Cutting Circles for Quilt Fabrics

Cutting circles for your quilt is a quick and easy project.

Applying circles to your quilt can make a visual impact that normal straight-lined cuts, such as traditional rectangle and square shapes, cannot. Circles cut from quilt fabric can also be used for a variety of craft projects, such as fabric flowers and yo-yos. The traditional method of cutting circles--tracing a circle and cutting it out with scissors--is labor intensive and often results in circles of different sizes or uneven circles. With a simple tool, cutting out quilt circles is simple and easy and can be completed in a few steps. Even better, you can cut out several layers of circles at a time, and the tool is adjustable for many different sizes of circles.

Things You'll Need

• Rotary circle cutter
• Quilt fabric
• Rotary mat

Instructions

1. Wash and dry your fabric. Trim any excess threads and iron your fabric with a hot steam iron to remove wrinkles. Lay your fabric flat on a rotary mat.

2. Determine the size of the circle you want. Locate the compass point on the bottom center of the rotary cutter tool. Measure half of width of your circle; for example, if you want an 8-inch circle, measure 4 inches from cutting end of the rotary circle cutter. Mark this placement on the cutter by placing one of your fingers on this spot.

3. Unscrew the compass point screw from the circle cutter and slide the compass point away from the cutting end to the place you have marked with your finger. Screw the compass point firmly into place. Remeasure to make sure the distance between the cutting blade and the compass point is half the width of the size of the circle you want.

4. Place the compass point directly in the center of the fabric where you want your circle cut. Hold the black handle on top of the cutting end of the rotary cutter. Move the handle in a clockwise motion around the compass point.

5. Complete a full circle, moving the black handle completely around the compass point. Go slowly and make sure the fabric doesn't pucker underneath the cutting end of the circle cutter. Stop cutting as soon as your full circle is cut out from the fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut through three layers of fabric at the most; any more layers will dull your rotary blade.

References

• Olfa: Rotary Circle Cutter