Quilting Circles Tutorial

On the Gift Bag Swap quilt I wanted pretty exact circles and I was not achieving that when I used the edge of the quilting foot as a guide. When I reached the outside of the circle the spacing was not as consistent as I wanted it to be. Here is my solution to the problem:

1. Use regular (mine is not that pretty because I buy the clearance stuff) contact paper cutting it alittle larger than the outer circle you want.

2. Mark the 1/4 sections and draw the outer circle – only on 1/4 of the circle.

3. Fold the contact paper into quarters.

4. Lay the Cut A Round tool designed by Cheryl Phillips having the slit match up with the size of circle drafted above.


5. Cut every slit (which are 1/2″ apart)

6. Label each circle in its proper order.

Example of circle patterns.

***I cut the circle open on all circles except the inner circle – see how #5 circle is open.

(You can either work from the inside out, or the outside in – Here I am working form the inside of the circle out.)
7. Place the first circle pattern where you want the center of your circle located.
8. Lay circle #2 and lay is next to circle #1.
9. Lay circle #3 next to circle #2.

10. Remove circle #2 to make it possible to quilt.
11. Continue adding circle patterns until you have reached the desired size.
12. Quilt around the circles with free motion quilting.

The following pictures show how I lay out circles next to each other.
#4 Circle is positioned next to #3.

#5 Circle is being positioned next to #4 circle.

#5 Circle has been matched up on the way around.

#4 Circle has now been removed to enable the circles to be quilted.

While the circles are in use I place them the end of the circle (ideally with the number showing) on a table for safe keeping.

One Response to “Quilting Circles Tutorial”

  1. Randy and Susan Landon says:

    wow you are amazing

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