Best way to prep circles for applique
 

I am participating in a 30 week block of the week program. We're about 1/3 of the way through and finally an applique block appears. I don't dislike doing applique, it's the prep work I find tedious. So please tell me your favorite way to get perfect 2.5" diameter circles done. I really don't want to fuse them. Thank you!

There is a product out there called "perfect circles," which is essentially heat resistant plastic circles with a hole in the center. You trace the circle you need on the back of a piece of fabric, cut around leaving and 1/8" to a 1/4" inch seam allowance, and then stay stitch in the seam allowance leaving a tail, pull the thread and gather..wallah a perfect circle. Before you get the template out, spray some starch and press to make sure the circle retains its shape, then remove the template and applique away. You can probably achieve the same results with a cardboard or some heat resistant template if you can cut a perfect circle:)

I found the Perfect Circles on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Kay-Buck...dp/B002DW3YZ6/

Created by Karen Kay Buckley and also available on her website.

Yes! These are the ones! She had them in two sizes. The package you linked is the smaller ones and here is the Amazon link for the bigger ones.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002DW2DBC

This place is the best! Thanks so much ladies for your advice. I'm going to try both methods. If the LQS doesn't have the Perfect Circles, I'll order from Amazon. In the meantime, I'll try the facing method and see just how good I am at sewing circles. :-)

I make my own circles from the template plastic which is heat resistant, meaning you can iron over it. Trace the circle the size you want, cut it out--remembering to turn the plastic into the scissors while cutting to get a smooth edge. Then feel the edge of the circle for any tiny bumps or roughness and smooth those with an emery board, and you're good to go! I have a circle template thing with all different sizes of circle holes cut out of it which I often use for tracing. It's available wherever school supplies, etc. are sold. I also will trace around coins or buttons, etc. if they are the size I need. Once you have your plastic circle ready, trace around it on the wrong side of the fabric and cut it out leaving yourself about 3/8 of an inch seam allowance. Stitch a running stitch all around in that seam allowance, and overlap the stitches a bit at the starting point. Put the heat resistant plastic circle against the wrong side of the fabric and use the thread tails to gather up the seam allowance around it like a shower cap. Press it crisp with some spray starch on both sides while the heat resistant plastic is still inside. After it cools, loosen the gathered seam allowance a bit right at the starting point of your running stitches and pull out the template plastic. Now use the thread tails to again pull that gathered seam allowance tight and the applique circle is perfect again and will easily applique down, keeping that perfect shape.

I use Tartan's method with the old dryer sheets (I even have friends save them for me). So simple and a perfect circle every time.

Non fusible non woven interfacing works like dryer sheets too. I have done circles that way and also making my own as mentioned above and both work well....save the money u would spend buying templates, when you can do it with what you already have on hand!

You can make your own circles out of card stock, water color paper or a cracker or cereal box. I use a compass to draw my circle then carefully cut it out. I cut out my fabric circle with a seam allowance and then do a loose running stitch around the edge. Then I use my cardboard circle and place my fabric over it, centering it and pull that running stitch tight. Makes a perfect circle. Press it real good with the cardboard still in it then take the cardboard out, give it another press and spray it with starch. Then press again. Perfect circle everytime. It is how I made this quilt:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]427577[/ATTACH]

I agree with the Perfect Circles. They are perfectly round and smooth and saves you a ton of tedious template making. I have yet to see a handcut circle template to be as nice. If you cut your fabric with pinking shears it will curve around the circle a lot easier

Love, love,love your quilt.

I would never use dryer sheets because of the added fragrance and other chemicals, but I have used interfacing, sewn on the right side, clip the edges, clip the interfacing, turn, straighten out the circle from the inside, and then you have a perfect circle. You can use regular or iron on interfacing, if using the iron on, the sticky side goes toward the right side of the fabric, then, once turned, it can be ironed onto the fabric. If you want less bulk you can cut away most of the interfacing after turning the circle.

Beautiful quilt.

I didn't want to pay the price for the "perfect circles" when I had what I need in my desk drawer for years. Remember the compass we use that had the pencil in it to make arcs and circles. They still sell them at places like Office Depot. They're about $7-8.00. The one I have makes up to a 12" circle. You can make your own circle templates with this. I now keep mine in my template. you can also make scallops with this so easy. Also any size yo yo you want.

Like feline fanatic, I use a compass to draw my circle on cereal box cardboard and then cut it out with scissors. I cut the fabric using the cardboard template and adding a seam allowance. I then lay the template in the center of the fabric circle and give it a good spray of starch so the seam allowance gets wet. Then I press the seam allowance up and over the edges of the template until they're dry. Perfect circles every time with no starch on the front of the circle.

