Happy Pi Day!

Monday, March 13, 2023

It's a tradition now! I make a circle quilt every year for Pi Day!

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

I've made a Pi Day quilt every year since 2017! YES! Do you want to see them all??

2021 - Mini circles (this one is the most similar to this year's!)

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This year's quilt started with a sample pack of fabric I got from Quilt Market in the fall. It's a new collection called Stitchy by Christa Watson.

Stitchy fabric by Christa Watson

I grabbed my Pellon Decor-Bond and solid black fabric from my stash, and began to hatch a plan.

Stitchy fabric by Christa Watson

I first pressed the fabric to the Decor-Bond. This is a one-sided fusible, and it is pretty stiff. This would help the circles keep their shape even with minimal stitching.

Cutting circles with an AccuQuilt cutter

Next, I used my AccuQuilt cutter and circle die to cut four different sizes of circles from each fabric. I used fifteen different fabrics, and cut at least two circles of each size.

Cutting circles with an AccuQuilt cutter

Now I was ready for the fun part! I made a quilt sandwich using the solid black fabric for both the top and the back, and I used a scrap of 80/20 batting inside. I used my hera marker to "draw" a line right down the center as a guide for laying out my first row of circles. (It really just makes a crease line in the fabric.)

Using a hera marker

I alternated the colors and sizes of circles to make it look as random as possible, then used my walking foot to stitch right down the drawn line. I used Aurifil 50wt #4093. It's a fantastic dark turquoise - one of my favorites!

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

I did not pin or glue the circles down. I just carefully held the fabric up while quilting and adjusting the circles slightly as they neared the needed if needed. It worked, but a dab of glue from a glue stick probably would have made it better.

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

After that first row, I "drew" another line 2" away from the first, then laid out another row of circles. I kept repeating until I had seven rows - and was almost out of circles!

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

Some solid green fabric was the perfect way to bind the quilt. (Machine binding tutorial HERE.)

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

The quilt took only a couple hours to make, and was a wonderful creative outlet for me. 

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

The close up photos really show the batting lint that I need to get off, but you really can't see it from just a few feet away! (Black batting would have been better here, but I didn't have a small scrap of it!) 

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

Can you see how the circles are only stitched down the center? I love the little bit of 3-D texture!

3-D applique circles made into an abacus quilt

This is my 7th year in a row making a Pi Day quilt, and I have every intention to continuing this tradition for many years to come! 

Have you made a circle quilt? Do you celebrate Pi Day? I think I'll have some pie now that my quilt is done! ;) 

5 comments:

  1. This is so cute. I would love to try it! I made a lemon chess pie for today!

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  2. Very cool! I'll take key lime pie any day!

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  3. Such a pretty quilt - I love circles.

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  4. Very interesting and eye catching. When you wash it will the circles become soft or frey at the edges?

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