Full Circle Ruler Tutorial
Step 1. Select three contrasting fabrics. They should all read as being solid (marbled fabrics, tone on tones). Cut them all the same length and width must be at least 3" wide. But other than that length and width can be anything. (Choose what ever suits your project.) You will also need a piece of Heat and Bond Lite or what ever type of fusible web you like best cut the same size as the strips you have cut.
Step 2. Using a hot iron to fuse the strip you want to be on the outside and the other medium dark fabric to the backside. Wrong sides together.
Step 3. Press your strip in half lengthwise so the fabric you want to show up on the outside of your project must be on the outside of the folded strip.
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Step 4. Here are where your choices begin. If you choose you can trace along both sides of each curve on the full circle ruler. Do not trace the short end or the straight line in each curve. Continue tracing until you have gotten approximate. 1 1/2" from the end of your strip. You can see by the diagram above the placement of the ruler on the fold of the fabric in pic. 1, drawing the curve in pics. 2/3, moving the ruler in pic. 4 to get the desired length for your project, and in pic. 5 using a sharp pair of scissors with a long blade to get a nice even curve you will want to cut the curve in one constant motion. No cut, cut, cut.
Step 5. If you feel comfortable you can also choose to cut your curves with an exacto type knife the ones I like best are the Olfa Touch Knife and the Famore 732-A curved blade scalpel. I like the touch knife for the safety features its disposable and the $2.50 price tag. Now the tool of choice is the Famore 732-A curved blade scalpel. It's curve blade glides perfectly around each curve of the ruler the cuts are precise. This is my preference. Just like in step 4 continue moving the ruler down the folded strip to get the desired length for your project. Be sure to stop at least 1 1/2" inches from the end of your strip.
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Step 6. As shown in the diagrams above the first pic. is just what your strip looks like after it has been cut. Open the folded strip and press flat. Feel free to use a little steam, the creases can be a little stubborn (shown in pics. 1 and 2). After you have finished pressing flip the strip so the fabric you desire to be on the outside of your project is facing up.
Step 7. With your strip laying right side up fold and press each of your cuts back.
Step 8. I like to use the 3/8" "HeatnBond Lite" tape to fuse around the outer edges of your third strip of fabric. Peel the paper off and fuse your Full Circles on top of fabric strip 3.
Step 9. As shown in the pics. below you can tuck your green circles under the red flaps in front of them. You can leave the circles lay on top of the red flaps. The choice is yours. I do suggest you secure them in some fasion the sky's the limit get creative and have fun.
Just some other options
Some Ideas
Brenda
Brenda's Belt
Brenda added the Full Circles to the Snap Happy bag and made them for a wedding. The wedding party loved them they were a perfect addition. The brides maids were thrilled.
This beautiful little number was embellish with crystals. Yummy!!
Our friend Anne put this jacket together to show the Full Circles. Dusty quilted the jacket. What a pair the duo makes. Fantastic. Great Colors.
I would like to thank Brenda and Anne for sharing their samples with us. I would also like to encourage anyone who uses the Full Circle Ruler on a project to share a picture and your first name with us. You all know how we are we like lots of ideas. If you would like to send a photo and wouldn't mind us posting it to the web drop us a line at countrystitchin@verizon.net. Thanks for your help.
More Samples
Purse pattern not written yet
Cubed Lattice Runner original pattern available only at
Country Stitchin
Snap Happy Bag pattern available at Country Stitchin
The back of Dusty's denim shirt
Strip Pieced throw pillow
D C B A
A- The fabric that will appear on the outside of your project.
B- Heatnbond.
C- Fabric fused to the back of main fabric.
D- The fabric that will show the the cutouts.
C A
C
A
A C
A C D
