What the HECK Is the Secret?!?!?
 

OK.....somebody has GOT to know what the secret is to sewing a circle without it being more jagged than a shark's teeth! I just wanna know who's holding out on filling me in?!?!? HELP!!! *grumble* LOL!

Donna

This is the technique I use

http://www.dioramarama.com/2009/02/t...sy_pieced.html

I just love seeing the helpful posts after someone posts a question. Thanks for all the positive posts.

[QUOTE=DonnaFreak;4765800]OK.....somebody has GOT to know what the secret is to sewing a circle without it being more jagged than a shark's teeth! I just wanna know who's holding out on filling me in?!?!? HELP!!! *grumble* LOL!

What kind of circle are you trying to sew....a pieced or appliquéd one.

For appliqué circle I do a basting stitch right at the edge of the circle and gently gather it, just a bit not much. Then I turn it over on the ironing board and from the wrong side with the help of a point turner gently smooth the outer edge while pressing it flat. I turn it over to the right side and check for un-smooth places and coax it into shape. finally I iron the circle with a bit of starch and appliqué it down. This is good for smaller circles.
Or you you can use the Eleanor Burns method. Layer fine fusible interfacing with a finished size circle drawn on it. Layer right side of fabric to fusible side of interfacing. Stitch on the line all around. Separate the interfacing from fabric and cut a bit out big enough to pull the piece right side out. I then trim a way most of the interfacing to with in a half inch of sewn line. I then heat press the circle from the fabric side to my block and stitch the now finished edge down. I have made multiple layed circles like this, trimming away the excess fabric after each stitch down the added bulk is removed and the cut-aways are always reusable as smaller circles.

If it's an applique circle, I perfer to use Wonder Under and cut it out neatly with the scissors and stitch it down. You can draw your circle on a used dryer sheet and place it on top of the right side of your fabric and stitch all the way around it. Cut a slit in the dryer sheet and turn the circle out through the slit. Carefully manipulate the edge until you get it perfect and iron and sew it down.
If it's a pieced circle like Drunkard's Path, I carefully pin it, sew the seam and clip the seam allowance curve at intervals to ease it into laying flat. If you are trying to FMQ a circle, good luck because perfect circles are very hard to do freehand. If it is a larger circle, you can machine stitch with your straight line sewing if you turn the quilt often (not easy to do if it's a big quilt). I don't know if any of these suggestions address your problem.

I'm making these little stuffed owls to give as gifts to the kids in my family. The pattern calls for you to set your machine to a short zig-zag stitch to go around the eyes, around the white of the eyes, and around the beak and wings. I can't get the !)@(#*$&%^ machine to go where I want it to go around those tight little circles for nothin'! :c(

Donna

I use the Eleanor Burns method for most circles- for those eyes - take a stitch or two stop with needle down turn- take a couple more stitches- it is very slow and tedious ..... BUT they are so cute :)

These are all good tips, another tip is speed, I go slow when going in circles, it's much easier to control.

April, it's the Kooky Owl pattern from FaveCrafts. Here is the URL for it. :c)

http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing-for...ky-Stuffed-Owl

Donna

Sharon, thanks for the tip. I'm having the same problem with my circles and now I know how to fix it!

I don't know how you managed those eyes, but they are way too cute! The owl is so whimsical that the eyes look perfect like they are! Love them!!

If you have a needle down function on your machine, it's a life saver on machine applique. It allows you to raise the presser foot and reposition the fabric as needed. Stop with the needle down on the outside side of the circle to reposition. Have you thought about doing a simple staight stitch about 1/8 in from the eyeball edge and allowing the edge to fray like in raw edge applique. It would be easier I think. If button eyes are put on make sure they are small to not pose a choking hazard for small children.They do look very cute!

Seeing what you are making, I would be tempted to straight stitch about an 1/8 in from the edge of the fabric circles and let it ravel out on both circles for the eyes and the same for the nose. Would make it look like lashes.
There are attachments that you can purchase for your machine to sew circles. I have also seen where someone used a thumbtack through a piece of tape, then taped to the bed of the machine so it is set up so the center of the circle is positioned on the pointed part of the tack and taped to the machines so the needle goes through the fabric an 1/8 in from the edge or what ever seam allowance you want. Hope this makes sense.
I must have been typing the same thing at the same time Tartan was.

CUTE! CUTE! CUTE! The imperfections add to the whimsy! I'm sorry for your frustration but I think the outcome is better than perfect would be. Just MHO.

