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Creative projects using Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 Circular Attachment

Creative projects using Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 Circular Attachment

by Jean Boyd

Welcome back! I hope you’ve enjoyed making some Valentine themed projects this week using the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine and the Circular Attachment.

Brother Innov-is BQ3050

I’ve used the laser light for several projects over the last 3 months. Here are a couple of videos that you might like to watch for even more information about this great feature. In Video 2 you’ll see the Brother Dream Machine, but the laser light works the same way on the BQ3050.

Video 1 Laser Guided Sewing

Video 2 Half Square Triangles with laser light

The laser light shows an accurate stitching line on the fabric.

  • For this last Valentine project, stitch an 8″ diameter circle using the Circular Attachment on a 11″ square piece of fabric. Get detailed instructions on using this circular attachment in my earlier post this week.
  • Cut the design into 4 – 5½” squares.

Cut the stitched circle design into 4 – 5½” squares.

  • Cut 2 more 5½” squares from red fabric.
  • Sashing: Cut 4 – 1″ x 5½” and 1 – 1″ x 17½” red sashing strips.
  • Border: Cut 4 – 3½” x 17½” red border strips.
  • Sew the sashing strips between the 5½” squares.
  • Sew on the border strips.

This type of design is very adaptable to other sizes. If I stitched a larger circle with the Circular Attachment, I could cut larger squares. Sashing and borders can be cut to any desired width.

Sew 1″ sashing strips between the 5½” squares.

Sew on the border strips and then sew a line of decorative stitching along the seam line as an added embellishment.

Although I made projects with a Valentine theme this week, they would look just as attractive in other fabrics as well.

Here’s one version of the Four Hearts table topper in thirties fabrics.

Four Heart quilt in thirties fabrics

And here’s another one using bright kid-themed fabrics.

Four Heart quilt in kid-themed fabrics

I love using the Brother Circular Attachment and I think there are lots of design possibilities to be explored with this attachment.

Here’s a tote bag that I made using denim fabric. You’ll notice that I used a variegated thread and stitched some overlapping circles for a different effect. The bag is based on the Bevy Bag design by Brenda Miller of Among Brenda’s Quilts. Thanks Brenda, for writing such a good pattern!

The batting for the bag is  Bosal Sew-In foam stabilizer. This product is available in several variations and sizes and is available in your local quilt shops. It makes a nice, sturdy finish to the bag and is easy to sew.

Stitched circles as a decorative feature on a denim bag

The back of the denim bag showing overlapping stitched circles made with the Brother Circular Attachment

Again, when using a heavier weight fabric like denim, it’s important to do some practice samples first to make sure the needle, thread and fabric are all working well together.

Stitching circles with the Brother Circular Attachment on denim fabric

Please join me again next month on QUILTsocial as I continue to learn and explore techniques on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine.

This is part 5 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 4: Piecing the heart together on this sweet Valentine-themed quilt

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