Curvetastic 10 Month OLFA Circle Cutter Quilt Along - Month 5

Mar 16, 2023

Size or dimensions: 46” x 60”

Skill level: Intermediate

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Before you get started be sure to watch this great tutorial by Amanda on how to make this block: BLOCK 5 Video

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Month 5! Can you believe it? If you are just joining us, you can catch up no problem, here’s a link to the very first part so you can join in, Check it out Here! I (Amanda) would love to see your quilt come to life! If you aren’t already following me on Instagram please do @MyFabricHeart and give me a tag in your progress posts!

When I designed this quilt I spent a lot of time figuring out the intricacies of each element and if it was theoretically possible. This month’s block in the planning process seemed so straight forward and I was completely wrong. I did eventually figure it out but wasn’t pleased with how complicated it was nor with the actual finished result. I wanted to make sure this block was achievable and that you would come back next month, so we have a design change. I hope you like it! I actually like it more than the initial design so that is a big thumbs up from me!

Doesn’t this block remind you of flower petals? In nature petals look similar but if you look closely to the petals on one flower there are slight differences. As you make this block keep this in mind and embrace how each petal may be a little different from the next.

Working with curves results in a lot of fabric being cut on the bias. If you are unfamiliar with bias this is when fabric is cut on an angle from the edge (true bias is at a 45º angle) and because this is across the grain of the fabric it allows the fabric to stretch more. Sometimes the stretch is what we are wanting and other times this stretch can cause issues. In this month’s block we are double cutting curves and any pulling or extra pressure can add some distortion. Every little bit of distortion can add up when you have multiple areas with opportunities for this. So think like nature and embrace the beauty of slight differences.

This block is designed with borders around the outside. If at any point you need to trim your units differently you can change the width of the borders to accommodate this. I promise, no one will be able to tell the difference. Your block should measure 14.5”x14.5”.

Materials and Tools needed this month:

OLFA CMP-3 Rotary Circle Cutter
OLFA 45mm RTY-2/C Quick-Change Rotary Cutter, Aqua
OLFA RM-MG/NBL 24"X36 Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat, Navy
OLFA 5-Inch SCS-4 Precision Appliqué Scissors
OLFA QR-6S 6 1/2” Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler
OLFA QR-9S 9 1/2" Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler
Pins or clips
Washable Glue Stick

So let’s get to it! If you are appliquéing this block scroll further down to the appliqué section.

**Don’t forget to check your scrap piles for smaller pieces you can use.**

Pieced Curves

Pay close attention to the pivot point template used in each part. You will want to make a new template corner for a 1” Pivot Point.

Cut:

Background Fabric:

(32) 4”x4”
(2) 1.5"x12.5”
(2) 1.5”x14.5”

Petals:

(4) 3.5”x3.5” Colour 1
(4) 3.5”x3.5” Colour 2
(4) 3.5”x3.5” Colour 3
(4) 3.5”x3.5” Colour 4

Using your OLFA Circle Rotary Cutter cut the following:

From your 4”x4” background squares:

(16) Outer Quarter Curves. Pivot Template 1/4” Setting 2.5” - (Label these A)
(16) Outer Quarter Curves. Pivot Template 1” Setting 2.25 ” - (Level these B)

From your 3.5”x3.5” Petal squares:

(16) Inner Quarter Curves. Pivot Template 1/4” and Setting of 3”

Assembly:

Piece an Outer Curve A with a Petal Inner Curve
Press seam allowance to outside
Repeat with all petals
Mark a 1” Pivot point on the background corner of the units you just made.

Set your Circle Rotary Cutter to 2.75” and place the pivot point onto the mark made above and cut a quarter circle.
Repeat with all petals
Using a Inner Curve cut in the last step piece these together with Background Outer Curve B

Press seam allowance to outside
Repeat with all petals
Using your OLFA 6 1/2” Square Ruler line up the 1/2” lines along one end of the petal.

Rotate the block and use the freshly cut edge to measure and trim each of these units to 3.5”x3.5”
Group these units by colour with the 1/2” edges facing each other and stitch petals together to make a 4 petal unit block. Pressing seam allowances open

Join these 4 blocks together in your preferred arrangement Pressing seam allowances open
Add the 5” x 12.5” strips to the opposite sides of block. Press seams to the outside
Add the 5” x 14.5” strips to the two other sides of block. Press seams to the outside

Trim block to 14.5”x14.5”

Applique

Tip: When appliquéing around the large circle the fabric can easily shift. Pinning can help prevent this but can also result in poked fingers as you are stitching. You could glue your circle into place if you are concerned. Going slowly and stopping with your needle down and the foot up can help you adjust the fabric and prevent a lot of shifting.

Cut:

Background Fabric:

(4) 7”x7”
(16) 4”x4”

Petal fabrics:

7”x7” colour A
7”x7” colour B
7”x7” colour C
7”x7” colour D

Assembly:

Fold and press each 7”x7” Square (background and petals) in half both horizontally and vertically. This marks the centre of the blocks and helps us line up the pieces
Set your Circle Rotary Cutter to 3” and using the centre pivot point cut out a full circle on each of the Petal fabrics

Line up each circle on top of a background using pressmarks. You will know your circle is centred when your pressed lines all line up.

Using your favourite appliqué stitch attach the petal circle to the background
Mark all 4 corners of the white background squares with the 1/4” pivot point template
Set your Circle Rotary Cutter to 3” and using each 1/4” pivot point made in last step cut out each corner and you will be using this inside curve for the next step

Layer one of these inside curves on one of the 4”x4” background pieces and line up 2 straight edges

Appliqué the cut edge down to the background square
Using your OLFA 6 1/2” Square Ruler line up the 1/2” lines along one end of the petal (use the end with the smallest amount of background fabric which allows 1/2”) and trim along these two edges

Rotate the block and use the freshly cut edge to measure and trim each of these units to 3.5”x3.5”
Group these units by colour with the 1/2” edges facing each other and stitch petals together to make a 4 petal unit block. Pressing seam allowances open

Join these 4 blocks together in your preferred arrangement Pressing seam allowances open
Add the 5” x 12.5” strips to the opposite sides of block. Press seams to the outside
Add the 5” x 14.5” strips to the two other sides of block. Press seams to the outside
Trim block to 14.5”x14.5”