I'll never be afraid of inset circles again!
 

I had 9 of these blocks done and put off for months doing the outside. Doing set-in circles is a bear and it never comes out perfectly. I have watched Sharon Schambers' videos and realized I could use the Piece-le-que technique for this.

Use a sheet of the heat-resistant mylar plastic and cut finished circle size out of the middle. Lay plastic over the fabric and trace the circle. Cut out the circle with a generous seam allowance and clip the curve all around. Pin the plastic over the wrong side of fabric so it stays in place, pinned into a pressing board. Use a brush to paint the seam allowance with starch. Turn the edges back around the plastic, iron dry, and remove the plastic. Place the cutout circle over the center, lining it up all around, pin, and use Elmer's School Glue to attach it, using a very fine tip for a tiny line of glue. Iron to set. Open it up and sew right on the pressed line. Trim the seams. It came out just perfect!!

Very impressive....my little chicken heart would even baulk at this despite how you made it seem easy:).

Ditto Earthwalker!

Thank you for the great information along with photos.
I have watched Sharon Schamber's video on using Elmers School Glue for joining binding strips.
I see in your photo the glue using a very fine tip. Where did you purchase the tip you are using?
I appreciate your help.

You did a great job. I have never used glue yet....but I am sure there will be a time I need it.

The tips and bottles can be boughtatMichaels. 2 bottles and about 4 tips for $6. Bottles have plastic tips that tiny metal tips go on. The are great-short and easy to unclog if you forget them unlike the long brand name one. They are in blister pack near fabric paint.

Thank you for being so detailed on where to buy these tips!! Other's have mentioned they got them at Michael's, but I don't usually shop there and wondered where these might be within the store. I appreciate the details!!:)

That's how I did my Yin-Yang Quilt blocks. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t210934.html

I got my tips at Joanns. Think it was in the glue area.

Me, too. A lot of work involved!

Some people are really dumb--especially me. I read your title as 'INSECT CIRCLES' Not enough sleep last night ya' think?

Thanks for the tutorial. I've been meaning to try this, but haven't worked up the courage yet!

If you remember to cut the circle going in 1" bigger than the hole it has to fit and also fold and press seams into the circle and the outer portion so that you 8 sections, then you can match up the lines of the folds to each other and pin or glue dot in place before you start sewing. This is the way we learned it in a class.

I agree 100%!! Yours are just perfect!!

I use a similar method to this when I do a "Drunkards Path", I cut a circle in cardboard then cut a circle in the fabric slightly larger than the cardboard , sew gathering stitches around the edge of the fabric about 1/4 inch in, place over cardboard pull gathering stitches press to the inside, carefully remove cardboard then you have a circle of fabric, cut into four and use it for a drunkards path, top stitch the half circle to your background fabric or neatly hand stitch. Somewhere in the archives on this quilting board is my quilt called "Circle of Crowns" which was done this way for your reference.

I never thought about using a circle for the drunkards path. So many new possibilities that I wouldn't do because I don't like curves.

thanks for the tut

Love the technique and will use it for sure!

There you go, you learn something every day even though it is from the other side of the planet. Put "Circle of Crowns" in the search box and see my quilt!

I have used tis method before. I love it. Make perfect circles much easier. I do need to get the glue tips.I have the longer ones that are like needles. They do clog but I just stick a flower head pin in it to unclog it. I keep one pin separate just for unclogging.

Very pretty!

That is an outstanding tip for all who fear those circles. Thanks to you I may even venture outside my comfort zone of straight lines! :thumbup:

wonderful job
here`s a tute madquilter did for the board works great
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ue-t90945.html
Gale

PittsburgPam: what a terrific idea- I have been wondering how that was done .. Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing this Pam, I been putting off finishing a mariners compass quilt. This will make that finish much easier.

I love this idea. I use elmer's glue with the special tip for all my binding installations. I read just the other day how some use just a little dab on those matching seams instead of pins so I tried it. Yes, it works like a charm so I may be investing in Elmer's Glue with all the ways we can use it in our quilt making. Thanks for this tip as I've always been afraid of circles.

Suz in Iowa

Pam this is going to be so helpful! Thanks for the tute! I bookmarked it in three different ways so I can find it again.
I have two questions:
Where can you buy heat resistant mylar?
Forgive my ignorance, but in your last step, what does "open it up" mean?

I think I could do that! You have made it look so easy but I know "easier said than done" for sure! Still I want to try this!

I believe there are several different brands of the no-melt, or heat resistant, mylar plastic template sheets. I got mine at Amazon in the 12"x18" size for this. They also come in packs of 6 sheets of 8"x11". I use them for applique shapes too, like all the hearts in my avatar picture.

http://www.amazon.com/EZ-Quilting-88...ef=pd_sim_ac_8

http://www.amazon.com/EZ-Quilting-88...ef=pd_sim_ac_7

Looks great Pam!

I saw this years ago and I am still impressed by it. Thanks for the update.

Actually, it's not that much work. After you do the first one, you'll never look at circles quite the same. That's how I did my Yin-Yang quilt - I had double interlocking circles inside a circle. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t210934.html

Thanks for the Amazon links Pam - I just went there and bought some mylar. Can't wait to try your technique!

thank you Ill give this a try

I get my tips at Hobby Lobby. 4 tips & 2 bottles in the artist dept for less than $3.

I must be the only idiot, but even with those pics, since the steps aren't lined up with the photos, I can't figure out how it was done. Duh. Old age takes its toll. LOL.

Thanks for a great tutorial

Awesome info!!!!!

Saw a lady on I believe it was utube wrap a piece of scotch tape around the tip at an angle to get the small pointed opening. I am going to try it. I have trouble with those little tips that come with the plastic bottles. I tend to misplace them somehow.

Thanks, will try it.