jodimarie

I picked up these 2 different acrylic rulers yesterday on clearence and was wondering if anyone has used them?? I am thinking of trying a fabric layer block using 3 graduating smaller hearts or circles one on top of the other, leaving the edges raw to fry. The largest heart cuts to almost 12 inches then 2 sizes down, that heart cuts to about 8 inches, then another 2 sizes down, the heart is 4 inches.....if I layer them, sew down about 3/4 inch from the edges they should fry a bit for a nice soft look but will they be too bulky behind???? Am I on the right track for a really neat quilt????

Thanks for any ideas/help :mrgreen:

katier825

I recently finished a quilt with 8 inch circles. What I did was to cut out fusible (Steam-a-Seam 2) in the circle shape, but I also cut out the middle of the fusible before ironing it to the fabric. All I left was a 1/2" or so around the edge. It was enough to adhere it to the background, yet did not add any bulk. Then I did satin stitch around the edge, using Stitch & Tear stabilizer on the back. It comes out really nice, no puckers. If you are doing several layers, you might want to try something like that to reduce the bulk.

jodimarie

I wasn't thinking of doing a satin stitch around the raw edes but stitching about 3/4 of an inch in from the raw edge and then letting the edges fray....something like a rag quilt but without the little clips/snips. I thought if I put down the first big heart/circle and sewed it down to the background block, then layed the other pieces and sewed them down, I wouldn't need to use fuseable webbing as they would stay where I put them :lol:

I just don't want each block to become too bulky.

Am I on the right track???

Ninnie

2layers of material, plus batting, plus backing might be a little thick. Could you go in behind after sewing all the hearts on and removing some of the material? Or if too thick to quilt, you could tie it>

bearisgray

maybe make just one and see what it does? you can overcast/serge or hem the outer edges of the block so they don't ravel on you.

I'm wondering how it will fray with the different angles as you go around the shape.

MadQuilter

I have a woven heart quilt in pieces that I plan to do that to but my instructions say to sew it at 1/4" inside the edge. 3/4" seems very far in. All I can say is try it on a sample piece before you commit.

BellaBoo

I have these rulers and have no problem at all. I bought the tiny rotary cutter to use with them but found it's too small to fit in the slots. A regular size rotary cutter works better. I had no problem with thickness when I sewed the shapes on the background for heart blocks and I frayed them. I sewed a tiny stitch around the heart and then clipped close to the seam. I left about 1/2 inch for fraying as I wanted a smaller fray outline . I used a wire brush to fray the edges. You can buy the small size ones at a hardware store. Looks like a toothbrush.

jodimarie

ohhhh....I have one of those wire brushes....will dig it out and try it.

Thanks to all for all the advice :D :D :D

Will make one block and then finish it out to see how it feels....can always use it as a table mat.

butterflywing

i think put the smallest one on the next size up. stitch. from the back, trim out the inside as best you can. put those on the next size. stitch. from the back, remove as much fabric as you can. and so on.

i think that way you'll get the least amount of bulk. but it may be the most work. if you try out the different methods, show us how they come out.
thanks for the interesting question.

racnquilter

I did something similar. Stitched about 1/4" in except I went a little further and stiched the 3 hearts together, then did cross-cuts and then mixed them up and resewed. Here is a closeup of mine. Was stepdaughter's x-mas gift. Don't know how well it has frayed.

[IMG]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o.../120508014.jpg[/IMG]