Judy,
Great minds think alike! I've been a follower of both Erin and Sandra also. As a matter of fact, I got Sandra's book for Christmas. Talk about eye candy

Even though I have changed the center design for my BOM, (a reduced version of Erin Russeck's Miss Kelly) I still will have dozens of circles. I had to laugh when I saw Sue's green circle template! That is exactly what I'm am using, and it is my DH's from college. It's around 45 years old!!! The name on ours is RapiDesign. GREAT tool! Any way, thanks for all of the links for the numerous tutorials. My circles are a combination of those techniques. I use the circle template, and cut two Stable Stuff circles for every one circle I am making. By doubling the stable stuff, I get the puff that Erin likes, and a perfect circle stiffness for pulling my yo-yo style thread around. I then knot the thread and give it a good pressing. Nothing to remove, no startch. Stays perfect.

Well, we are off and running! This is going to be a fun one to watch. Looking forward to all of the posted pictures along the way!!!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Judy, more great tutorials! I especially liked the video, and had not seen fusible web used on batting before.

Thanks for the references, Judy! Great tutorials!

LIKE THE BLOGS.... I have been using Ricky Timms Stable Stuff and / or Beth Wheelers new washable freezer paper for my appliques including templates. I love it. Seems of little stiff but when I block the quilt all that stiffness is gone. I do not cut out from the back of my applique if they are small. I think the washable FP ( either kind ) acts like a little trupunto to help maintain the shape of the appliques pieces, circles included.


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I've remembered another resource for doing circles. Erin Russek of One Piece at a Time has excellent applique tutorials. She uses Mylar templates to make circles. (Her applique technique is to use Templar templates and starch to iron under seam allowances before stitching.)

A photo lesson is here: http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-piece-at-a-time/2010/01/appliqu%C3%A9-lesson-4-basting-and-stuffed-circles.html

The video lesson is here: http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-piece-at-a-time/2010/11/stuffed-circlesthe-video.html

Judy

Thanks for the blog posts. Sandra's circle tutorials are wonderful!

Thanks for the link. I'm going to give that a try. I can see my biggest problem will probably be getting a nice circle to start with.
SueW
Upstate NY

Good morning BOM-a-dears!

I was excited to start Ruffled Roses so I attacked the circles -- all 70 of them (you do save some for Month 3) -- 1 L1, 41 L2, and 28 Y1.

I use Sue's method with Mylar circles but if you would like to try a freezer paper method or like a crisper edge, Sandra Leichner has 2 nice posts on this technique on Sep 27 and Sep 30, 2010.

http://sandraleichner.com/wordpress/2010/09/27/circles-trying-something-new/
http://sandraleichner.com/wordpress/2010/09/30/circles-ovals-with-freezer-paper/

Here are some of my lessons learned today. Using Mylar circles I have found I have better success if I actually start with a circle. Instead of rough cutting, I trace a 3/8" circle larger than the finished size using a circle template (Staedtler professional COMBO CIRCLE template has 1/16" increments -- available in the drafting/drawing sections of office supply/craft stores). I have found that tracing a circle (finish size or cut line) using a circle template works betters than trying to trace around the Mylar circles. For cutting, I found using a larger pair of scissors and turning the fabric as I slowly close the blade worked well. I used Fiskars spring-action scissors to good effect without too much hand fatique. Below is a picture of my supplies. All the best with the circles, Judy