I have a template that does not include the 1/4 inch seam allowance and its a circle...how do I trace it AND include the seam allowance? I don't get why they would make a template including the seam allowance.

don't have answer for you. wonder if you can use a compass? bummer.

Other than the 1/4 seam allownace ruler I am not sure how to add, and since its a circle OH MY :roll: Can you find another circle just a bit bigger and use it as a guide ?

could you make a new template from this one...adding the seam allowance to the new template?

Its some sort of metal and it goes with a square template for a particular pattern. I just bought it at the quilt show and didn't read that part until I got home. I thought there might be a little gadget that you put on your pencil that adds 1/4 inch but heck if I can find it anywhere on the internet.

Cut a string 1/4" longer than the radius of the circle. Pin your string at the center point. Hold a pencil at the other end and pivot.

Here is a ling that shows the radius line of a cirlce so you can see what I'm talking about.

http://www.mathopenref.com/radius.html

I've got to quit posting without my glasses! The typos are getting bad!

Circles are the hardest thing for me to sew.. I have parkinson's the stress of keeping the curve causes my hands to shake more.. I miss sewing curves. There are so many new things and .. I would love to finish a Sunbonnet Sue baby quilt !!!

I make all of my templates without the seam allowance.. I'm a hand stitcher.. that way I mark the stitching line, then add 1/4" and have a cutting line...
Easiest way to add seam allowance is to take 1/4" ruler and make a series of dots around the perimeter of the circle, then join them together. you can do this on a sheet of plastic template material and have a new template, seam allowance and all. You can also buy a "flexible" 1/4" strip at LQS for this.

Actually, there's a gadjet that holds 2 pencils 1/4-inch apart. Theoretically, at least, you can trace 2 lines at one time. This would work only if the circle is a solid template. Won't work if the circle is cut out of a larger template.

Is this for piecing or applique? I saw a neat technique on a quilting show where the teacher ironed a freezer paper circle to the wrong side of fabric. The freezer paper edge acted as her guide when she pieced the circle into the background fabric. In that case, there would be no need to mark 1/4-inch seam allowance as the seam allowance doesn't matter much; it is the edge of the freezer paper that matters. The other portion of the freezer paper (the square with the circle cut out of the middle) was ironed onto the background fabric. Just wondering if your templates could have been purchased for that specific technique.

If the circle is supposed to be appliqued on the fabric, I would just trace the template onto freezer paper and use that to form the circle (a la Harriet Hargrave).