circle magic quilt
 

I am starting a circle magic quilt, I bought the book and template from MSQC.. but I am having a hard time sewing a perfect circle... when I sew the circle and them turn my circle to the right side and press it, it does not look like a perfect circle it has flat place where I didn't get a good flow around when I was sewing..I am having trouble with the sewing part, is there anything that is out there or that someone had made that would be a guide for your machine that when you sewed the circle it would come out perfect or better without the flat side in places...Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KeO-2Q5arM These circular sewing attachments seem to be available for most brands of sewing machines, but you might be able to make something similar

What a great gadget. I hadn't seen one before. Thanks for sharing.

do you mark the lines for the circle, then sew? slowly might help too. Good luck.

oh wow that is a great tool, I have never seen it used or even heard of it before

Another tip- use a short stitch length and trim the seam fairly close before turning right side out. I use a crochet hook with a fat head- maybe a G- and smooth the inside of the seam, then press before topstitching slowly.

I'm getting one! All there is toit!! I think Isaw where Nancy's notions used one.

I head or saw someone tape a tack on the machine or table depending how large a circle you want. Use the tack as the center and then sew away. Have not used this myself but when I need a circle I am going to try it.

This method works well if the tack is well anchored, and you let it pull the fabric around.

Looks like a great tool. I've never tried sewing circles. Good luck!

thanks for that link... i'd never seen that attachment before

I have that book & template ---- and I love it! After I cut the circles out ---I put them together & use the edge of my presser foot as the guide to sewing. After I turn it right side out----I use a butter knife to push the seams out to even my circle before I press it. This really seems to help. Good luck!

This is what I was going to suggest: the short stitch and trim closely using a blunt tool to run around the seam once it's turned to the right side.

I have made pretty large circles just using interface, sewing on the line that I drew then used pinking shears to cut the fabric as close to seam as possible without cutting it then just flipped it inside out and pressed it flat. You can use fusible or just regular I got a perfect circle each time.

If you were to use fusible what weight would you get? I use heat and bond light, but seems a little heavy to me.

I was sew some Christmas stocking that of course had curved area and I found that if I held the piece with one hand a few inches away from the presser foot and turn I got a much smoother line than hold next to the presser foot. After I finished I pressed the stocking and then trimmed to about 1/8 in. and sewed around it with a small zig-zag, turned it and using my fingers on the inside I was able to get a smooth edge.

I have used this trick - it works very well as you sew a bit slower than you would usually do. It is easy to adjust the circle size!

Depending on your machine, you may be able to find a circular sewing attachment. I have one for my Bernina. The fabric is stuck on a pin like an upside down thumb tack and the tack slides closer or farther away from the needle. As you sew the fabric magically turns around creating a perfect circle. The tiny hole created by the tack will go away with a little rubbing or even washing.

The sewing tool from Janome sounds great until I realized that it would leave a hole in the fabric! Do you have to applique over that??

Nancy's Notions sells a circle template and a thumb tack gizmo that locks the circle in place. You can sew about 24 different-sized circles with it. Hope this helps.

Did you clip the seam of the curve? On an outside curve, you my need to take out tiny triangles for it to lay flat and keep the curve. https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?...&hsimp=yhs-001

I would get one of these gadgets but I think the tack would leave too big of a hole in the middle of the circle.

I use the Pellon SF101 woven interfacing for almost all my projects. I have the circle attachment for my Bernina and wasn't really happy with it, but will try again with interfaced fabric.

I also recommend sewing slowly, trimming the seams with pinking shears, and running a blunt tool around the edge after you have turned the circle right-side out. I use the rounded handle of my white Clover seam ripper.

I have found that I get better circles if I draw them, sew slowly, and then cut around them. Slowing down the machine makes it easier to follow the line. If I am sewing a shape in a square, I cut the shape from freezer paper, then iron it to the surface, and sew around the edge, then pull the freezer paper off and reposition it for the next spot. Works for me.

I have played with my circle tool thingy. It works fine if the fabric doesn't stretch and somewhere in that circle is some bias... Interfacing ironed on might be the ticket.

Directions in a pattern I bought but haven't used yet (LOL) sew, turn and DON'T press just stack and set something heavy on them. Might be worth a try.

terrific!!!! thanks.

The hole closes up, it only separates the threads to look like a hole.

I have one of these for my Janome and love it. I don't use it often, bit when I do its worth its weight in gold. I made some very useful breast pads for my daughter using three layers of white flannel, and a scalloped decorative stitch I cut around after it was stitched. She used and washed them over and over through two babies, and loved them. Also, used it to make the folded Christmas ornaments that were suggested recently on the board. It makes life easy, and no disappointing flat spots on your circle.

What GEMRM said: Invert a thumbtack and placte whatever distance you want away from the presser foot. Tape it down. Press your fabric over the tack head and start sewing. The tack will hold the fabric and the presser foot will sew in a circle. I also saw it on line somewhere. I'll see if I can find it again and post the link. Try this. Cheap and effective.

I used to make circles back in the 70's by putting a thumb tack stuck down with tape and point pointing up. Place the middle of the fabric on the tack and sew away. I do not think they had a tool/attachment back then. Since I do not sew enough circles to buy the attachment, I will stick with my old way.

Sounds very much like Rotarians

Using pinking shears to cut around the circle helps the turned edges to be smoother.

A lot of people still use this method--is it basically what Vikings attachment was until they improved it.

This Jenny Doan's tutorial on using her circle magic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gKvdrexKE4

It is important to clip the inseam properly. Are you making little "v" snips around the seam? This will compensate and smooth out most of the imperfect sewing. Usually.

I have used this method. I taped the tack down put in the fabric then held the tack with my finger just to make sure. The machine did all the work I just sat there and smiled

I bought a circle maker from Nancy's notions after watching a tv segment using it- cost about $25.....confession....have not used it yet! But, if I get the urge..it will be there. I looked into the real attachment for my machine(BL)...$100.00---no thanks...

This works very well

Draw a circle on freezer paper the finished size you want. Press the shiny side of the paper on the wrong side of the fabric circle and liner. Sew following the edge of the paper. Trim close to seam and turn out. I think you'll be happy with the result.