Metro Rings Quilt
9.24.2014

Metro Rings Pattern

Connecting Threads received this delightful pattern, Metro Rings, and a clever ruler, Quick Curve Ruler from the company, Sew Kind of Wonderful. I was just dying to try it. Metro Rings is a modern take on the traditional Double Wedding Ring design which I also LOVE. I decided to make a block and this is how the construction went…

I first sewed five 2-1/2″ x WOF strips together. Then after pressing seams this unit was sub-cut into 2-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips. From this I cut the arcs using this Quick Curve Ruler as shown below with other sections of the block. It is an interesting way to construct the block. Lots of cutting, but it was fun!

Step 3B  Step 3B2

9″ squares are cut diagonally once making  triangles. Each triangle is reshaped using the Quick Curve Ruler. First the corners are cut off.

Step 3C

Then a lovely curve is cut into the bottom of the triangle.

Step 4

Next, rectangles are cut and reshaped as well giving them this wonderfully soft curve.

Step 5A  Step 5B

Now it’s time to piece half the block together.

Piecing Step 1A

The reshaped rectangle is laid on the pieced curve leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance at the end. Notice that the middle point of both units is marked with a pin for matching later? The pieced arc needs to fall past the curved rectangle 1/4″ on each end.  Piecing Step 2B

Matching the center pins first helps with the rest of the pinning. The sides will ease in beautifully.

Piecing Step 2C  Piecing Step 2C1

Stitching the two pieces together…

Piecing Step 2D

Voila!

Piecing Step 2E

To add the third piece, begin by pinning the center of the unit just finished, and a triangle inner curve. Be sure to leave a 1/4″ of the triangle piece at each end here as well.

Piecing Step 3A  Piecing Step 3B

Sew the reshaped triangle and pieced unit together.

Piecing Step 3B1

Voila, again!

Piecing Step 3C  Squaring up 2A

Now it’s trimming time for squaring up the piece! This is where I made a mistake and misunderstood the pattern. I trimmed the bottom of the unit even with the bottom of the pieced curve and this is wrong. It is supposed to be trimmed leaving 1/8″ seam allowance! Yikes!

Squaring up 2B  Squaring up 2C

The next step is to sew two of these trimmed units together.

Piecing Blocks 1A

Find the center of two setting triangles, and place in the center (seam) of the unit just made. Pin and sew.

Piecing Blocks 1B

Press the triangle back. Note the result of my mistake here. Ugh! When I cut too much off the bottom of the unit and then sewed the two units together, it took space from the pieced rings. Now the setting triangles don’t meet at the ring joint.

Piecing Blocks 1C

Square up the finished block to 10″.

Finished Block

Sew four of these beauties together and this is what you get! My version of Metro Rings!

Print

I’m not sure if I like the seam through the middle of the rings but it is a fun way of making a Double Wedding Ring quilt!


13 comments

  1. Patricia D'Hondt - September 24, 2014

    wow…thanks for the clear explanations! I’ve always wanted to try a Wedding Ring quilt and now maybe I will.

    Reply
  2. Amanda Best - September 24, 2014

    Thank you for this great blog post, Mari! I bought the pattern from a local quilt shop and then I noticed I needed the special ruler. I bought the ruler and the background fabric from here on Connecting Threads, but I haven’t been able to figure out where to start so it is all still in a stack in my fabric shelf. Now I may actually be able to get this started. I just love the pattern. Thanks again!!!

    Reply
    • Mari - September 24, 2014

      Amanda, you are most welcome! I’m so glad the post was clear for you. Thank you for your encouraging comment!

      Reply
  3. Linda Froggie - September 24, 2014

    Voila, you made a gorgeous curved block, Mari!
    ~Hopppy Quilting~

    Reply
    • Mari - September 24, 2014

      Why, thank you Froggie!

      Reply
  4. Tina - June 5, 2015

    Thank you so MUCH for this clear explanation of the Metro Rings and quick curve ruler! I just received my ruler, but how to use it wasn’t clear until now. Again, Thank you!

    Reply
    • Mari - June 5, 2015

      You’re welcome Tina! Am so glad this tutorial helped you out!

      Reply
  5. Liz - February 13, 2016

    I love it all, border and iidnse. Gene, for me this is a very fine example of what I love about your workm- it’s that unexpected non-symmetrical element. The eye wanders about, and I always find something new to look at. Your pieces almost always provide a journey. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Lorraine - June 13, 2018

    The real beauty of this pattern is that you AREN’T SUPPOSED TO USE PINS! Works so good without them. Why bother with the extra step?

    Reply
  7. janice young - September 27, 2018

    Fun seeing all your comments. Am not happy with this pattern at all A LOT OF WASTE . A lot of the points DO NOT MATCH . Do not think I sewed and measured that off the most confusing directions is trimming the half block with the 1/8 ” if the arch would have been straight across –no problem —but the arch is not straight across so by the time you line up one side with the 1/8″ the other side is OFF . Good luck ladies i am not happy with my quilt at all.

    Reply
  8. janice young - September 27, 2018

    Mari
    You said your strip set was 101/2. The pattern says to make it 10″ maybe that would have been the diff and i did not find middle of arch and add on . Took a class on this at the Jr college and maybe if I (we) had done some of these extra steps My results would have been better. Wish I had seen your tutorial before the class.
    Janice

    Reply
  9. Sherry - February 11, 2020

    This is a great ruler and love your colors. I just started one of these quilts and am trying to pick colors for the setting block that make the circles move smoother. I don’t care for the bold look of that part. I’d like it to look more like the traditional double wedding ring quilt. What do you suggest?

    Reply
  10. Mary - December 20, 2021

    I find the instructions always leave out too much. Explain how to cut the arch please

    Reply

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