I've written about Libby Lehman's Circle Quilt class and Cheryl Arkison's Inset and Applique Circles by Machine Craftsy class and my desire to create a 'circle quilt'. I also watched a great segment on Sewing with Nancy, Circles Sew Simple and I love the quilt guest Donna Fenske makes using the circular attachment (the technique is much the same as Libby Lehman's - just the order of cutting is slightly different and Donna uses a simple satin stitch to applique the circles where Libby uses decorative machine stitches and contrasting thread for embellishment). There was also a super circle quilt in my last issue of Quilty, here, which I'd also like to try. And now, the on-line quilt guru Jenny Doan has an awesome tutorial on her circle quilt, the Cheerio Quilt (see below)! So I am well-armed with information and inspiration. I want to include techniques from ALL the sources but I just haven't got started.
I did some testing of my circular attachment when I first got it so I know how it works.
I tried a circle using Donna's method. I even went as far as some black background blocks for Libby's circle quilt.
I just didn't care for the batiks I bought for the project. They are really nice and sherbet-y but the print is a bit too busy to properly showcase the stitching - which is the whole point. I wasn't excited about Donna's test circle either and I don't have enough solid fabric for a whole quilt anyway. I got frustrated and put it all away.
I've decided that it is too difficult for me to try to create a quilt using the fabric I have rather than planning a project first and then purchasing the suitable fabric to make it. I do much better if I have a pattern, buy the right amount of fabric, and then finish the quilt.
I would like to purchase Donna's Sewing with Nancy pattern book for the projects she demonstrates on the video but it is only sold WITH a circular attachment, which I don't need. I would end up paying about $60 Canadian just to get the pattern for the quilt!
Libby Lehman's instructions are on a downloaded class I bought. There are no written instructions or pattern included. I've written my own notes from the class but it's a pretty fluid method - the stitches and amount of circles are left to the quilt maker's discretion. Sadly, Libby is still in rehab after her stroke, suffering a set-back after needing a permanent shunt in her brain. She still has lots of healing to do and my thoughts are with her family as she recovers.
So which quilt should I make? Surely I can choose one of them and get started!!
This is Libby's stunning version of a wall-hanging circle quilt.
This is Donna's gorgeous circle bed quilt.
And here's the cute quilt from Quilty magazine (I LOVE the magazine, but you can buy just the digital pattern HERE.)
Finally, here's Jenny's M*QC video: