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5 steps to perfect circles using the TrueCut 360°

5 steps to perfect circles using the TrueCut 360°

by Jennifer Houlden

The placemats have become placemats pretty quickly using the no binding finish yesterday. Did you try it?

At this point, they’re a bit boring so I need to do some quilting and add circles for interest.

How many of you can draw and cut a perfect circle? I know I certainly cannot draw a perfect circle without the aid of a template. Today I’m going to introduce you to the perfect tool to cut perfect circles with. Yep, that’s right perfect circles in 5 easy steps.

I’m going to play with the circles before I do my quilting.

The fabric for the circles can be used as is or fusible web such as Heat n Bond can be applied to the back of it. This will then allow it to be fused in place to the background once cut.

The perfect circle making tool

What is this perfect tool? Well, it’s the TrueCut 360° Circle Cutter.

TrueCut 360° circle cutter

TrueCut 360° circle cutter

Getting ready to cut

Step 1a Remove the blade cover to expose the blade and put it in a safe place so it can be replaced later for when the blade needs to be changed. The blade cover is found on the bottom of the tool and just pulls off.

Remove protective blade cover before use

Remove protective blade cover before use

Step 1b Release the safety lock. It’s the mechanism to the right hand side of the blade knob with red markings. The mechanism slides into lock and outwards to release. The tool won’t cut if the safety lock hasn’t been released.

Safety lock with red line beside blue blade knob

Safety lock with red line beside blue blade knob

Step 2 Set the size of circle you want to cut. The TrueCut 360° cuts circles from 2″ – 12” in diameter safely, easily and accurately.

To set the size unlock the sizing knob which is located along the clear plastic section of the tool by turning counter-clockwise. Move the knob along the ruler until the red line is lined up with the correct number and lock back in place. To lock, rotate the base of the sizing knob clockwise.

Set size of circle with sizing knob

Set size of circle with sizing knob

Cutting circles

Step 3 Place the TrueCut 360° on the fabric. Place one hand on the sizing knob. I used my left hand on this knob. It has a pin in the bottom which sticks into the fabric so it won’t move.

Place one hand on sizing knob

Place one hand on sizing knob

Step 4 Place the other hand on the blade knob. This hand will be crossing over the other hand.

Place other hand on blade knob to rotate

Place other hand on blade knob to rotate

Step 5 Apply pressure to both knobs and in one smooth motion make a full circle with the tool.

I found that if I stopped in mid rotation then the circle did not come out perfectly. As well if I over shot my starting point to stop at then I had a bit of a blip as well. The key is one smooth rotation starting and stopping in the same spot.

Rotation in progress

Rotation in progress

I also found it easier to do the full rotation with larger circles rather than smaller circles as the blade wasn’t cutting such a tight diameter and my arms were further apart making it easier to do the rotation of the tool.

2 circles cut as fabric was doubled

2 circles cut as fabric was doubled

When cutting the circles make sure you have enough room on the fabric that the cutter stays on the fabric to make a complete circle.

I made a couple of partial circles when I was cutting the circles. Oops!

Not quite circles

Not quite circles

I ended up cutting several circles 2½″ to 4″ in diameter to create multicolored circles for my placemats.

With the placement of the circles on the placemats I’m well underway to finishing these placemats in time to take south with us. But first I must quilt the placemats and then figure out how I’m going to attach the circles to the background seeing how I didn’t put any fusible web on the back of my fabric.

Circles placed on background - looking good

Circles placed on background – looking good

Join me in December to see how I finish up the Rolling Snowman Placemat. And in the mean time try making some perfect circles in 5 easy steps.

This is part 5 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 4: 10 easy steps to a no binding finish for small quilted projects

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1 comment

mary c November 19, 2017 - 4:17 pm

Cool tool.

Reply

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