Holey Rings

I have some new great tips to share with you on the String Applique Circle quilt.  Did you know that you can create applique shapes with "holes" in them in Electric Quilt?  Read more below.

Also check out the next steps in constructing the String Applique quilt -- along with free templates for both the circles and the rings.

But first.......

New Online EQ Classes

Time is running out to get your early registration bonus for two brand new Electric Quilt classes.

What are the bonuses?

Early Sign-Up Bonus:  As a special bonus, if you sign up by March 13, 2017 you will be entitled to  a private 20 minute coaching call (value of $60) with Kari that may be used any time during the course of the class.  Use it for extra help on a topic or to pick Kari's brain on something you wish to do in Electric Quilt.
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Double Up:  Register for both classes Settings and Border 1 and Pieced Patch Draw and take an extra $20 off your total. Enter coupon code MarchMadness when checking out.

Settings and Borders 1
​Instructor Led Online Class

Class starts March 20, 2017.  Price $100.   Register here.

Pieced Patch Draw
Instructor Led Online Class

Class starts March 21, 2017. Price $100.   Register here.

For those attending EQ Academy, the Pieced Patch Draw material will be included in my blocks class.  Click here to register for EQ Academy.

String Circle Applique Quilt - Part 4

I've been pondering construction of my Circle Applique String quilt.  The problem (after having designed all those string pieced circles) was figuring out how best to attach them to the quilt.

After some contemplation, I decided I would create a 1 inch wide ring to surround each string pieced circle.  If I fused the surrounding circle (connecting the string pieced circle with the background), I would have something that would be very doable to machine applique.

However, before adding the fusible fabric to my quilt, I wanted to add the same to my Electric Quilt project as well.

The challenge was creating an applique shape with a hole in the center.  Check out my latest Electric Quilt video to see how I tackled this.

​String Quilt Construction - Adding Circles

If you missed any of the previous posts on the construction process, check them out:

• Piecing the string piece segments.
• Constructing and quilting the base.

Cut out the String Applique circle blocks. 

​For this I created templates in Electric Quilt which I printed out on freezer paper.  The size of the circles were 1/2 inch smaller than the original design -- so I could allow for the overlap of the fused rings. 

Designed Circle Templates in Electric Quilt

Then I printed the block (using the block size of 12" x 12") on 12" x 15" freezer paper sheets using my wide-carriage printer. Then I didn't have to tape any sheets together.

Carefully cut out the three circles.

Iron on the back of a strip segment.  Cut the strip segment.

Here are the free downloadable freezer paper templates (pdf format).  

• 8-1/2 x 11 paper
• 12 x 15 paper (ignore the 2nd sheet)

You may get by with just one set of templates.  I found they could be reused multiple times.

Create the Fusible Rings

I had 3 separate ring blocks in Electric Quilt.  One for each size of ring.  Great for designing.  Not so great on economizing on usage of Steam-A-Seam 2 (particularly since I only had one package of five sheets for the project).

I used the large ring (12")as the base.  

I opened the 8" ring, selected it with the Pick tool and then selected Copy.  





Then opened the 12" ring and selected Paste.  I then change the size of the copied ring to 8" x 8".  Add to Sketchbook.  




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​Then I opened the 6" ring and repeated the process.   Add to Sketchbook. 

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Change your paper size to 9 x 12 (the size of the Steam-A-Seam sheets) and print. You will have to tape some of these together after printing.

Here are the free download pdfs for the Fusible Rings.  These may be used for either tracing or printing on fusible webbing.

• 8-1/2" x 11" 
• 9" x 12" (Steam a Seam 2 size) 

Rough cut the rings.  Peel and stick onto Ring fabric and cut out.

Place string pieced circles and rings on quilted background.  Once you have a pleasing arrangement, fuse in place.

Using a blanket stitch, secure  the rings.

​Here is my project with rings fused and stitched down.

Now I am thinking I would like to add a quilting design on each of the string pieced circles.  But I will save that for next week.

Happy quilting.

​Kari

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