Happy Pi Day!!

Happy Pi Day!! 

Every year, I make a circle themed quilt for Pi Day. I've been doing it since 2017, so it's definitely a tradition!

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You can take a look back at all the previous ones below.

2017 - A hot pad that looks like a pie

2018 - Jumbo dots with a secret code

2019 - An infinity sign with the digits of pi

2020 - A mini quilt made from a panel

2021 - Mini circles

2022 - A modern bubbles quilt

2023 - Abacus inspired mini circles

This year, I was inspired by this image. I was determined to recreate it in fabric!

I ordered yardage of Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids in Black and White from Missouri Star Quilt Co., along with a jumbo dot print for the backing fabric.

I enlarged the inspiration image until the black strips were one inch wide. In an ideal world, I would piece curved strips together to make apple core blocks, then sew those together.

I attempted to piece the center portion of one block. Although I deemed it *possible,* I decided I didn't have the patience or determination to succeed at it. And I knew there would be an easier and faster way - raw edge applique.

So I moved on to plan B. I pressed Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 to the back of the solid black fabric, then traced the one inch wide arcs onto the fusible and cut them out with scissors. 

I laid the uncut yardage of the solid white fabric onto my table, then I just peeled the paper off the back of each arc and started placing them onto the white fabric. 

I only drew one line to help me with the initial placement and spacing. I drew a 45 degree diagonal line from one corner of the white fabric to the other side. I used an air erasable pen so the marks would disappear quickly.

I could immediately see that the design was going to work!

I decided that this quilt was unlikely to be washed, so opted not to sew around each applique piece. I just pressed them down then quilted over the top of them. The quilting would hold them on so they wouldn't fall off even if the fusible didn't hold.

Once I was satisfied with the placement of all the pieces, I loaded the polka dot fabric onto my longarm with bleached 80/20 batting.

Then I used the air erasable pen again to mark one inch measurements along the left side of the quilt top in preparation of straight line quilting.

I lined up my needle with each mark, then used the channel locks on my longarm to make a straight line across the quilt. 

Once done, I had quite the collection of thread tails along the edge! 

I debated a lot about what color to use for the binding. 

Black? Turquoise? Hot pink? I mentally chose hot pink, but then realized I didn't have a "hot" enough pink in my stash.

So I went with Kona Crush - the 2023 Kona color of the year. It's red, but with a slight pink tint to it too.

I cut 2 1/4" strips for the binding and machine sewed it on (tutorial here). And yes, I used one of my satin labels too!

I am THRILLED with how the quilt turned out!!

I love the graphic nature of the design, the pop of red for the binding, the straight line quilting... SO many heart eyes!

The finished quilt is about 36" square, making it my largest Pi Day quilt yet!

Do you celebrate Pi Day?? 

We love doing fun things with the boys for Pi Day! We usually make cardboard box airplanes so they can be pi-lots, and we pretend to be pi-rates during bath time. And of course we have pie!! And this year, I'll hang up my new quilt to celebrate too!

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