Quiltingboard Forums - What is a good circle template to purchase? I'd like to make a quilt with circles.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wraez (Post 6646082)

depending on the size you want you could just use an old DVD or CD ... nice and firm, or the bottom of a plate ... no expense involved.

Glasses and mugs make great templates for smaller circles, too. The world is full of free circle templates. :)

I have four different size circle dies for my Go. That's the way I cut circles now.

Dishes out of the kitchen cabinet-----------and glasses, too.

I'm lazy and cheap

You made a very stunning quilt with just circles. Very good job Feline Fanatic

Missouri Star Quilt Company has one today for $15.99 - advertised as about 45% off...............

I use the Easy Circle Cut by Sharon Hultgren You can make circles from 2" to 10"

A quilt that I have on my bucket list is Illuminate featuring Red Rooster fabrics. It has all sizes of circles. I am sure the pattern has templates in it that are sized to what the pattern designer wanted the pattern to look like. The thing about circles is that anything round can be your template. The fun part is deciding how to stabilize them if they are larger ones.

http://www.love-to-sew.com/illuminate-quilt/

ps...just wanted to add.... I might better buy a fabric kit soon, because the fabrics for this quilt are so unique that it might not look that good with a different collection of fabrics. The pattern itself is free as a downloadable PDF.

Barb in Louisiana, this sure is a pretty quilt.

I also just used whatever I could find around the house that was round - I used that round thing to cut out freezer paper circles. I then made a template about 1/4 inch bigger to cut my fabric. Iron the fabric onto the shiny side of the paper. Sewing machine baste around the outside edge, then draw it in until it fits just right around the paper circle. Iron it down, let it cool, remove the paper, then machine or applique the circle however you want. You can reuse the freezer paper circles at least 3, maybe even more times. I did one of my first quilts like this and was surprised at how easy it was to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RST (Post 6646071)

I use a compass or some circular object to draw whatever size I want. My technique for applique circles is to use water soluable interfacing, draw the circle on that. Stitch to fabric, right sides facing, allowing for a good 1/4 inch outside of stitch line for cutting. Cut out, then slit the interfacing enough to turn the fabric right side out, smooth the curves with a knitting needle or your instrument of choice. You're left with beautifully smooth circles that are easy to applique by hand or machine. Once they finished project is washed the first time, the interfacing dissolves completely, leaving you with no extra bulk or stiffness under the circle.

I also use this method. One tip I learned is to cut out the circle out with pinking shears after you sew it together and before you turn it right side out and your circles will lay nice and flat. Sometimes I don't use water soluable interfacing but a very thin other interfacing or used dryer sheet. I'm sure if you look on Eleanor Burn's QIAD website she has a tutorial for this method. It's how she does her applique.