Looking back to a couple weeks ago to the machine applique post, I want to revisit the technique I used. I took a shape and cut it out of another shape. A circle, cut out of the middle of another shape. Both can be used!! Shown below. The “inside edges” are appliqued with a buttonhole stitch. The circle that was cut out was appliqued down in another spot with the “outside edges” stitched down with a buttonhole stitch. The photo below shows an inside circle and a cut out circle. The circle did not come from that particular spot, but I like that it shows both so close together.

The next photos are of a circle cut out of a square. The cutout circle was fused to the same size square. The square that had the circled removed has a smaller square fused to the back. It fills the “hole” where the circle was and is a great use of fabric, no waste! The pieces below were cut using Sue Pelland’s Hearts and More templates. You can see how Sue cuts these circles from fused pieces of fabric on her website. See her videos HERE. Look under Hearts and More Templates and then 7 minutes into that video.

Circle fused to a square.

Cutout left from cutting circle. Second photo is the smaller square fused to the back of the coutout opening.

Whether you freehand cut circles, as I did in the first photo or use templates, enjoy the process.

#1 – You can trace circles and cut them out, using both the circle and the piece with the cutout opening.

#2 – Try something new with applique. Cutting a circle out of a square saves fabric if you use both pieces! (I think I just said the same thing twice….Number 1 is it can be done, while the second is it saves fabric <grin>)

in quilting,

Debbie