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Quilting circles

Quilting circles

Old 02-16-2018, 10:08 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by ruby2shoes View Post
Here's my spiral quilt..... it has become a favourite on our couch and even though it was quite stiff once completed because of all the close quilting, it soon softened and now drapes beautifully. I found using the walking foot to do circles/spirals was a bit tricky in the beginning but the key is to go very slowly, stopping every few stitches to readjust the quilt, and to keep your stitches small for the first few spirals then before you know it you are sailing along.
That’s gorgeous. The quilting is brilliant, and I love your colours.
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Old 02-16-2018, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by pflum1 View Post
You can take a thumb tack, tape it to the bed of the sewing cabinet with painter tape -point up and this will work if you don't have a lot to do. You will have to figure where the center of the circle is and that is where you will put the center of the fabric over the tack. If I have a lot of circles and I am home, I use a circle attachment on the machine.
I always use a open toe foot.
If you are doing small circles, you can glue several CD together and use them as a template to sew around.
Clever! Thankyou.
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Old 02-16-2018, 11:54 AM
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I do have an attachment that goes onto my Janome for circle quilting. i don't like the big "tack" much though. Good luck on what ever you decide. I hope it all goes well. can't wait to see!
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Old 02-16-2018, 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by mengler View Post
I’ve tried several techniques for sewing circles including a pricey attachement for my Viking which is more trouble than its worth. The method that works every time, for me, is the thumb tack method. I think it would work with a walking foot too. I use one of those lapel pins you get free with a flat top I’ll see if I can take a picture or find one. Either float or fuse stabilizer. You can also use a flathead thumb tack and eraser. Turn the lapel pin upside down, point up, and tape the pin so the point is a RADIUS distance from the needle. Place the CENTER of your circle over the pin point and push thru the fabric. Use the lapel pin clamp or for a thumbtack use an eraser. The. Sew any straight or decorative stitch. Gently guide the fabric and voila a perfect circle. See photos. I hope after this newsy reply that this is what you were asking. Lol
What a brilliant method......thanks so much for the detailed explanation...am starting another "circle" quilt and will definately be using your method!
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Old 02-16-2018, 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by nativetexan View Post
I do have an attachment that goes onto my Janome for circle quilting. i don't like the big "tack" much though. Good luck on what ever you decide. I hope it all goes well. can't wait to see!
I have a Janome: I’ll see if they have an attachment for my machine. Thankyou.
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Old 02-17-2018, 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by mengler View Post
I’ve tried several techniques for sewing circles including a pricey attachement for my Viking which is more trouble than its worth. The method that works every time, for me, is the thumb tack method. I think it would work with a walking foot too. I use one of those lapel pins you get free with a flat top I’ll see if I can take a picture or find one. Either float or fuse stabilizer. You can also use a flathead thumb tack and eraser. Turn the lapel pin upside down, point up, and tape the pin so the point is a RADIUS distance from the needle. Place the CENTER of your circle over the pin point and push thru the fabric. Use the lapel pin clamp or for a thumbtack use an eraser. The. Sew any straight or decorative stitch. Gently guide the fabric and voila a perfect circle. See photos. I hope after this newsy reply that this is what you were asking. Lol
This is ingenious!
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Old 02-17-2018, 03:35 AM
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I’ve just given the thumb tack method a try. It’s very clever! It worked quite well - the beginning and end of my circle didn’t quite meet, but this was my first attempt. I had a problem with the thumb tack coming adrift because the masking tape I’d used tore, so I stuck duct tape on top of the masking tape (so that it was the latter in contact with the machine). That was fine. The only drawback was the small but noticeable hole in the fabric at the centre of the circle.
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Old 02-17-2018, 07:56 AM
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Annesthreads. Tape is iffy. For a thumb tack try a small eraser instead of tape. Use stabilizer and guide gently. There will be a small hole which pressing or washing should fix. Some lapel pins have smaller points. Glad it’s working for you.
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Old 02-18-2018, 02:21 AM
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I use a walking foot for circles and all sorts of shapes. If you're doing something really small like pebbles it won't work but does with just about anything else. You will have to pivot with needle down at points.
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Old 02-18-2018, 05:44 AM
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Originally Posted by mengler View Post
Annesthreads. Tape is iffy. For a thumb tack try a small eraser instead of tape. Use stabilizer and guide gently. There will be a small hole which pressing or washing should fix. Some lapel pins have smaller points. Glad it’s working for you.
I’m probably being slow, but can’t visualise how you use the eraser instead of tape?
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