Grow-a-Quilt 2021 – Step 6 – Circle Blocks

You decide:

Do you want to use quarter, half, or full circles? A mix?
Set in circles or appliqué?
If appliqué then iron-on, rough edge, or needle turn?
Circles only at the corners?
Does your quilt need a bit of breathing space? Do you need a blank area before the circle row? Or, as part of the circle row?

Marilyn’s hints when making full circles, semi-circles, or, quarter circles:

For a full circle cut the circle 1” bigger than the hole. Cut it ½” bigger for the quarter circle.
My favourite method is to use the “Cut a Round” Ruler which has slots in ½” increments.
Make folds at the halfway points and clip. Put one pin or match as you sew.
I put the circle down and hold the background in my hand while sewing.
Use the quarter inch foot to sew.
A note – the quarter circle is a component of the Drunkard’s Path quilt block.

Helpful links for set-in circles:

Lorna Shapiro’s Useful Techniques page (https://quiltersdreamfabrics.com/useful-techniques/) gives detailed instructions for setting in circles. If you did the Circles workshop with Lorna in 2015 you will have the directions in the pattern or the instructions.
From Niki at VMQG – Moda’s Cheeky Quarter Circles https://my.modafabrics.com/2019/03/cheeky-circles.html and Color Girl’s Half Circle Block https://colorgirlquilts.com/2020/02/video-how-to-sew-the-mod-shapes-quilt.html . Scroll down to link to a video.
We All Sew has instructions for making a Drunkard’s Path block using a printable template (I would make the background square larger). https://weallsew.com/drunkards-path-basics/
Jenny Doan makes an Old Mill Path Quilt using her Drunkard’s Path Ruler. This is an interesting video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZUV2sbkRHc . Jenny sews circle in without pins or just pin in the middle.
Jenny Doan and friends make 3 Drunkard’s Path Projects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_mBXgKKIzQ

Iron-on applique:

Jenny Doan makes a Cheerio Quilt in this video – note the iron-on appliqué circles
The Crafts Channel – Perfect Applique Circles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAYowsBkljQ . Instead of the fusible used in this Australian video you can use Steam a Seam 2 lite. There is also a good explanation of hiding the join in topstitching a complete circle.

Needle Turn Applique:

Happy Quilting,

Marilyn C