OK, so I tried out the freezer paper method for quilting. The results are good, but there are a few things I would do differently. So, I ironed on all my circle drawings to the whole piece. I found this not the best approach. So, with the all of the freezer paper over the entire quilt, I found it difficult to move the quilt around without crinkling and loosening the designs. Plus, since I was making a complete circle for each one, I had to totally turn the quilt around on each piece. That is a lot of turning and manipulating. So, I took them all off and only put on those for the area I was directly working. Once I did this, I did not have any more issues here. So, I think that circles are hard. I found that I had to go very slow, which is OK. I also found that I could not quilt a circle with feed dogs down, but rather did a lot of pressure foot lifting.
So, you can see from my photo, that my quilted circle is not too bad. It is not perfect, but I’ll take it. The first one I attempted, I took out, but once I figured everything out, I was good to go.
So, I finally successfully used my knee pressure foot lifter (for the most part). I find it very hard to remember to lift my foot before lifting the pressure foot with my knee. I did eventually manage to coordinate this, but it took me getting everything in the right spot. Then, I found it easier to quilt the circles. I will continue this freezer paper method for this quilt and will likely use it again.
Happy Sewing
Happy Quilting
Circle looks great, but I am just wondering – and I have not tried this, so it is not a critique – wouldn’t it be easier to cut perfect circles and stitch just around the outside? It might be easier to remove the paper circles and even reuse them. Just a thought and there probably is a reason you did not do that.
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Good question. I am sure it would work. I think I was trying to prove to myself that it would work. Then I could try more complex desogns with this method.
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Hi Lori … I’ve done a few circles … but I quilt with my free motion quilting foot … I also make the circle out of multiple layers of masking tape (going in different directions – it sticks a little to the fabric and is re-usable. No twisting or manipulating of the quilt! However, using a regular foot or a walking foot would give you perfect stitches. But, I think that next time, I’ll try using freezer paper and sew around the outside of the circle. Great job!
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Great job. The circles look accurate. I also like to try different methods to transfer designs. I keep a roll of freezer paper in my sewing room.
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Thanks!
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I can see doing this either regular or free motion. Maybe try a few on scrap and see which method you ultimately prefer?
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Thanks Kathy!
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Thanks for sharing. I plan to try this method out myself. You did a lot of the problem solving already…so, thanks!
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You are welcome.
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Thank you for sharing your experience. I will have to try that the next time I try to sew circles. My last set of circles weren’t so great.
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So far so good for me. Hope it works for you.
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Looks good and you did some technique research on this baby! You go Lori!
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Thanks Nanette!
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I did not know this method was even an option so thanks so much for sharing your experiment with it!
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You are welcome. Can’t wait to try something more complicated.
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I am a new quilter, so this looks interesting to me. Now I’m tempted to try it out.
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I am hoping to try other designs. Hope it works for you.
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It will probably be a while before I get to try it, but it’s definitely going on my list of techniques to try.
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Hope it works well for you!
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Ah great to see your progress 😀 I think circles are hard, whomever you ask and yours look very good so far!
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Thanks, I think they are hard too!
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Very interesting technique. I have quilted traced designs on “gold paper” which tears off easily after the stitching. However, the advantage of using freezer paper is that it can be ironed in place. Gold paper must be pinned in place.
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I also have some gold paper, but have never used it. It surprisingly easy to tear off.
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I haven’t used this method. I have traced a circle on with disappearing ink. I used a saucer. Worked great. But had to work quickly before the ink disappeared.
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Good idea, also.
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Hi Lori,
Your circle looks perfect! I use the knee-lift thingy and have yet to use my foot pedal. In fact, I plugged it in for the first time last weekend and it didn’t work (that reminds me!). I think the foot pedal would be much more helpful for FMQ but so far I’ve only used the start/stop button for sewing. I think going really slowly is the key for circles. ~smile~ Roseanne
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Hmm. I don’t even know if I have a start/stop button. I imagine I do, but have never looked. Note to self…check that out.
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Lots of new ideas for me to try – the freezer paper AND the knee lift thing – I have not tried either – ever! Your circle is excellent!
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Thanks Jodi!
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I have never heard of this technique! I will try this out, and thank you for adding to my quilting arsenal!
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LOL. Good Luck!
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Hi Lori, I like the idea of quilting circles. I think this would work well for concentric circles as well x
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Thanks Lucie!
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I think it looks really nice! 🙂
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Thanks Cindy!
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Thanks for the freezer paper idea — I’ll need to give it a try — thanks for the tips!
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