Creative articles about quilting

Circular Embroidery Attachment a Versatile Tool for Creatives Part 2

We are moving along with the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83.  A versatile tool for creatives! In Part 1 I spoke about making a colour wheel art quilt.  Today, we will explore using felt circles to make easy reversible coasters, centering a fabric design and making drunkards path blocks. The Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 is a great sewing tool with many uses including but not limited to embroidery, appliqué and quilting.

Image of Circular embroidery attachment # 83.

Circular embroidery attachment # 83

Circular embroidery attachment #83 lets you embroider unusual and decorative circles or semicircles. 

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Project #1- Reversible Felt Coasters

Materials:

  • 8- 5″ squares of craft or wool felt
  • Circular Embroidery Attachment #83, a versatile tool for creatives
  • Open Embroidery Foot #20
  • Thread to match both sides of coaster
  • #17 stitch or open stitch recommended
  • I used my Bernina BERNINA 350 Special Edition
  • and found it did a fantastic job
  • Pinking shears (optional)
Image of BERNINA 350 PE.

BERNINA 350 PE

The BERNINA 350 PE – wide range of functions, ultimate ease in handling: BERNINA’s young model for ambitious beginners.

Learn more
Image of Open Embroidery Foot #20.

Open Embroidery Foot #20

Perfect for sewing decorative stitches ✓   Creation of attractive appliqué designs ✓  Allows lines and patterns to be followed precisely ✓   An open form for a clear view of the project ✓  For 5.5 mm and 9 mm machines ✓ 

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How to make the coasters:

Choose 8 colour combinations of felt as shown, cut into 5″ squares.

Felt fabric for coasters

Felt fabric for 4 coasters

Measure between the pin of the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 and the needle of the machine ensuring the pin is 2″ from the needle. The finished coasters will be 4″ in diameter, perfect size for any beverage. Stack the felt pieces together in groups of 2 with complementary colours as shown to make 4 coasters.

Felt for making coasters with the Circular Attachment #83

Felt stacked in groups of 2, ready for the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83

Find & mark the center of each stack to be placed on the pin of the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83:

  • Place a stack on the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 with the #20 foot inserted on the machine. This foot is effective because it’s open and you can see the stitches with ease
  • Set the stitch to #17 or an open decorative stitch as the felt is thick & an open stitch works the best
how to insert material on a circular attachment

Felt stack inserted on Circular Embroidery Attachment #83, needle position 2″ from the pin of the attachment

                                    #17 Stitch

Stitching out the circle with the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83

Trim the stack of felt close to the circle with a pinking shear, repeat all steps for 3 more coasters.

Trimming felt with pinking shears, making felt coasters

Trimming the felt coasters with pinking shears

Front of felt coasters made with circular embroidery attachment #83

                           Front of coasters

                         Back of felt coasters

Felt coasters made with Circular embroidery attachment #83

Felt coasters made with Circular Embroidery Attachment #83

Want to do more easy projects with felt? Check out my website here.

Project #2 Centering a Fabric Design

Materials :

  • A fabric design with a central motif ie flower design/embroidery design centered
  • Light weight fusible interfacing 
  • Background fabric to contrast with central motif
  • Open Embroidery Foot #20
  • Circular Embroidery Attachment #83, a versatile tool for creatives
Centra

                   Fabric with a central motif

How to make a centered circle applique:

  • Cut the fabric so that the motif is centered, shown is  a 6″ square
  • Cut a piece of light weight fusible interfacing the same 6″ size
  • Measure from the pin of the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 to the needle of the machine 2.5″ to allow for a 5″ circle, slide the pin along to reach this measurement
  • Place the fabric right side down against the fusible side of the interfacing,
  • Find the center of the motif & interfacing sandwich & place it on the pin of the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83
interfacing & fabric stacked for a circular applique

       Interfacing & fabric stacked together

Centered motif & interfacing on pin of Circular embroidery attachment

Centered motif & interfacing on pin of Circular Embroidery Attachment #83

Sew out the circle and trim close to the edge. Cut a small slit in the interfacing and turn out the circle through the interfacing slit. Finger press carefully, iron interfacing side to the right side of background fabric as shown. Appliqué with the Open Embroidery Foot #20 , stitch #7  blind hem stitch & invisible or matching thread

trimmed circle

Circle trimmed ready for turning

Slit cut in interfacing

Slit cut in interfacing, ready to turn to the right side

Finger pressed circle

Finger pressed circle

appliqued circle with #7 hem stitch

Appliquéd circle with hem stitch #7

Circle applique

Circle appliqué block completed

Project #3 Drunkards Path Variation Blocks

How to make the drunkards path blocks:

Using the  circle appliqué block made with the Circular Embroidery Attachment #83, cut it in 4 evenly through the center. The results are shown below.  This would also be great for a circle with a centered embroidery. Creativity is unlimited!

Drunkards path block

Drunkards path blocks-lots of variations; ideas!

Need to see more drunkards path block ideas? Check out my website here.

I’m sure by now you can see that this Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 is not just for embroidery and it’s a versatile tool for creatives.  Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 3 when I discuss how it can be used to make an embroidered lamp mat & quilt as you go orange peel center piece.  I am just touching on the surface of what this Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 is capable of allowing us all to do!

Difficulty level: Beginner
Time to Complete: Evening
Used Material: 100% Cotton Fabric, 8-5" squares of craft or wool felt, Circular embroidery attachment #83, light weight fusible interfacing, open embroidery foot #20, Pinking shears, thread, Wonder Invisible thread
Used Products:
BERNINA 350 PE
BERNINA 350 PE
Open Embroidery Foot #20
Open Embroidery Foot #20
Circular embroidery attachment # 83
Circular embroidery attachment # 83

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