Appliqueing a large circle

[Kim M.]

Hello,

I'm trying to applique a large circle in the center of my pieced quilt and I'm having a hard time getting it to be perfectly round. I'm sure someone has a great tip for me. Please share!

[Barbara C.]

I have never done this so it is only a thought.... While the fabric circle is on the template use starch or glue to turn the edges to get the crease in the fabric. Then remove the template and the fabric should still be wet enough to tack down the edges.

I think I'm going to go try this myself today just to see if it works!

Barbara

[Alex A.]

the key is to cut a PERFECT circle (yet another reason I love accuquilt) - then trace it onto two layers of freezer paper...prepare using either the spray starch method or water soluble glue stick to turn the edges of fabric under -

[Kim M.]

Thank you. I'm excited to give it a try. The quilt is for my son's wedding in May.

[Kim M.]

You could try drawing a perfect circle onto the wrong side of your fabric placing this right side down onto a piece of stabiliser ( non iron vilene) and carefully machine sewing on the line. Cut around your sewn circle leaving a very scant 1/4" allowance, you can also snip some notches out of your seam allowance being careful not to cut your stitches. Cut a slit into the centre of the vilene and turn the circle through, push out your edges and press. Once pressed you can trim away the vilene from the back As long as you take your time this produces a pretty perfect circle with turned edges ready to applique down.

[Kim M.]

You should watch Alex classroom on appliqueng

[Kim M.]

I drafted a large circle once by making a "compass" with a drafting ruler and a stilleto and a pencil. Poked holes in the ruler (kinda flimsy) with the stilleto. Put my cutting mat on my table to protect it. Laid my paper on the cutting mat. Put the stilleto in one hole of the ruler, a mechanical pencil in another, held the stilleto stationary and made a circle with the pencil.

Just re-read that...um...hope it makes some kind of sense!

[Kim M.]

this is how i did it a while back using Alex and Sharon Schamber methods. Two layers of freezer paper, with circle drawn and cut out exactly on the line. If the drawn circle isn't perfect, the fabric won't be perfect. iron paper to wrong side of quilt top. cut fabric out of circle leaving a fingers width of fabric for turning. snip around to the paper and use starch to press the "seam allowance" to the paper. Alex did this not too long ago on her lessons for applique. then use little dots of glue to adhere your hole to the fabric and heat set. Now pull out the paper, open so you can see the crease line where you just pulled the paper out of. and sew on the crease. Make a practice one if you want to get an idea of how it works. good luck