How about treating the eyes and nose like raw edge applique? Think I'll try it and make a pin cushion out of it.

These are so cute. I'm going to try some. Thank you for the link.

Donna, this is what I do, draw your pattern on the fabric, do not cut it out,cut out all your appliques,place them on the pattern that you drew and glue them in place with glue stick, let dry then cut your pattern out, but not on the lines, in a large enough square that you can handle it as you zig-zag it on your machine. when all applique is done, I press the pattern piece, then cut it on the pattern lines and go from there.

I use flat metal washers, there are mylar products too that are flat circles, the hint is to pink your edge, this will reduce bulk which causes the crease.
Cut circle 1/4" larger than your washer, pink edge, spray starch, iron around washer, remove washer, repress.

The owl is sew cute, but I have no idea how to get those circles to behave, sorry.

we had a lesson in guild that really works for applique circles...cut a circle out of heat proof template plastic and then cut fabric at least 1/2" bigger all around. use HEAVY DUTY aluminum foil and put fabric and plastic circle in the middle and then bring foil up around circle and fabric tightly....works like a dream. set your iron on the whole thing for about 30 seconds and let cool...neatest circle you can make...will not work with thin foil as it doesn't hold up. plastic may wrinkle a little but still useable and you can trim all the way around after it is cool...try it

He is SO cute...looks like he had a little too much eggnog!

Will be watching for more ideas.

Push a thumbtack through a piece of tape so that the point of the tack is through to the non sticky side and tape the tack to the bed of your machine where the center of your circle should be as you sew. Push the fabric over the tack, and start sewing. The tack will keep you on your circle line, providing it's dead center of the circle.

Really cute owls, btw!! :)

I just found the pattern and saved a picture of your owl with it, it has a much better look. Wonky eyes and all give it wonderful character and no way will they be alike if you just keep doing them as you are. Beats having them all look like they came out of a factory.

What cute owls.

RugosaB, that is a brilliant method. Being an applique girl myself, I will be sure to use this on any piecing project.

Thanks.

I use a thumb tack taped to bed of sewing machine then find center of circle and put it down on tack then sew the 1/4 in. seam you have to adjust the tack to the right spot to get 1/4 in. seam then just sew and it will turn with you guidance and sewing. I use used dryer sheets for backing then slit the dryer sheet and turn right side out. Clear as mud hey.

yeah, just went there. had to sign up to use the site and then couldn't get the pattern anyway. will probably be getting a bunch of junk now.

I learned for my sanity when sewing small circles for projects, I sew the fabric circle to interfacing or fuse it, don't cut them out yet, and then use the machine stitch of choice to sew around the circle I may have to sew more then I need to end up with nice round ones. I then cut out sewn circles and glue baste them to the item and then hand sew them on the project.

Oh forgot to say when sewing larger circles I use the Fat Quarter Font method from Atkinson Designs. It's an old technique but I suggest buying the book to have clear understandable instructions. The book is old so should be found at 1/2 price by now somewhere. There maybe a youtube video showing the method. It's super easy.

If you have a hole in your machine close enough to the needle position, you can put a pushpin through your fabric center and into the hole. Hold the pushpin down with your finger and your fabric will go in a perfect circle. You can do the same thing with larger circles by using a piece of matboard that's taped to your machine, either to the right or left of your needle.

If you want tosew a large circle, try this golden oldie method: Cut the circle(s) the size you need plus seam allowance. Tape a thumbtack, point side up, where the center point of your circle is. Put the outside edge of the circle under the presser foot and slowly stitch around the edge, lifting the presser foot to accommodate the curvature every few stitches. When you finish, clip a hole and turn inside out and press. Hope this helps.

Nancy's Notions has some gadget for sewing accurate circles.

All great ideas! But also uase a stablizer for the back of the applique. Yes go slow and use the tack method as well. Good luck love the Owls!

I split my vote between the group that prefers the "wonky" irregular look and those who suggest raw edge applique for these adorable owls!

Re: a circle attachment: Bernina has a circle attachment. I bought one a long time ago but haven't used it yet. It works on the same principle as the "thumbtack" approach described above -- and the thumbtack would be a whole LOT less expensive!

Thank you for the link. Great info.

Oh My!!! He's adorable but he looks like somebody spiked his holiday punch! :o

Love the little owls. they are way too cute! Enjoyed reading all the tips and advice you're getting.