Help!!! Cutting circles
 

My 87 year old mom came for a visit today and asked that I help cut out 300 7-1/4" pinked circles that they are using for toppers for a church bazaar project. I thought I could use a pinking blade in my rotary cutter but the template she gave me is cardboard so it's not working. Is there a way that I can cut strips of the fabric then fold them and round the corners so that the squares would finish out at 7-1/2" and then we could just hand pink the edges with scissors? She is leaving Monday so any and all hints/tips are appreciated!!!

Mindy

This is how I think I'd do it, maybe??? Cut squares just over 7.5 inches press into folded squares. Cut maybe 10ish freezer paper 1/4 circle shapes at 7.25 inches. One of you place and press the paper 1/4 circle matching folded point to center point of "circle" then the other cut w/ pinking shears just at the edge of the paper (through all 4 layers) , pull the freezer paper off and give back to the presser to reuse. (rinse and repeat so to speak)

I found a ruler as I was on You Tube called Omni Arc, I was wondering if anyone has used it. It looks like I would get 8" finished squares which would be good. My thought is after I used that ruler and before I unfolded the square of fabric I would use my rotary cutter with the pinking blade and cut the edges then and once the material was unfolded I would have the circle already pinked. Using actual pinking shears it rough on mom's hands and mine as well, she has arthritis and I have carpal tunnel. If I go with the Omni Arc ruler I can have it from Amazon on Monday and then I would just have to mail her the finished items which wouldn't be a problem. I just wish I new what size strips the fabric had to be cut to so I could have some of the prep work done ahead of time.

I have not used the pinking blade or the Omni Arc, but have used the wavy blade and you really need to be careful not to nic your ruler. I'll see if I can find anything else out there that might help you.

Did you notice that it says the lines are in 1" increments, so you would need to figure that into your circle as well?

I would be tempted to find a plate around the house that measures 7 ¼ "diameter and use it for the template to cute around. Just measured one here but it is 7½ " .... any flower pot etc. would work.

Why not squares? I'd try to persuade her into squares. You could pink those too and they do look just as nice!

Found a ruler that I can get at Joanns called Easy Circle cut. Looks like this might be a good option for tonight. I can see if it will work with some fabric from my stash. I think that we will still have to finish pinking by hand though.

I've not done this myself, just thinking aloud, so to speak.
Could you cut your fabric into 7 1/2 squares as kassaundra has said and fold them I to quarters. Instead of the omni ruler, which thuimblebug6000 said can be damaged, do it the old way and use a ceramic bowl or plate.
Placed against the quarter folds the wavy or pinking blade could be run straight around the curved edge of the plate not damaging it, keeping your fingers safe and not having to do the job twice; once by rotary and then scissors.
It may or may not work, but I can't think of another way besides what has already been said. Best of luck.

I have the arc ruler and it is difficult to use w/ a regular size rotary cutter (I find it near impossible) I haven't got a small rotary cutter yet to try w/ it, but I just use it to mark the circle w/ the pen innards (the whole pen is hard to fit in the space too.

Just wondering - what are they "toppers" for?

use a plate instead of the cardboard pattern you have

Instead of cutting a whole circle template cut a large strip of fabric 7 1/2" wide and however long you can, fold it in half. Use a 1/2 circle template then cut with that. You'll be cutting the whole circle out. you do need to put the template on the folded line but only cutting half the time. You could pin the fold line if you don't want to press it. Protractors are cheap get a couple. I keep them on hand

Using the 28mm rotary cutter is much easier when cutting circles!

Check out the Easy Circle Cut by Sharon Hultgren. It is easy to use and costs less than $20. I believe I purchased mine at Joanne,s. It is made to use with a regular rotary blade so it should also work with the pinking blade. It states on the template that the circle sizes include a 1/4 seam allowance. Good luck with your project.

They are making Apple Pie in a Jar and it is a decorative piece that they are adding to the tops of the jars. I did mention that squares would have been much easier but they have been doing it this way for years and you can't change their minds.

Thanks.

Nothing like "we've always done it this way" - :shock:

I think I would cut 7-1/2 inch squares of fabric, fold each square into fourths, lightly pencil an arc, and then cut on the line.

Easy. Cut the circles and let the group cut the pinking edges as they use them.

I have the circle cutter with the rotatory blade attached and it is easy making them that way. Like someone mentioned you could get a pinked blade, I think, for it. The blade is so tiny, I am not sure it would work very well.
I am sorry I was not more help. 300 does seem like a daunting task. Doesn't someone in the group have a accucut go that has that disk? If not maybe call the quilt store to see what they suggest.

I've never made 300, but I pin together layers of fabric & then trace the shape onto my fabric. Then I just cut freehand with my rotary cutter pinking blade.

But, to be honest, I've never done that with circles. Typically circles fray very little because you are cutting on the bias. When fabric frays, it's the warp or the weft that comes out. With bias cuts, you don't have long sections of either that can come undone & fray. Personally, I'd just cut them with the 1/4" allowance & be done with it. When I was getting ready to needle turn them, I'd make 4 tiny snips at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 & 9:00 and that would be enough to get the edge of the circle completely smooth.

I am guessing that these circles are put over the lid of a jar and then tied down with a cord or narrow ribbon??? for decoration? (In my opinion, it's a waste of good fabric, but my opinion was not asked for.)

If I guessed correctly, the pinked edges are adequate for that application.

LOL The fabric does make a pretty presentation. And that is what will sell it or not sell. It's more fun to have pretty then plain.

Well, if they've always done it this way and there's a chance she might ask you next year, you've been forwarned��

Like Christmas... Start early!

For 300 pieces a year, it seams worthwhile for the guild to buy a Go! cutter with a custom die. You could get a small die that does one circle or the 24 inch could cut 3 circles. Six layers at a time would be 18 perfectly pinked circles per pass. Something to consider for next year anyway.

How much do custom dies cost?

Sent you a PM.

I don't think you can buy pinking edges on a Go die. I have the star die and it makes a pretty mason jar lid decoration, the points hang off around the jar when the rim is screwed on.

Yup, heaven forbid we do anything different. The sky might fall! :D I'd do it that way too bear.