We received a wedding invitation a month ago for a wedding; I had known about it for a while but was holding off to starting a quilt until I received the invitation. That wasn’t such a great plan because the clock was ticking the minute I got it. I had thought originally I would make a metro rings quilt and in fact bought the ruler for it.
I knew immediately I couldn’t get that made in a month’s time but there was another quilt that I was interested in so I bought the pattern for it, only to find out it was a lot more difficult than it appeared and would’ve been better to be a paper pieced pattern but because each row was different from the one before I didn’t have time to get the pattern drawn and each block printed and paper pieced in time.
So I went with plan C. I wrote a pattern from scratch in EQ7. It’s inspired by the plan B quilt but much easier. I wanted to create something that visually described 2 people becoming 1 through marriage.
The top row represents 2 people – they have some things in common (the white) but really are going their own separate ways when they meet. The next 2 rows represent the dating period – their lives are starting to intertwine and they start to see a life together although they still are on their own.
The next to the last row represents the engagement. By now they’re on the path toward marriage; they pick out a date, find a dress, figure out where they’ll live and whether the toilet paper goes over or under. It should go over by the way!
And the last row, the all white row, represents 2 people becoming 1. If you see a closeup of it, you’ll see there are actually 3 different “white” fabrics making it up – they haven’t totally lost any sense of self, but to the world they are now Mr. and Mrs.
In fact, on the quilt label I wrote something to the effect of “For Mr. and Mrs.” and “From Mr. and Mrs.” to represent exactly that. I remember the first time when I was out shopping and was called “Mrs.” for real. I did a double take – that was my sweet mother-in-law’s name! I was really excited to get to share that name with her. She left us much too soon and my husband has only sisters so I’m the only one with that name today.
I made a lap sized quilt for a couple of reasons. First, I only had a month! I could’ve made it wider but the pattern really worked well with this height so I made it the width that seemed to look good to me.
I also didn’t know the size of their bed, or if they had any extra beds and if so what size it was. I remember when I made the king sized quilt for my sister that it was so big that when I laid it out on a queen bed, it literally draped on the floor and I didn’t want to take a chance on that. I put a note that it’s the perfect size for a picnic, or when one person is cold on the couch and the other person is hot – a common occurrence in our household! I finished it up and even hand sewed the binding on, which I never (ever) do. I hope they like it.
The wedding invitation was a chocolate brown, and browns and taupes were the colors for most items on their gift registry so I picked fabric to hopefully go with their house. And I finished a quilt top for someone else today, but I’ll save that for another day!
Nice design and a lovely thought behind it!
Thank you!
This is really great! I love the imagery and the idea of representing two becoming one in marriage! Really beautiful! This will be a treasure for them!
Thank you so much!
Wow! I love this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! I really enjoyed making it.
That is so beautiful, Brenda! You’re courageous to write a new pattern, with only a month to go!
Metro rings- is that anything like double wedding ring??
Yes, very close – but easier. I’m still going to make that one sometime! http://sewkindofwonderful.blogspot.com/2013/04/finished-metro-rings.html
I went there. So beautiful!
I love everything about this! Great pattern and a lovely choice for colors!
Thank you! I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.
Gorgeous! What a gift!
Thank you!
What a beautiful quilt and I LOVE the story that goes with it!
Thank you! It all fell into place, just like it was supposed to.
Still searching for the LUV button!!!!!!! The perfect gift, given with such a sweet spirit!!!! Definitely “quilty hugs”, this one! Thanks so much for sharing all with us!!!!!
Thank you so much!
Beautiful!! Who wouldn’t want such a gift.? Wow! 💛💜💙
Thank you so much! I really enjoyed making it.
This is truly a work of art!
Thank you!
The symbolism and thought that went into this are amazing–and the quilt is beautiful!
Thank you! They’re off to their honeymoon so it may be a while before I get a reaction.
What a lovely idea! And the quilt turned out spectacularly.
Thank you! I appreciate it!
It’s beautiful and I hope they appreciate how much thought went into the design!
What a great wedding gift! Beautiful!
Beautiful concept, beautiful quilt!
Thank you so much!