Here's one result. The smaller circles are appliqué, the large ones are pieced.
http://i49.servimg.com/u/f49/13/49/59/13/l_copy10.jpg

Beautiful circle quilts!

Ghostrider your circle quilt is exquisite! What a fabulous study in hue and color gradation.

Feline Fanatics and Ghost: what fabulous quilts! I love them.

Feline fanatic and Ghost rider, your quilts are gorgeous!

Last night I cut out some templates from freezer paper and made a few circles which turned out ok. Probably should have used some light cardboard but I was surprised I could gather the fabric around the paper. Tonight I made more using the Perfect Circles. My LQS had them and they worked well, too - probably a little faster than the paper. Next will be the interfacing method. I need to see if I can sew a circle. :-) Thanks again everybody.

Ive had good luck with this method. http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/...r-circles.html

GR. that is one beauty of a quilt.

For larger ones I kind of use Tartans method. I use stabilizer instead of dryer sheets and i put water soluble thread in my spool holder and regular thread in my bobbin and stitch a closed circle, then trim, slit, turn right side out, carefully with a DRY iron set your shape, then turn on the steam and blast...then pick out your bobbin thread and remove your stabilizer or dryer sheet.
NOTE: don't forget to mark this thread and keep it seperate from your sewing threads...I have heard of people making a mistake and using the water soluble thread for peicing. then they finish their projects, wash them and oh what a mess.

I have these perfect circles....bought when I took a class from Kay. I personally would not recommend them. The first time you use them....as directed....they become warped and are not as nice to use! Pretty expensive for one time use. :thumbdown:

Wow, wow, WOW! This is my dream quilt....I have been thinking about making something that would look just like this! I love Asian fabrics AND circles! Thanks for the inspiration!

I use fusible interfacing instead of dryer sheets. After you turn your applique, DO NOT IRON.....use the "fat" end of a point turner, or spoon and run it around the inside of the circle to smooth out the seam allowance, then trim the interfacing (leaving enough to glue your circle), press the circle down on your block.
It makes appliquing so much easier. Make sure that when sewing the interfacing to your fabric that you have the glue side to the right side of the fabric so the glue side is out when you turn the circle.

Just did some surfing regarding those circles by Buckley.....very wide price range....on amazon offering at a very low price, eBay at high prices...... Not that I am thinking of buying...just had to comment on price range....

I love your technique Tartan. And now on to the Snowpeople wall hangings

You all have great ideas.

Try OLFA circle cutter.
 

Hi Laura, if you make a lot of circles, I recommend the olfa circle cutter! It works GREAT:
Cut perfect circles from 1-7/8 to 8-1/2 inches in diameter.
Features built in blade cover for safety and a plastic guard to cover the pivot spike when not in use.
Great for fabric; paper; vinyl; film; leather or more.
For right- and left-handed users. Includes RB18mm blade.

You can get it cheaper on ebay, amazon or joanns with a coupon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CEAMCY
It makes perfect circles adjustible to 8.5inches. I was doing a lot of Peekaboo or mock cathedral window quilts as you go and it cuts circles thru several layers at once. I had 60 c ircles in a blink. It uses standard (small) rotary blades--easy to change. I wish I knew how to post a photo. Haven't mastered that yet. Hope that helps.

have to agree with feline fanatic that is the best way to do it, and get a consistent circle.

I use Karen Kay Buckley's perfect circles and love them.

The circle quilt is a winner. Oriental fabric is so pretty and you used it well. The quilting is also done well. Hugs

Fabulous quilts! Inspires me to do one with circles!

The "old dryer sheet" method works great for those Sunbonnet Sue/Sam pieces too!

This quilt is outstanding ... did you machine quilt it also?

I just purchased and used this circle template. It worked great and I didn't have to worry about the wiggles when cutting around a pattern, as this has a slot where you cut with a small rotary cutter.

http://www.amazon.com/Wrights-2-Inch...ircle+template

[QUOTE=feline fanatic;6208648]You can make your own circles out of card stock, water color paper or a cracker or cereal box. I use a compass to draw my circle then carefully cut it out. I cut out my fabric circle with a seam allowance and then do a loose running stitch around the edge. Then I use my cardboard circle and place my fabric over it, centering it and pull that running stitch tight. Makes a perfect circle. Press it real good with the cardboard still in it then take the cardboard out, give it another press and spray it with starch. Then press again. Perfect circle everytime. It is how I made this quilt:[QUOTE]

That is beautiful and you invested a lot of time into this quilt. Good job.

This is a great thread sewplease. What great methods for sewing circles and what beautiful quilts. Thanks for sharing everyone!!