This is a note to those beginners who are considering making the bullseye quilt and who are worried sick about those curves. Try this to see if you can handle it and if you like it before you commit to a whole quilt.
Cut a square of fabric and cut a circle of fabric. Lay the circle on the square and sew around the circle. Use approximately a 1/4″ seam line away from the raw edge of the circle. Reduce your stitch length. It will not matter if the stitching is uneven from the raw edge. DO NOT WORRY! I guarantee it will be ok.
Try this if you’re concerned about making a bullseye quilt – if you hate sewing around this circle, don’t start this quilt. Save yourself some angst and make a 4 patch quilt instead – ha!
If you have questions please feel free to contact me at
maryehazel2020@gmail.com
I don’t mind you asking – I’d rather help you make this quilt than have you start and hate the process. There’s still time to gather fabrics and cut out your first step. We will begin sewing on February 1. Pattern can be purchased online or a paper pattern from us at the address shown on our home page.
I am still admiring the quilts – I will continue showing bullseye pictures as long as you send them to me! Happy Friday!!
I encourage any one considering making the Bullseye quilt to do it. You really can’t goof it up. There’s no precise piecing and it’s really a lot of fun. No matter the colors, you will love the results
I just want to say that this quilt is so much fun to make BECAUSE the process is so inexact. The only seams that need to “match up” are the large squares in the end and trust me – even if those are a wee bit off no one but you will notice. It all turns into an interesting NO FAIL quilt. Any fabric, any thread, no perfect circles necessary – it is a game changer!! The hard part is to only make one. Trust me. And you know Mary would not steer you wrong.
Wendy T – Thanks for the vote of confidence and I forgot to say it’s a good point about the thread and bobbins – use up all that off color thread you don’t know what to do with!
I will give this a try and see if its for me. I have really enjoyed seeing all of them that you have posted so far.
You can use plate, coffee cup, plastic lid, even fold to get the circle. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I took all my supplies I had ready to jail last time and the girls has a blast putting it together. They used leftover squares on the corners of other tops.
I’m not allowed to take pictures inside, so no pix from them☹️, trust me, they were every bit as fine as Mary has posted.
For all of you who are afraid of curved seams, you won’t get that on this pattern. You just cut your circle, lay it on the background and sew around the edge of the circle about 1/4″ from the edge. Bingo, that part is done. Please try it. It is a great pattern as nothing needs to be matched like corners, etc. It could be a very sloppy way of sewing, but not with this pattern. Just relax and have fun. A pucker or pleat doesn’t matter, just enjoy yourself.
AND please let us know what you think after trying it. We are all hoping that it is fun and have a few laughs and giggles in the process, which is what quilting is all about.
Betty in Rapid City, SD
So true! I made this with my eighth-grade students. We had plenty of pleats and puckers but the finished quilt was still beautiful!
Hi, as I recall you had the best way of cutting the circles from squares. Otherwise, I don’t think I could have done it!! Thank you for that as I did enjoy the bullseye quilt sew along!!
An enormous thank you to everyone who shared! I had several of my questions and ideas confirmed with the variety.
OK Mary, I bought the pattern and will be pulling my materials tonight. I will be doing Christmas materials I think. When you showed the example of how to start it out, I was totally blown away. Top stitch machine applique. How easy is that going to be. I have done this before. So, I should be able to do this!! So count me in!!! WooHoo!!! I am sure I will be making more than one of these!!
Thanks for the QAL!!
Brenda in SC – I KNOW you can do this, Brenda! There’s no stress involved and nothing to match until we put 4 quarters together and that’s easy, too!
I am planning on joining the QAL. I just started following this blog and enjoy it so much. I am having cataracts removed in March so just going to do a few to learn the process now. I am loving all of the quilts that have been posted.
Sue Ann – after you’ve had those cataracts removed, you’ll really be able to sew fast!
Everyone, please do give it a try! I did flannel on the top and back. It is so cuddly and warm. I also had trouble cutting the circles; mine looked more like ovals, so I drew my circles and then cut them. It took only a little bit of extra time and made me feel better😃😃. You will love making this quilt.
Cold here in Central Ohio, but no snow.
Just do it! This quilt is a blast to make. Very freeing. It’s also one of those COMBO projects – cut your circles while watching tv then over to sewing machine to sew them on. No stress! Nothing but fun!
I’m worried about quilting the bullseye quilt when I finish!