Winding Ways, or Wheel of Mystery Quilt Pattern Inspiration
Intimidating curved seams are usually the reason quilters are hesitant to tackle quilt patterns such as Wheel of Mystery or Double Wedding Ring.
Several notable quilters have published how-to books to make the curved seam process simpler. Nancy Elliott MacDonald devised a one pin technique that she explains in her book, Winding Ways Quilts. Shown at left is a simple graphic version from the book that clearly shows the 3 template shapes for this pattern.
Nancy’s Fireworks, below right, contrasts excitement when compared with the calming effect created by the maker of the photo left Wheel of Mystery.
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Helen Marshall has written Wheel of Mystery Quilts: Surprising Designs from a Classic Book.
Color planning and patch layout are critical to creating the mysterious effect of intertwining circles. A design wall of some sort is necessary to avoid errors that would mean tiresome ripping and resewing or an otherwise spoiled visual effect. carriebee has generously provided this layout photo on Flickr. Read her blot post on the planning process.
A few years ago John Flynn designed a Wheel of Mystery kit for Benartex from the Triple Dyed Bali Batiks collection, which is what carriebee describes in her blog post.
The two photos below demonstrate features I like to see in illusion quilts – a focal center of interest. Even more intriguing is a layout suggesting one or more secondary visual wheels of mystery.
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For enthusiasts of this type of illusionary pattern, and for quilters who like to draft new and unusual versions of conventional quilt patterns, a distorted view would be very exciting to create.
