This is not my "invention", I've seen this somewhere before. But it's how I've done the circles on one of the Dear Jane blocks, and it works really well. So here's the method with pictures, hope it makes sense! :-)



Out of stiff cardboard cut the size circle you need. Don't add a seam allowance. Then cut your fabric with a rough 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Use a contrasting thread and tack small even stitches around the seam allowance of the circle. The smaller and more even the stitches, the smoother the edge of your circle will be. If you have a large circle, you can get away with bigger tacking stitches. Leave long threads at the start and finish of your tacking.

Put the cardboard template inside the tacking stitches, and gently pull both ends so the fabric closes over the cardboard.

Keeping the cardboard circle inside, flip the fabric over and press with a hot iron. You can use starch at this point as well to set the seam, but generally the iron does a fine job on it's own.

Take the cardboard circle out, and voila, you have a lovely edged circle ready to stitch to your background.

I use a tiny blindstitch to attach the circle by hand.

These circles are tiny, so they're not exactly perfect. But any little imperfections in the folded edge can be corrected when needleturning.

:-)

Oh Blue, that makes it so much easier, I might even be tempted to try it. Maybe. One day. I DEFINITELY have an anti-applique thing going on. But you make it look tempting, I do admit! LOL

Thanks Blue, for a GREAT tutorial. I'm going to be trying this today if I have time!

Jan

You made it look sew easy :D

I took a class that is similar to this at the PA Quilt show. The instructor used old CD's for the template. She had us cut 6" squares, stitch around them and then like you did, pull it tight. We then ironed it down, removed the CD, did invisible blanket stitch on the top, and then cut out the backside. I think your way is easier!

Hi, I have been following along but not contributing as I am trying to get caught up with "things". I am going to try the circles. I am not really good with applique but love the effect. I think with practice and patience maybe even I could get better.
Thanks for all your input!
Phyllis in Mo

Thank you Blue - That helps a lot!!

Excellent Tutorial!!! Thank You :D :D :D

Thanks you guys :-)

I love needleturn, love the effect, and love that I'm good at it! LOL

Some of the tips I've picked up....

- use a wet toothpick to turn edges under instead of the needle, it's much easier. Just hold the toothpick in your mouth to keep the end wet.

- use applique needles (the really small ones). Although they're difficult to thread and tiny to hold, they DO create tiny stitches.

- use very fine thread, the finest you can get, not your normal sewing machine thread. You WILL notice the difference.

- don't pull the stitches tight, it creates hollows along the turned under edge and makes it lumpy.

And as much as I hate to admit this one..... wear glasses, magnifying ones if you can. I have a pair that I perch on the end of my nose so I can look over them to the tv, and then down through them to my handwork. It does make it easier to get tiny stitches.

:-)

Thanks for the great tute Blue!! That will help a ton when we get to those applique blocks. I might work on that one next!!

Blue

YOU'RE A CIRCLE STAR!!

this looks so great. thank you so much for doing the tute. its just brilliant!!

Blue -- have you ever used silk thread for applique? I've heard that it's awesome....

I use the silk thread for applique and John James straw needles. I find the combination works for me.
Phyllis
in Mo

I purchased a circle template set called "Perfect Circles" made from a heat-resistent plastic. The circles are very thin and are not affected by the heat of the iron. I use the same method you showed, blue, and I use starch on the turned edge. The circle holds a nice tight edge.

I have a little bin of the circles from little scraps of projects. I plan to use the as flower heads on a rustic stem.

The templates are available from 7/16" to 2" in one set (4ea) and a bigger set from 2.25" to 4.5."

Great tute Blue. Could you use inbetweens?

i meant betweens (quilting needles)

I love you, you big footed Blue-Chicken you!!! :mrgreen:
I am trying...rather slowly, I might add...to do a BOM that has a lot of circle pieces, and didn't know how I was going to get them right.
I didn't want to just fuse them, as I want this quilt to last a while.
It will have a ton of work in it when I get finished. Hopefully I will get some blocks made now, that you have removed my FEAR block! :wink:

how do you get them %&#*& cardboard circles out?

Thanks for the tip!

OH thank you for the tips.. As a beginner at applique and quilting, I need all the help I can get!!

Thanks for this post. I want so much to do applique, but I am afraid to try. Maybe I will do a little practice thingy, and see how well it turns out. It could give me some confidence.

what type of thread do you recommend :?:

I'm sorry, I don't know the brand name. It comes in packets of four reels and I've thrown the box away. I know it by sight, and only one shop round here stocks it.

It's polyester, not natural, which is a bummer. But it is super fine, it's called Invisi - something. It's just really really fine, but really strong, and that's what you want. If you use normal machine cotton, the stitches *will* show, no matter how good you are.

Although, having said that, I might be being a little bit fussy. I think applique might be something I end up specialising in, I really like the handwork and the finish.

:-)

BlueChicken, Thanks. It could be invis-a-fil. Don't think you're too fussy. None of us are perfect, but if you're going to do it you want it to look the best it can. Lisa

Me again. If it is invis-a-fil I think it may be used in the bobbin during FMQ. Anyone know?

Invisi-fill sounds familiar, that's probably it! :-)

It has quite a sheen to it, but I haven't had any problems with that making it more visible. It comes in quite a few colours, I pick one that matches the fabric not necessarily the colour but the darkness of the thread. So deep purple fabrics I'll use the brown or black thread, because it's darker.

Has anyone used silk thread for applique??

I haven't done much applique...but when I took a class for a sampler quilt the instructor told us to use silk thread for the hand applique. :)

thank you for making it easy for me to do this.

I'm putting my sister who is just learning to quilt onto this site, she is too far for me to help on a day to day but she will love all the help you guys give.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :-D :-D

Who is your sister???? :D

i use silk for applique

I also use silk thread for applique.

Great tutorial, I use the 'Perfect Circles' by Karen kay Buckley, they are made out of the no melt mylar and can be reused over and over again, I also recommend them to eliminate any points as you gather the fabric to form your circles....

Fantastic idea!!! Thank you for posting.