Any tips on sewing a neat circle.My friend has made a ten minute block. She used a 9 inch plate to draw circles on the quilt. Is there a trick to staying on the lines, seems every circle as an oops. ;)

I cut a piece of paper in a circle just a stitch width smaller then the original circle, trace around that inside the already marked bigger circle and sew right in the middle of the two lines.

Thanks, bella, nice tip!

There is also an attachment to some sewing machines that will help you sew a perfect circle.

Here's how I do circles.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-90945-1.htm

Very clever, BellaBoo. I will have to try that:-)

When I had to sew bunches and bunches of circles what I did was used a thumb tack I took a couple layers of tape stuck the thumb tack through the tape I then found the EXACT center of the circle I was trying to sew put the thumb tack though that spot (take on the under side with the sticky side down. But the needle in the fabric right on the line I had to sew then pushed the tape down in the right spot so it would hold the fabric at the exact spot and I just have to quide it around!

Thats about as clear as mud isn't it? If this kid of mine would ever go to sleep I would set my machine up and take a picture of what I did! lol

HAve you tried the junk CD and tin foil technique? You're limited to the size of a CD (a little under 5 inches, or the mini's are around 3) but you can make a lot of very smooth, accurate circle in very little time.

RST

Please tell me where the tin foil comes in?

Thanks, Mary

Foil on your ironing board surface. Fabric next. Then CD. Hold the whole thing still with one hand, and with the other pull the foil up and stretch over the CD. Press. The foil conducts heat of the iron to the fabric and gives you a nice smooth pressed circle. I sometimes do trim the "pleats" before applique, either by hand or machine.