks to fill those gaps. This is also a good point at which you can take some pictures and spot mistakes or poor color or value distribution. I like viewing in greyscale, and also checking on a computer screen-- it's amazing how many little booboos that are somehow invisible when you have the project directly in front of your face for days on end will suddenly reveal themselves in an altered format like a computer screen.

Another thing i often do is to cut enough pieces to make several extra blocks. That way, if you have a piecing mistake, you can let it slide without having to pick out seams. I find that for myself, if I have to pick out seams before going on to the next step, there is an increased risk that the project will languish in my UFO box. And the extras are great for making a coordinating pillow or bag-- and also serving as a sample piece on which to audition thread and quilting designs. When you are going very scrappy, it's a nice thing to have adequate variety from which to assemble blocks.

Hope that helps.

RST -- I could not agree more. Great advice!! Even though you are doing a scrappy Double Wedding Ring , Meyert, they look better if you colors and the intensity of your pieces are balanced. It is a fun quilt to do.

Good point, I will do a "practice" one first

I am just nervous about the project in general :) I would like to make as few mistakes as possible.

RST thank you for your thoughts.. I will keep that in mind

Yes do a sample first....but then just throw in a basket and do as leaders and enders while doing something else....look up the YouTube by Ebony love. Although she uses the dies, her technique for assembling is spot on!

Just keep in mine that you want contrast between A & B. When I am stuck, I look at what other quilters have done:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Doub...w=1024&bih=622

both RST and Tartan offer great suggestions... we'll look forward to seeing your first block! Have fun.

This is one of my Roundtoit Quilts that I hope to make. I used to have the templates from Sharlene Jorgensen, but some "idiot" in my family threw them out. I was so not happy. Anyway, I did do a trial on the templates and found that the smaller, I think it's 28 mm, rotary cutter worked best and is what she recommended when I watched her video. I think a scrappy DWR would be gorgeous, but I might keep the A and B pieces one color each to unify the quilt. Can't wait to see a picture. Tartan has some good advice for you, as well as Bree 123.

I took a class and Shar Jorgenson templates were what we used. They were included with the pattern book. It was a very intense pattern and being an overachiever I did a king sized quilt. I used a couple jelly rolls for the arches and "accidentally" bought Jenny Beyer fabric. It turned out beautiful, but a couple of places gave me a heard time. The small pieces for the football arches just fit on the jelly roll strips and made it scrappy. Good luck with your quilt, it will be beautiful. Just take your time when putting it together.
Sue

A friend just finished a DWR using a scrappy approach with all centers the same. It is the prettiest quilt I have ever seen!!! She also appliqued a vine around the entire quilt. This one is a prize winner for sure.

Anxious to see it finished.

The way I'm doing it now is with baggies, labeled A,B,C blocks..I also am doing a scrappy. The only thing I would caution you about is to remember that when cutting and assembling, that the B piece is faced in 2 different directions...it is easy to mix them up when cutting and piecing, if you don't have them clearly marked.