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DonnaFreak 12-09-2011 08:22 AM

What the HECK Is the Secret?!?!?
 
OK.....somebody has GOT to know what the secret is to sewing a circle without it being more jagged than a shark's teeth! I just wanna know who's holding out on filling me in?!?!? HELP!!! *grumble* LOL!

Donna

RugosaB 12-09-2011 08:35 AM

This is the technique I use

http://www.dioramarama.com/2009/02/t...sy_pieced.html

Charleen DiSante 12-09-2011 09:03 AM

I just love seeing the helpful posts after someone posts a question. Thanks for all the positive posts.

kellen46 12-09-2011 09:40 AM

[QUOTE=DonnaFreak;4765800]OK.....somebody has GOT to know what the secret is to sewing a circle without it being more jagged than a shark's teeth! I just wanna know who's holding out on filling me in?!?!? HELP!!! *grumble* LOL!

What kind of circle are you trying to sew....a pieced or appliquéd one.

For appliqué circle I do a basting stitch right at the edge of the circle and gently gather it, just a bit not much. Then I turn it over on the ironing board and from the wrong side with the help of a point turner gently smooth the outer edge while pressing it flat. I turn it over to the right side and check for un-smooth places and coax it into shape. finally I iron the circle with a bit of starch and appliqué it down. This is good for smaller circles.
Or you you can use the Eleanor Burns method. Layer fine fusible interfacing with a finished size circle drawn on it. Layer right side of fabric to fusible side of interfacing. Stitch on the line all around. Separate the interfacing from fabric and cut a bit out big enough to pull the piece right side out. I then trim a way most of the interfacing to with in a half inch of sewn line. I then heat press the circle from the fabric side to my block and stitch the now finished edge down. I have made multiple layed circles like this, trimming away the excess fabric after each stitch down the added bulk is removed and the cut-aways are always reusable as smaller circles.

Tartan 12-09-2011 10:13 AM

If it's an applique circle, I perfer to use Wonder Under and cut it out neatly with the scissors and stitch it down. You can draw your circle on a used dryer sheet and place it on top of the right side of your fabric and stitch all the way around it. Cut a slit in the dryer sheet and turn the circle out through the slit. Carefully manipulate the edge until you get it perfect and iron and sew it down.
If it's a pieced circle like Drunkard's Path, I carefully pin it, sew the seam and clip the seam allowance curve at intervals to ease it into laying flat. If you are trying to FMQ a circle, good luck because perfect circles are very hard to do freehand. If it is a larger circle, you can machine stitch with your straight line sewing if you turn the quilt often (not easy to do if it's a big quilt). I don't know if any of these suggestions address your problem.

DonnaFreak 12-09-2011 12:51 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I'm making these little stuffed owls to give as gifts to the kids in my family. The pattern calls for you to set your machine to a short zig-zag stitch to go around the eyes, around the white of the eyes, and around the beak and wings. I can't get the !)@(#*$&%^ machine to go where I want it to go around those tight little circles for nothin'! :c(

Donna

barefoot quilter 12-09-2011 01:05 PM

Donna those are tooo cute what is the pattern called i would like to see if i can make one of those.... but i see what you mean i can't do that eather i saw a machine part that att.. to the sewing machine but havent seen it in a long time so i can't help you there.. sorry

sharon b 12-09-2011 01:10 PM

I use the Eleanor Burns method for most circles- for those eyes - take a stitch or two stop with needle down turn- take a couple more stitches- it is very slow and tedious ..... BUT they are so cute :)

pocoellie 12-09-2011 01:17 PM

These are all good tips, another tip is speed, I go slow when going in circles, it's much easier to control.

DonnaFreak 12-09-2011 01:30 PM

April, it's the Kooky Owl pattern from FaveCrafts. Here is the URL for it. :c)

http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing-for...ky-Stuffed-Owl

Donna


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