01 June 2011

WIP Wednesday

If you've been following the blog you may be getting the sense that I've never met a pieced circle I didn't like. Lately I've been working on a new design, piecing lots of patchwork circles into a solid grid.


I've sewn 18 yellow circles into squares of kona ash. The yellow circles are 11" finished diameter.


Now I'm trimming the gray squares... 


into 15.5" circles.


And placing the circles at the intersections of a solid background grid.


I measure a 14.5" circle on the backround.


And cut around the template.


Then I pin the yellow piece into the background. I mark 8 compass points in the seam allowance on both pieces, pin at the 8 points, pin to secure the sashing seams in the background, and then pin 2 more times between each of the 8 compass points. I think that's 32 pins.

The hilarious and fearless Lynne at Lily's Quilts recently wrote a great tutorial for piecing circles. It's very close to the method I had been using, but she convinced me to use more pins. You can believe me when I say I hate pinning, but it's worth it.


Sew and press the seams to the inside to form a 15" finished circle. (this photo is a different block, because I don't have it in me to sew another circle right now!)

This 74"x74" quilt top has 12 full circles and 12 half-circles along the edges. I've completed 1 full circle and 3 halves. Although I am getting better at it, it does take a lot of time and concentration.


21 comments:

  1. I haven't the nerve nor the experience to try this yet but I'll put it on my list! Can't wait to see this quilt all done, I love yellow and gray!

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  2. this is an ambitious project and quite lovely, too.

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  3. Oh my gosh, I love this!! Thank you for sharing the how-to, it's just so stunning! And thanks for linking up with WIP Wednesday!

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  4. Wow!! I am going to have to try this some time! Love your circles on the grid.

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  5. Wow! I'm a newer blog follower, but you have the best designs. If you sold quilt patterns I would definitely be first in line to buy, I really love your stuff and it's things I would definitely like to make.

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  6. Wow that is looking amazing!

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  7. This looks fabulous. It makes me want to work on more circle projects.

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  8. Hello! This looks beautiful! Great to see circles after all those squares (even I don't dare to start the whole quilt with them yet)! I love also the center with yellows - they are so happy and sunny!

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  9. As a confirmed pin-o-phobe I feel your pain, but sometimes you just have to use pins. Many, many pins. And this will be totally, completely, worth it! Love how your pieced circle showcases an on-point 4x4 square. Nice touch.

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  10. Looks fantastic....all those pins....that's why I'm lazy and resort to appliqué when I'm doing a full circle. By the way, congratulations, you are listed in the 55 best blogs in the latest issue of Quilter's Home.....you probably already know this. I think it's wonderful.

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  11. wow, you are incredibly talented. just found your site through wip wednesday- following now :)

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  12. Just found your blog too and I love your pieced patchwork circles (and those stencil quilts!).

    I'm wanting to give this a try but have a question. Your yellow/ash circle measured 15.5"...you cut the opening in the quilt top at 14.5".....is an inch less always the math? Like if I had a 9 inch circle would I piece it into an 8 inch opening?

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  13. Great tutorial - I've been a little afraid of anything more circular than the Single Girl pattern, but now I might just have to give this a try.

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  14. Wow, what a beautiful design!! And thanks for the quick how-to on pieced in circles, I had been seeing them around and wondering how they were done!

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  15. Beautiful! Still not brave enough for circles, but I'm getting there.

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  16. every time I come here and see your work I'm thinking how I need try with circles... they looks so beautiful!!

    thanks for sharing your tips!

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  17. Just found your blog and I'm intrigues with the math of your circle piecing. I noticed Cindy asked the same question..is an inch less always the math when setting in a circle?

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  18. Thank you for sharing your technique on those BIG pieced circles. One of the many design factors that make your quilts so compelling.

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