Lollipops® Circle Game Quilt
Pattern
Skill Level: Beginner & Up
Hand sewing & machine stitching is used
There are several folks who have come out
with new tools to help us with making
curves easily and consistently. In fact, one
woman designed a set of tools for curves
that is so easy and fun I just can’t stand it!
She also developed a foot you can use to
Introduction (and other blather…)
sew inset curves to a background that is
This is a very versatile pattern which you
CURVES templates are used in this pattern
can use to make a wallhanging or crib size
(go to www.justcurves.biz). The nice thing
quilt OR increase the number of blocks to
about that is you can now upsize or
make up to a queen or king size quilt. It is
downsize your circles if you don’t care for
all up to you because I have made this so
the 8 ½ inch size I chose. Now you see why
simple and easy for you, you will probably
these tools are so great…plus once you use
want to make this in several sizes.
them, you will be hooked on curves forever
Like other basic units of quilting, certain
close to devine intervention! Sandy’s JUST
– as I now am.
blocks are just a pain to make and circles
Of course, with new tools in hand, I wanted
have been one of those ‘avoid at all costs’
to make my first curves pattern right away –
blocks for me because of the bias edges.
because all those creative juices in my brain
They get pulled and then don’t lay right or
got flowing now that they didn’t have to
sewing them to a background square using
waste time in my left cerebral lobe (the
the traditional method just never worked
rational why isn’t this working part my brain
well for me – the circle never fit into the
– right next to let’s give up and try this next
cut piece of the background. Well, never
year section!)…
one to walk fully away from a challenge,
each year I choose a block that I decide I
MUST gain expertise in and 2007 was my
year to master the circle. There are just a
few rules for me though – someone has to
have created a tool that is KISS-based –
that is to say that it ‘keeps it simple sort-of’
(ok, I revised that a little to keep it clean
here) AND by mastering the tool or
method, I won’t get so frustrated in
creating a beautiful block…so for curves,
someone did just that. Once I get used to
a tool, THEN I can start to create with it
without all the fuss of being frustrated by
conventional methods.
The criteria for any quilt really for ‘regular’
folk like you and me is that it should be
easy, versatile and fun but still result in a
beautiful quilt.
While I love all those
beautiful
we
quilts
see
each
year
in
Paducah and Houston, I am just not going
to make one of those for my teenage son –
even if I could!
So here it goes…easy,
versatile & fun…
The easy part is that all the blocks are made
from fat quarters using simple tools (such
as circle templates that I mentioned above
that are currently on the market – I love
some of the new tools), my Lollipops® bias
binding and hand-sewing methods so you
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
Page 1
can ‘take it and make it’ any and everywhere
audition it and see. This is what makes it
you go.
fun!
It is such a refreshing change to
do some
By choosing some elements, you can
hand sewing after so much
lend your own style to the pattern…You
emphasis on machine sewing in our patterns
can also take this with you anywhere you go
today. The pattern is versatile because you
and get lots of compliments on your brilliant
can make a simple circle, piece a circle,
stitching; all those hand quilters out there
stack
stitch
will be really impressed with you (especially
embroidery or red-work – whatever you
and
whack
a
circle
–
your running stitches); instant gratification
want in your circle center!
You are the
when you can finish a block so fast and
creator of creativity – so modify the basic
have it look sooo good – AND everyone will
pattern for whatever you like using the
think you have really arrived because you
basic unit as a template. While you are
have mastered the elusive circle. That does
thinking of changing the center – don’t
sound like fun, doesn’t it?
forget the background square – change it
however you like or not.
So I hope this pattern helps you conquer
circles, expands your horizons into hand
The pattern is also versatile from a fabric
sewing and using bias and gives you a sense
perspective – try a monochromatic (black
of great satisfaction.
and white) theme or a scrappy style; try
quilters
using an entire fabric grouping, such as
FINISH something, right? I pray this helps
Loralie’s On the Mend™ pink group (she
you do that, too. I love to hear from you so
developed for breast cancer awareness) or
please, drop me a note and picture so I can
all flowers (like daisies from Michael Miller).
boast
Also, the borders can be scrappy or single
[email protected] – Happy quilting!
always
on
you
are
on
After all, we as
proud
my
to
actually
website
–
style fabrics – it is really what you like – so
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
Page 2
1) Lay the FQ nice and flat – iron if
necessary
Directions, Directions, Directions!
Cutting
material requirements
2) Cut out the 12 ½ inch background
are
piece – the other two pieces will
provided on the back cover for the wall
form as a result – fold the circle
hanging (9 blocks) and twin (15 blocks) size
piece in half TWICE
quilts.
and
The basic block size is 12 inches
3) Do this for all 15 FQs. Form piles for
finished. Directions describe the twin size
all three units as you go
quilt, but they are the same for any size you
might make from crib to queen size quilts.
Fat Quarter Cutting
Cutting your fat quarters to maximize use
Use for
scrappy
border
unit
Fold to cut
circle unit
of the entire piece is the intent of the
pattern (so you don’t waste fabric) –
considering how much it costs nowadays
that is a good thing! Use the diagram below
to cut each fat quarter as follows:
Cut into
12 ½ inch
square
unit
along the straight edges. Using your rotary
Cutting the Circles…
To cut your circles, you can use whatever
cutter, cut the circle, holding the template
in place.
Finger press or iron the circle
edges – these creases will help you align the
tool you like, including a simple cardboard
circle template cut to 8 ½ inches. I used
Just Curves #6 .
Using the fabric from the FQ which you
folded in the previous step, place the
template on the folded edges, aligning it
circle to the background in the next step.
