Circles Squared

Stitch circles into squares.A A!"#$%B.&#

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 2 of 9

Circles Squared

A A!"#$%B.&#

Tools Materialspre-washed fabric (flannel, fleece, denim, or cotton)coordinating thread

Circles sewn together to form squares.

Make tons of projects with this technique: a table runner, coasters, and more!

Leave the edges unfinished - fray is okay! BONUS: this reversible project looks good on both sides.

Get some fabric, choose your favorite decorative stitch, and have fun sewing!

circle template (such as a coffee can lid)square template (sized so that four corners align on the circle)marking pen or chalkscissorssewing machineiron & ironing boardpins

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 3 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

Template Sizes:Circle: 6 3/8”

Square: 4 1/2”

Layout &Finished Size

BackgroundFabric(white)

42” wide

Foreground Fabric

(colored)42” wide

Table runnerCircles layout: 3 x 9

Finished size: 13” x 38”

Fabric required:1 1/2 yards

Fabric required:1 1/2 yards

Table runnerCircles layout: 3 x 9

Finished size: 13” x 38”Cut circles: 27 Cut circles: 27

PlacematCircles layout: 3 x 4

Finished size: 13” x 17”

Fabric required:3/4 yard

Fabric required:3/4 yard

PlacematCircles layout: 3 x 4

Finished size: 13” x 17”Cut circles: 12 Cut circles: 12

CoasterCircles layout: 1 x 1

Finished size: 4.25” x 4.25”

Fabric required:scraps

Fabric required:scraps

CoasterCircles layout: 1 x 1

Finished size: 4.25” x 4.25”Cut circles: 1 Cut circles: 1

QuiltCircles layout: _______

Finished size: ___________

Fabric required:_______

Fabric required:_______

QuiltCircles layout: _______

Finished size: ___________Cut circles: ___ Cut circles: ___

_____________Circles layout: _______

Finished size: ___________

Fabric required:_______

Fabric required:_______

_____________Circles layout: _______

Finished size: ___________Cut circles: ___ Cut circles: ___

_____________Circles layout: _______

Finished size: ___________

Fabric required:_______

Fabric required:_______

_____________Circles layout: _______

Finished size: ___________Cut circles: ___ Cut circles: ___

Circles Squared ProjectsYou can make so many things with this technique!

Use this worksheet to track template sizes, layout, finished sizes, fabric requirements & cut circles

1. Determine how many background (white) circles and foreground (colored) circles are needed for the project, using the worksheet on the previous page.

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 4 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

2. Trace circles onto fabric, using the circle template. I like using a coffee can lid (6 3/8” diameter).

3. Place a couple pins inside each circle, to prevent the fabric from shifting.

4. Cut out the circles. Remove pins.

5. Trace a square onto the right side of the white circles, using the square template. I like using a 4 1/2” square quilting ruler and a disappearing marker.

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 5 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

6. Place a white and a colored circle wrong sides together. Repeat for another set of two circles.

7. Layer these two sets so that the colored circles’ right sides are together, aligning the drawn lines. Pin in place above one of the lines.

8. Stitch along one drawn line, backstitching at each end.

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 6 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

9. Place another white and colored circle wrong sides together. Layer and stitch this third circle set to the set you just made in the same manner, forming a row of three circles.

10. Finger-press the seams open.

11. Repeat steps 6 - 10 to make another row.

12. Layer the two rows so that the colored circles’ right sides are together, aligning the seams and the outside edges. Pin the top edge in place.

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 7 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

13. Stitch slightly inside the top drawn lines, backstitching at each end. This will ensure crisp intersections with less fraying where the seams meet.

14. Finger-press the seams open. Looks good, huh?!

15. Continue making and adding rows until you have the desired size. Have fun randomly arranging color placement!

16. Fold in the outside edges a little deeper than the drawn lines. This will ensure crisp intersections with less fraying where the seams meet. Press well.

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 8 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

17. Pin the outside edges in place.

18. Stitch the outside pinned edges with a decorative stitch, close to the raw edges. Begin at one corner and continue in a scalloping fashion all the way around the piece.

19. Stitch the interior edges down with a decorative stitch in the same manner. Press well. You’re done!

20. Take a look at the underside. Looks good! It’s reversible!

© 2013 Angela Bowman For personal use only Page 9 of 9A A!"#$%B.&#

21. To make coasters, cut a white and a colored circle, draw a square on the white circle, layer squares wrong sides together, fold in the sides along the drawn lines, and pin in place.

22. Stitch the edges with a decorative stitch, close to the raw edges all the way around the piece.

The Possibilities!Try different layouts to assemble a table runner, coasters, placemats, quilts, and more. Use flannel prints instead of solids for a different look. This would be a great project for upcycling flannel shirts!

Link up your project online!Visit www.angelab.me/projects