Hi everyone...I'm making a round table quilt. I have the top all put together and I'm ready to put the batting and backing on it. I am planning on using the two sided fusible batting (never tried it before), but I am concerned because the center of my quilt does not seem to lay flat. All the points from the 40 triangular pieces meet for a circle in the middle and pucker up. Any suggestions on how to get those tiny sewn pieces to lay flat. I will try to get a picture so you can see what I'm talking about.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

It almost looks like there is too many pieces of fabric there to lay flat??? maybe try increasing the seam allowances for the last couple of inches to take up the slack?

Want degree wedge ruler did you use?
I've only done this with a 10 degree ruler and there were 36 pieces to equal the 360 degree circle.

Well, the interesting part is that I made one before and copied the amount that I used. This one though is not working out...should I remove a couple of pieces?

You must be using the 9 degree ruler, 40 pieces would equal 36o degrees.

Some times my circle would be a little full in the middle. I would inspect my seam near the middle and resew any that are less than 1/4 in.. It is aggravating, because you might have to resew most all of them to get it flat.

Oh and I used a 9 degree ruler with 40 wedges...i guess i must of not cut all my points the same width...how can i fix this?

ok I will take a look at my seams

Thanks :)

How about appliqueing a circle on top?

If it is like the ones I have done, they are supposed to have an applique in the center.
What deesign is your center supposed to be?

I'm not sure yet what material I will be putting in the center, but if I recall, don't I quilt it first and then put the applique on? Sorry, if I appear a little "dumb" I haven't quilted in about 6 years and it's hard to remember. Do you think I can just stitch in the ditch and sort of gather it along the way down to smooth it out?

I used to pin a piece of fabric to the backside of the circle. and stitch the circle to that...it will keep it flater so that you can work on it. I appliqued my center on before quilting and it got quilted along with the rest of the quilt.

I would like to see a picture of your whole circle. Could you post a pic of that?

I have no answer for you, but I sure think it is pretty. Please post a pix of it when you are done.

Here is a the picture of the complete circle...I have also included a picture of my first round quilt that I made a long time ago. This was the one I was trying to copy except instead of a Christmas theme I was trying to make a Spring table quilt.

I like the idea of attaching the circle before quilting. I think I will try that.

Have any of you guys used the fusible batting instead of pinning?

Lori those quilts are so beautiful!! I wish I had an answer to your question :) Let's go on a shop hop together this summer! Kim

I am going to plan on it!!!

Those are really pretty. It doesn't look like it is too full in the middle. I bet it will work out out ok, unless you can pinch up more than 1/2 inch on that inside row.

Did you do this with strip piecing the fabrics and cutting the wedges from the strip pieced panel? Or did you cut each piece out and then stitch?

Piping in to say your quilts are gorgeous.
That Christmas one is spectacular and I'm looking forward to seeing the final product of the spring quilt.

Thanks for the compliments, I know how hard everybody works on their quilts and I appreciate your kindness.

To Barb: Yes, I strip pieced all the fabric and then cut the wedges alternating back and forth to get that pinwheel sort of look. And I think you might be right, laying it on the floor gives me a much better look at it (I had it laying on my table) and I think it might be ok, I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the input!

The speaker at our guild meeting this morning showed a large size quilt she had used the iron-on batting for and she thought it was wonderful.

ok....shhhh...I'm going to give you a secret trick.....spray with starch or fabric sizing or best press.....then iron into shape....shhhh....this is a secret.....

Starch has become my best friend :)

I wouldn't take anything apart but just set a second line of stitching next to the original on 4 of the centerpieces and see how that looks. Maybe start an inch from the last circle?

If you are the cautious type use a long long stitch and odd colored thread. Don't like it, pull the odd threads out.

If you do like it still pull the odd threads out and sew you second line of stitching corectly with the right thread.

I agree! wow!

they are both beautiful.

Lovely quilts. I think checking the seam allowances on the center is probably best. The ones that are too shallow can be re-sewn most of the length of the piece, and that should help a lot.

Hi everyone! Thanks for all your advice. I did try the starch and it really seemed to help the whole inner circle lay flat. I will keep you posted on how its going. I appreciate all the tips!

What pattern did you use on these quilts? They're beautiful and I'm looking for a round/circular pattern for my MIL for Christmas for a table topper.

When I have this problem I use a lot of steam and starch. After that everything lays nice and flat. I just finished a round table topper for my SIL for Thanksgiving gift. A good blast of steam was all it needed to lay nice and flat. Sometimes when you have a bunch of seams in a small area it will need a little extra something, I use steam.

What pattern did you use? Where might I find it. That might be what I'm liiking for as a MIL gift for Christmas.