How do you cut good circles...
 

I made a pillow cover for a round pillow and I had never made one before. I got it completed but I struggled a bit. How would you cut an accurate circle... but a bigger one. I know that Olfa makes one that looks slick, but I needed a 13" circle. What I have seen the Olfa doesn't go that large. I don't have a bowl or plate that size either

Tartan always comes up with good answers!!

Hi...my method is pin, string or dental floss, and pencil or chalk marker.
I lay my fabric on my cardboard mat stick & straight pins around it to keep it from moving - stick a large straight pin the middle..tie the string (dental floss works well) around the pin....measure the length (radius of the circle) plus enough to tie and tie a pencil to the other end...hold the center pin firmly - pull gently on the string to keep it taut - go around in a circle. I've made up to 30" diameter this way.
Not very techie - but it works.....we're very "old school" (and just plain old) around this house !!! ;)


Ha...Tartan was answering while i was typing!!!!! No offense with the "old" comments Tartan...that was only for myself !!

I would fold either paper or just my fabric in quarters. and make a mark at 6 1/2 then tie a string around a pencil and pin it at the folded corner and tie the pencil so that it is at the 6 1/2 inch mark and draw around to the other edge and viola Cut and you have a 13 inch circle. Now is that clear as mud or what :) We must have been typing at the same time

I use a pencil and a piece of string and a pin. It gets a close enough to perfect circle for me.

I use the pin/string/pencil plan or search the kitchen for something the right size - pizza stone, pan lid, plate etc.

Thanks for the tips.. I did folding of the paper into fourths, but I must have done something wrong because it didn't work :) But now I have some good ideas for next time

Here is a picture of my rolling ruler I picked up in the back to school stuff a while ago. I can draw up to a 24 inch circle with it. It has holes every 1/2 inch along the 12 inch length. It is rather handy.[ATTACH=CONFIG]505585[/ATTACH]

When I need ROUND, I go into the kitchen and look at my dinner plates. Jim and I have some fairly large ones.

I had never seen a rolling ruler. The old pin and string has always worked for me.

I love my Tru-Cut Circle cutter. Adjustable sizes and quick!
Sandy

I usually can find something in the kitchen that I can use to trace.

Dinner plates, large serving plate, pizza pans, round cake pans, round trays, yardstick with a hole in the end, rulers with holes down the middle, etc. etc. Lots of possibilities. When you get one you like for a particular purpose mark it and save the pattern.

The Olfa circle cutter I got for Christmas seems like a great tool, however I had to get out the spray glue, spray my cutting mat and secure the fabric before using the cutting tool. For the 6 1/2 circles I find it more accurate to use the half circle guide, mark with a pen and cut with scissors.

Large pizza pans work.

I use the Olfa circle cutter up to 8 1/2. Perfect every time. I got the " yardstick ruler" from Nancy's notions (Two adjustable aluminum holders attach to a yardstick (or ruler) to make circular table linen and quilt designs
Will accommodate a 1-1/4" wide yardstick with a thickness of 1/8". One holder has a metal point; the other, a lead point. Make up to 72" diameter circle when using a yardstick). It's inexpensive and works well. The rolling ruler looks intriguing though.

My mom bought me that a year or so ago for Christmas. It's been great in drafting different items and does make a nice circle. I used it to draft the pattern for a circle skirt for a friend.

Fold your fabric in quarters - first horizontally, then vertically. Measure 13" out on one side of the fold. Tie a string to a pencil and hold the string taut in the folded corner and draw a line from one side to the other. I made a tablecloth for a circular dining room table that way.

Tartan is right on.....and I love that rolling ruler. I generally use a plate, but whatever works and Tartan seems to have all the right answers.

fold a large piece of paper into quarters. find a ruler that has holes in it. hold the pin hole at the point, find 6 3/4 on ruler, swing ruler around and hold pencil at the 6 3/4 mark and move across the paper.

It has to be 13"? Most dinner plates are about that size and I use dishes for circles ----------unless a specific size is needed.

I am going to look for one of those rolling rulers :)

Never knew this ruler existed. Will have to look for one !

6 3/4 to allow for quarter inch seam

I bought a cheap Charger plate and use that. Works great.

That is my method too. Works fine.

I use a compass. It will make a 13" circle. But I'm going to look for the one Tartan has. Have use all the other suggestions also. It's up to you and your budget!

I have a metal yardstick that I use to use when I did woodworking. I drilled small holes at each 1", 1/2" and 1/4" so when I need to draw a circle I can do the same as most of the ours here say. The only thing is, I started my holes at the 1" mark and use that as the center point then use a long push pin to hold it down. I have to add 1" to the size I need but it works great.
Your could always get a smaller 2' ruler and do the same thing.

The easiest way for me is to fold the paper in quarters and then use the string and pencil method from the folded corner to the radius of the cirle I need. Cut it out and unfold and voila a circle of the right diameter.