Similarly, fold the square twice, and finger
press or iron the edges to mark the center.
It should look like the picture you see here.
Do this for all 15 units you cut.
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
Page 3
You will also need a little less than one yard
The bias binding is folded and ready to use,
of bias binding to finish each circle. Cut 15
so you only have to match the center fold
lengths of approximately 1 yard now from
of the bias with the edge of the circle so it
your Lollipops®.
tucks in nicely. When you bring the two raw
edges of the bias together (once you have
Attach Circles to Background Squares
Now take your background square and
open it up again.
Using a flat surface,
center the circle onto the background,
gone completely around the circle) overlap
the raw edges by opening up the bias and
laying one edge inside the other; fold it
back in place and pin.
using the crease marks you made earlier as a
guide.
Pin the circle in place all the way
around the center, keeping the edges free,
as shown.
Hand-sewing (yes, Hand Sewing) the
Circles to the Background
Using a running stitch, and DMC floss (3
strands only), sew the inner edge of the
circle first right along the edge of the bias.
Attach Bias Bindings to the Circle Edge
Attach the bias all around the circle edge,
pinning as you go.
When you pin, pin the
entire piece to the background – it is two
steps made into one so that when you sew
this in place not only attaches the bias to
the circle, it attaches the circle to the
background square.
Then sew using the running stitch all
around the outer edge, again using your
DMC floss and sewing right along the edge.
You have now completed a perfect circle
and finished your first block! Celebrate by
doing the next 14 exactly the same way.
I used all different colors of DMC floss to
accentuate the colors in the block. In my
black and white quilt using the Loralie™
Designs Sophistikitties fabric, I used white
DMC floss to really highlight the black and
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
Page 4
white design.
In the Circle Game cover
quilt, I used about 5 or 6 different colors –
Once you have finished all the blocks, turn
each one over and trim away the excess
fabrics VERY CAREFULLY.
It is a good
idea to use flat sided scissors but of
course, if you want to live dangerously, like
all the way through to the front circle. You
can also trim away any excess DMC floss at
this time. Iron each block flat. You should
not have to square up these blocks, but if
it makes you feel better, check a couple to
make sure I am right. If I am not, oh well,
square them up then to the smallest size.
myself, cut using very sharp scissors and
trim near the bias binding without cutting
I pin at each seam
on both sides in
order to make sure
it doesn’t shift
when I sew
Putting it Altogether – Assembling the
across the room
Blocks
It is always a good rule of thumb during
assembly
to
interview
the
different
placement of the blocks until you find an
arrangement that is pleasing to you. Now if
you have a nice sewing room, like my good
friend Laura Brown does, then you can put
your blocks up on the wall on your very nice
display board and mix and match till you
have the perfect arrangement (well, one you
like anyway). You should have 3 rows across
and 5 rows down for the Twin size quilt.
However, if you are like me, you lay them
out on the floor because your husband is
still working on the perfect display board
to
see
looks.
how
it
I usually
squint because it
helps
me
see
the
values rather than the prints.
Once you
have your layout – sew them altogether
using your sewing machine. All seams are ¼
inch.
I encourage you to sew across the
rows (1-5) alternating the direction of your
seam ironing (row 1 – iron to the left all
seams, row 2, iron all seams to the right,
etc.) so that when you go to put the rows
together, they lock in at each seam nice and
easy for you.
for you (bottom of honey-do list) and stand
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
Page 5
Sew Row 2
to Row 1
matching all
seams
Iron seams
to the right
Iron seams
to the left
Etc, etc. till all rows are complete.
Borders
I like borders in a quilt – it finishes it and
sometimes pulls together the entire design
by use of a focus fabric.
3)
Now sew the inner border to the
top and bottom edges. Iron & trim.
For the Circle
Game, after all those circles, it’s back to
Your inner border is not complete.
straight edges again…well almost.
sew the outer border to the quilt, exactly
1)
For the inner border, sew all of the
strips you cut together end to end
so you have one long strip.
2)
Sew the inner borders to the two
Now
the same way; sew all the strips end to end
into one long strip, sew to the two sides
first – iron, trim; then, sew to the top and
bottom.
long sides of the center first; iron &
then trim
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
Page 6
geometric or a bright color because it can
really make the difference in your finishing.
Quilting Makes the Quilt
To continue the round edges theme of the
Your quilt top is now complete & ready for
quilt, I made a slight curve in my edge and
quilting.
I have to recommend someone to
then added the bias to finish it. I followed
you for this quilt – it is Quiltworks of
the line of the machine quilting so the edge
Orange Springs, Florida.
These folks are
matches the quilting design but you can
just super – they have quilted two of the
easily add this curve using the rounded
Circle Game quilts for me and I am so
edge of a plate or one of the many new
impressed with their professionalism and
templates on the market for curved edges.
the great ideas they share – and we do it all
via internet – they send pictures of all the
ideas they have for your blocks and border
quilting plus different thread choices and
then get you back your quilt in record
time…I cannot recommend them enough –
go to www.quiltworksos.com to find out
You can add the curve if it works with your
quilting or just leave it straight – whatever
you have to do to get ‘r done.
You have
done a great job to get this far…I hope you
enjoyed this pattern…and will make it again
and again in all variations.
more about them.
Binding/Finishing
Well of course, I recommend the Lollipops®
Designer binding which are pre-made ready
to use bias made by my company.
In
selecting bias, think of using something that
complements your quilt as well as makes it
really stand out – do not be afraid to use a
To purchase designer bindings & other patterns from Lollipops® Designer Bindings visit
www.popsbindings.com
©Lollipops® Designer Bindings 2007 All rights reserved.
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